MONTREAT — George F. Barber III announced today his resignation as president of the Montreat Conference Center effective February 15. He will be available for consultation through April 30.
In his resignation letter, Barber said that he and his wife, Wanda, “feel we have completed the chapter of leadership God intended us to bring here and are confident that it is time for us to move on. We are excited about the new phase and potential for our lives.”
Barber cited advancements in the operation of the conference center, especially in the areas of financial accountability and procedures; facility improvements; debt reduction; restructuring of the trustee board and establishing of a Senior Leadership Team (SLT).
He noted the vision for Montreat’s future represented in the SLT’s plan introduced in September 2007 “to break the cycle of financial failure the conference center has experienced from its inception. The plan is aggressive and will require faith and very hard work. I think bold changes will be necessary. Implementing those changes will require an extended effort over a long period and a common vision and understanding of mission fully shared by all of our constituencies. The organization is poised to move boldly into a bright future.”
Barber was elected by the Montreat Board of Directors in 2003. He is a certified public accountant and Presbyterian elder. Leaving a CPA firm in Memphis in 1995 to follow God’s leading, Barber helped develop a retirement community in Blytheville, Ark., as president and CEO of the Presbyterian Development Corporation. He later served as vice president for finance for Cooperative Retirement Services of America in Memphis before assuming the presidency at Montreat.
Barber “has provided leadership for us as we restored financial accountability, achieved unprecedented success in the establishment of an endowment, completed a long range planning process, and revitalized conferences across the entire age spectrum,” said Frank Spencer, chairman of the board for the conference center.
A search committee soon will begin looking for the next Montreat president.
According to Spencer, executive committee members will partner one-on-one with the Senior Leadership Team during the transition period. The day-to-day activities will be handled by vice presidents Bob Tuttle, John Richardson, Merri Bass, Mike Morse, and Richard Sills.
“It has been a privilege and an honor for us to serve the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in this role,” says Barber. “We have loved the ministry of Montreat Conference Center since our first experience in 1990. We will continue to love and support this critical ministry of the PC(USA) and encourage you to do the same.”
