Kristin Barker

Kristin Barker is the Program Manager for BETTER WORK Columbus (formerly Hiring Well, Doing Good) in Columbus, GA. She has a passion for seeing the Columbus community prosper economically and for reducing poverty by removing the barriers that keep the under- and unemployed from securing meaningful work. Kristin believes that by working together, businesses, non-profits, schools, and city leaders can harness the resources that will help break this cycle of poverty.

Kristin served over the past 14 years as Marketing Manager and Senior Operations Manager for the Continuing & Professional Education department at Columbus State University. These roles allowed her to develop collaborative, organizational, management, and leadership skills as well as to cultivate an appreciation for supporting the growth of others around her. Servant leadership is a core belief that drives Kristin to encourage the development of others.

Education is also a passion, and Kristin believes that everyone, young and old, has the ability to succeed when given opportunity and encouragement. This belief spurred her to volunteer with the Kindergarten Readiness program and to serve on the board of directors for the Georgia Adult Education Association (GAEA). Kristin has a BA in Marketing and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Columbus State University. She understands the value of working to maintain a strong, supportive family and is a wife, mother, and grandmother of two wonderful boys.