Barbi Jones joined the The Chamber, Leading Business in Cabarrus as executive director in 2016. During her tenure, the Chamber team has worked to increase business-friendly public policy at local, state and national levels to benefit Cabarrus County businesses, offer ongoing educational, marketing and networking opportunities for members, and work with community nonprofits to connect programs to resources. Noting the importance of workforce development, The Chamber became a founding partner of the Cabarrus County Career Technical Education Advisory Board that she currently chairs connecting Cabarrus County Schools and Kannapolis City Schools’ CTE programs to partners to offer students real-life career education and experiences. Convening partners to help eliminate barriers to work such as affordable childcare, housing and transportation are strategic initiatives for The Chamber.

Prior to her work at The Chamber, Barbi was the Chief Communications and Engagement Officer for United Way of Central Carolinas where she oversaw strategic communications, volunteer engagement and public and community relations for the affiliate that raised over $22 million dollars a year, investing in over 150 programs in a five-county region that helped nearly 300,000 people. She additionally worked for United Way of Central Carolinas – Cabarrus County, Craven & Company Realtors and Habitat for Humanity Cabarrus County.

A native of Durham, NC, she holds a B.A. in Journalism/Public Relations from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A longtime resident of Concord, NC, Barbi is married with two grown sons.