Insider's Corner: Tom & Kathleen Barber

Tom and Kathleen Barber, have lived in Wilmington for two decades. Tom, 78, worked as vice president of operations for Continental Airlines and vice president of its Houston hub before retiring. Kathleen, 68, was senior director of airport operations for Continental and served as senior director of the airline’s Cleveland hub before retiring. 

City: Wilmington

Hometowns: Staunton, Virginia, and Denver 

How did you prepare for retirement? “Since we would be retiring before traditional retirement age, we decided we would like a small business to operate. Within a few months, a franchise broker recommended that we consider a Great Clips for Hair opportunity. Initially, we were lukewarm to the concept despite the broker pointing out that our last name was Barber! The franchisor offered us an incredible opportunity to purchase complete market rights to a territory that extended from the South Carolina border to just south of Jacksonville. … We opened 14 salons in seven years! In late 1999, we executed the franchise agreement, and Kathleen retired to start the operation.” In 2006, they also purchased A&B Personnel services, in partnership with Kathleen’s sister. 

Second retirement: “We really retired in 2012 when we sold our Great Clips franchise to another franchisee that we had been mentoring, and A&B Personnel Services was sold to Greene Resources of Raleigh.”

What community activities are you involved in: Tom: served eight years on the New Hanover County Airport Authority board; is a UNCW Cameron School of Business mentor; and served three years on The Harrelson Center board, including as board president in 2021; Kathleen: served six years on the Cape Fear Community College Foundation board; Both: active in their church community and served on committees there including for outreach, finance and trustees

Favorite ways to spend a day: “Coffee and bagels in the morning on the beach, pickleball, wine club at Country Club of Landfall and bicycling” 

Any restaurant picks: “Dinners with friends at Roku, Bento Box, Brent’s Bistro, The Bridge Tender and Quanto Basta. There are so many!”