Former Redbird has risen to
the top in Washington, DC

West Frankfort Daily American

By Bob Ellis

hawk@dailyaillericannews.com
Published: February 5, 2010

Music and politics. That's what motivated former Redbird Scott Barker when he attended Frankfort Community High School. Those two interests, and the nurturing that he received from local educators, launched him on an adventure that eventually took him to the center of political power in the world,
Washington, D.C.

Hawthorn Group Chairman and CEO John Ashford has announced that Barker, a Vice President of the firm located in Alexandria, Virginia, has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Communications. "Barker's more than 20 years of experience includes political campaign, government,corporate and agency work," the CEO pointed out.

He added that Barker was one of the first innovators in the use of digital media and is recognized for designing communications and grassroots programs that effectively integrate web-based tactics with traditional communications.

"During his time at Hawthorn, Scott has done a tremendous job helping our clients achieve their goals through the design and implementation of award-winning grassroots programs;' Ashford said. "In addition, his work has helped keep Hawthorn and its clients on the cutting edge in the area of social media and digital communications."

Barker joined the Hawthorn Group in 2007. Previously, he worked for nine years as a strategist for Triad Communication, a communication agency specializing in digital solutions.

Interested in politics since his days as an FCHS student, Barker also served in various communications positions for the Republican National Committee (RNC), including field adVisor to GOP state parties, assistant press secretary and speechwriter to the chair and co-chair of the RNC. During his time at the RNC, he pioneered an electronic bulletin board for use by the state parties.

He also served in the George H.W. Bush administration as communications specialist to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, creating campaigns to promote the department's initiatives through earned and paid media. Following his time at HHS, Barker went to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida where he created and managed a grassroots network that successfully advocated on health care issues at the state and national level. His programs have won awards from the Public Affairs Council and National Conference of Political Involvement Professionals.

Founded in 1992, the Hawthorn Group is an international public affairs company specializing in heavily regulated industries including beverage, electric utility, energy,finance and security.

Scott graduated from FCHS with the class of 1982. His passion was music. "I packed up my tuba and went to the University of Illinois;' he told the Daily American in an exclusive interview. He majored in Music Education then switched to Political Science and explained the critical decision thusly: "I figured there wasn't enough hot air in politics and they could use a tuba player."

The political bug had bitten him arid he was in for the long haul. "I came home after graduation and worked on a local Congressional election. We lost. So I packed up what I could in my dad's Oldsmobile and headed to Washington, DC. I scraped by for six months until I finally found a job. I've lived here ever since except for four years when I lived in Jacksonville, Florida."

Don't think for a moment that just because he lives in the most politically-exciting city in the world that he has forsaken his music. He has stayed involved in music through community.choruses and bands. His resume includes the fact that for 10 years he conducted a community symphonic band in D. C. and,"was thrilled to conduct them at the Kennedy Center in 2007."

He is also a traveling Redbird. "My job takes me all across the country. In my personal time I've traveled to Europe and central and South America. One of the best trips was a five-day hike through the Andes in, Peru, that ended at Machu Picchu at sunrise."

Barker said he loves living in Washington, with its interesting history, plentiful parks and bike trails.'Tm an avid bicyclist and bike to work, from my house in D. C, to Alexandria, VA, across the Potomac.

"Recently I've been back in touch with some of my friends there in West Frankfort, including Amy Shelby Durfee, Tim Uhls and Cathy Lamont. I would love to hear from more. I remember most all the things we did in band, the concerts, playing for the basketball games and then the mad dash after the third quarter (when the band was dismissed) to Marion or Carbondale to catch the 9 p.m. movie. Now that I can walk to a movie theater I rarely go!"

Like with thousands of former Redbirds scattered throughout the world, the high school song is over but the melody lingers on. "I have grateful memories of several teachers. Mike Thomas encouraged me
in music, which gave me great self-confidence. My mother told me that the time I spent in band would be my happiest memories from school, and she was right. And I'm still a band nerd.

"Russell Clover helped me improve my writing skills and that has helped me tremendously in my career. People who can write do well here in D.C. And I hated math but always liked Mrs. Dean. My grade point average would have been so much higher if only we had spell check and the Internet back then.

"I feel fortunate to have grown up in the Midwest. I think the midwestern .work ethic has served me well and I'm proud to say West Frankfort is my hometown."

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