Brandon Barber a Cautionary Tale (Commentary)

Forty Under 40 is an honor, not a guarantee.

If you need proof, look no further than Fort Smith, where just a few weeks ago, Brandon Barber pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit bankruptcy fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and money laundering.

At the tender age of 37, Barber has already been around the block a few times, and things will only get
worse. In the near future he’s going to prison.

As you may or may not know, Barber was a member of the 2003 class of Forty Under 40. Back then, he was a 27-year-old hotshot with Fayetteville in the palm of his hand. As a VP at Community Bank of Northwest Arkansas, and as the head of an assortment of side ventures, the sky was literally the limit for Barber.

But the sky fell, and the burden was a bit too heavy for him. For months defiant and high-flying in New York City, Barber finally gave in and admitted that, yes, he’d tried to swindle a few banks out of a few million dollars.

We can learn a lot from his story: Do things the right way or one day you’ll be made to pay. Circumstances change. What was solid one day could be precarious the next.

This leads us back to this year’s class.

Make sure you read each and every bio in this issue. Savor your success as you celebrate the success of others. From the mountaintops of Colorado to the extraordinary wilds of Kenya, this class has seen a lot. Believe us. You’ll be impressed.

The road you’ve been on up to this point in your life has taken you in the right direction. Stay on it if you can.