In addition to his role as a Mainspring board member, Barry serves as Chair and acting Treasurer of the Cowee School Board of Directors. He holds a BS in Forest Resources and an MS in Forest Ecology from the University of Georgia, and began his PhD work at Clemson University. Before moving to western North Carolina, Barry served in the U.S. Navy as a forestry consultant while co-managing a beef cattle operation. He spent two decades as a Research Ecologist at Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory in Macon County, where he conducted research focused on natural and human-caused disturbances to the landscape with particular emphasis on forested landscapes and resultant water quality issues, before retiring in 2012. Barry is a managing member of Lazy Hiker Brewing Company, where he facilitates brewing operations and assists with ongoing decisions regarding the company’s general operations.
He and his wife, Patsy, are two of the longest-supporting donors to the land trust. The couple lives in Burningtown in Macon County and enjoy hiking, camping, gardening, canning and preserving.
