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THE COURIER
CEDAR VALLEY BUSINESS MONTHLY
cvbusinessmonthly.com
NOVEMBER 2011
Joe Barber Dumont native moves up ladder at Iowa Laser Technology By JON ERICSON jonathan.ericson@wcfcourier.com
CEDAR FALLS — Some people still find success the old-fashioned way. They work hard, get an education and move up the ladder. That’s just how Joe Barber has gone about things. The Dumont native is president of Iowa Laser Technology, arriving at the position last December after 16 years with the company. Barber started working at Iowa Laser Technology in the summer of 1994. He commuted from Dumont that summer as he prepared for his first year at the University of Northern Iowa. He continued working part time while going to school. When he graduated in 1988, Iowa Laser Chief Executive Officer Mark Baldwin sat him down to talk about Barber’s options. Baldwin extended an offer to make a career in the company. The rest, as they say, is history. After college Barber worked in order entry, then in sales. In 2002 he became sales and marketing manager. In December, Barber moved up to president. “The company has been fantastic as far as providing opportunities for us,” Barber said. Baldwin said it has served Barber well to move up within the company. “He has the respect of everybody,” Baldwin said. According to Baldwin, Barber is a manager who makes people better. He gives people opportunities, then gets out of the way with the expectation the employ-
■ NAME: Joe Barber ■ AGE: 35 ■ OCCUPATION: President of Iowa Laser Technology, Inc. in Cedar Falls ■ VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES: Tiger Cub Leader, Pack 69, Waverly; member of the Winnebago Council Executive Board, BSA; member of the Values in Action committee, Winnebago Council, BSA; various volunteer activities at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Waverly. ■ EDUCATION: B.A. in political science from University of Northern Iowa; Hampton-Dumont High School. ■ FAMILY: Wife: Melissa; son, Samuel, 8; son, Nicholas, 6; daughter: Alexandria, 2. ■ A MOMENT IN THE PAST THAT HELPED SHAPE ME: The time that I spent in Scouting, and achieving my Eagle Scout rank, helped to provide me with the self-confidence and basic leadership skills that I rely on every day. ■ A MENTOR AND WHY: My parents would be my mentors. They instilled a work ethic and self-confidence in me through their example that has allowed me to be successful.
ee will meet their responsibility. Barber and his wife, Melissa, settled in Waverly after a few years in Cedar Falls. They were both raised in small towns and find Waverly offers both a smalltown feel and amenities. It is there that Barber has invested in the community.
RICK CHASE / Courier Staff Photographe
Joe Barber on the Parkade in Cedar Falls. He finds time to fill several roles at his house of worship, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, including assisting in Communion and helping out with education programs. He also serves on the board of the Winnebago Council of the Boy Scouts of America and as a Cub Scout leader. “It’s like all things: It comes down to juggling your time,”
Barber said. He credits his wife for being active as well, and says they operate as a team. Baldwin said the business community will see more of Barber as he gets more involved in community business organizations in his role as president. Barber knows others who have been 20 Under 40 honorees, and he was excited to
hear he had been selected. “It’s a big honor,” Barber said. He’s a firm believer the Cedar Valley is headed in the right direction. “We’ve been kind of lucky that we’ve been kind of insulated from the worst of the recession. I think people recognize this is an excellent place to live and do business,” Barber said.