People You Should Know

Amanda K. Barnes
Director of Communication Services, Columbia Chamber of Commerce

AGE: 38
JOB DESCRIPTION: I coordinate the internal and external communications for the Chamber of Commerce, which includes the gathering and maintaining of research data for business and community information and coordination of special activities, projects and meetings. I also have the pleasure of serving as the staff liaison overseeing the Junior Leadership Columbia program, which allows me to work with area high school juniors.
YEARS LIVED IN MID-MISSOURI: I was born in Chicago and lived there until I turned 2, and then I lived in Jefferson City from age 2 to 18. From 18 to 19, I lived in Columbia while going to MU (Go Tigers!), and from 19 to 21, I lived in Warrensburg, Mo., while going to CMSU (Go Mules!). From 21 to 22, I was back in Columbia, 22 to 24 in Little Rock, Ark., 24 to 29 in St. Louis and 29 to 37 in Los Angeles. That’s 18 years in mid-Missouri.
ORIGINAL HOMETOWN: Chicago
EDUCATION: B.S. in CJA from CMSU (now UCM); graduated in 1994
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: I am excited to be involved with the United Way for the first time this year on the New Business Development Committee. Being a Chamber employee also allows me to be very active in Chamber activities, and I truly love being active in the Women’s Network. I am a member of the Columbia Track Club, and I’m also hoping to grow Columbia’s involvement with Head for the Cure, an organization that focuses fundraising efforts for brain cancer. I have also volunteered with the True/False Film Festival and the Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND: I worked as an account coordinator for a large marketing and advertising agency in St. Louis while managing small local bands on the side for fun. In 2001 I was offered a job at Warner Bros. Records in Los Angeles as an A&R scout. A contract renegotiation took me from Warner Bros. Records to Interscope Records in the same capacity. After a few years I decided to move from the label side of the music industry to the management side and worked with bands and entertainers. As an entertainment and celebrity manager, I worked with high profile clients (i.e. Mariah Carey, Tyra Banks, Nicole Richie, to name a few) and after a few years made the transition from celebrity management to licensed sports agent and client manager within the emerging sport of mixed martial arts. I took a position as vice president of marketing for a company called TapouT and stayed there for six months before returning to Columbia in February of this year.
A COLUMBIA BUSINESSPERSON I ADMIRE AND WHY: Richard King (The Blue Note) is someone I keep in high regard, as well as Teresa Maledy (Commerce Bank). They are genuine. They work hard. They offer advice and guidance. They love their community.
WHY I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT MY JOB: I truly love Columbia. Being able to work for the Chamber of Commerce and apply my experience and skill set in a way that could help such an amazing community is inspiring and exciting.
IF I WEREN’T DOING THIS FOR A LIVING, I WOULD: If I won the lottery tomorrow and knew I would be set for life, I would open a yoga and meditation studio, connect it to a nonprofit and become a full-time author. I might have to add on a gourmet coffee, tea and wine shop at some point — but that would be after I won the second lottery.
BIGGEST CAREER OBSTACLE I’VE OVERCOME AND HOW: During the years, I’ve worked in industries where it is vitally important that women maintain a professional image to be taken seriously. As a sports manager/agent in a male-dominated sport such as MMA, I felt like I spent a lot of time proving myself, rarely to my clients or fellow agents but to outsiders.
A FAVORITE RECENT PROJECT: I truly enjoy working with our Junior Leadership Columbia group. It is informative, interesting and thought-provoking to provide participating high school juniors with an opportunity to learn about topics such as volunteerism, team building, arts and entertainment, health care, diversity, media, the economy and state government. The program is designed to motivate emerging leaders and develop potential for community leadership by acquainting participants with the opportunities, realities and challenges of the community.
WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS PROFESSION: For communications and marketing, I think people should understand the importance of utilizing all possible outlets and not limiting themselves. Social media and other Internet-based forms of marketing haven’t caught on here yet, at least not to the extent that they have in the larger markets. I try to incorporate out-of-the-box thinking and ideas when it comes to communications. If you’re not ahead of the curve these days, you might already be behind it.
WHAT I DO FOR FUN: I love running and try to participate in a handful of 5Ks, 10Ks, half-marathons and marathons every year. To date I’ve run five marathons, five half-marathons and many 5Ks and 10Ks. I also love yoga, cooking, reading and spending time with friends.
FAMILY: I moved back to Columbia to be closer to my family again. I have my dad (Ron Barnes), stepmother (Dixie Barnes) and my little brother (Dixon Barnes, a senior at Rock Bridge). I also have my mother (Melody Vydas) and stepfather (Saul Vydas) a drive away in Columbus, Miss. I have siblings and their spouses here in Columbia, Kansas City and in Los Angeles. I am single.
FAVORITE PLACE IN COLUMBIA: I absolutely love the MKT. If running is my therapist, then the MKT is the couch. It’s a wonderful, beautiful, healing place.
ACCOMPLISHMENT I’M MOST PROUD OF: I am proud that I was brave enough to pick up my life and try something new like moving across the country by myself to take a job in Los Angeles. I am proud that I had enough trust in myself to try — no matter how scary or uncomfortable it was. When I was in the most uncomfortable and unexpected situations, I learned the most about myself. In my years in Los Angeles, I learned a lot.
MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THAT I: I collect vintage clothes. My vices are red wine, coffee, books and fitness magazines. My favorite clothes are boots, big sweaters and scarves; I am happy it’s autumn and time to pull them out!