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Stephen Barba

Executive Director of University Relations

Email
MSC#2
Phone:  603-535-2722 / Fax: 603-535-3126
University Relations is located in the Speare Administration Building 2nd floor, Room 202
Reports: Business Liaison Office, Conferences and Special Events, Office of Public Relations, Silver Center for the Arts

Professional Information

Stephen P. Barba worked at The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire starting in 1959 when, as a thirteen year old, he attended the caddy camp. He spent succeeding summer seasons there serving in a variety of jobs such as: golf course greenskeeper, bell hop, doorman, waiter, and bartender. From junior high school days through to a graduate teaching assistantship in English literature at Michigan State University, whenever school was out Barba continued to return to the White Mountains. In 1970 university faculty and students went on strike in protest of the war in Southeast Asia, so Barba once again returned to The Balsams. He accepted a management position in 1971 along with another former employee.

From 1976 with three managing partners, Barba owned the operating company for the 15,000 acre resort. His continuous management spanned 35 years until his retirement in 2005. Barba then served as Innkeeper Emeritus to provide on-site counsel and continuity to the new management until 2006.

In 2006 Barba accepted a senior administrative position with Plymouth State University as Executive Director of University Relations.

Barba currently serves in these and other community positions:

• Director, Citizens Bank-New Hampshire
• Trustee, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
• Vice Chair, Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinic
• Director, New Hampshire Community Technical College Foundation
• Director, Plymouth Chamber of Commerce
• Director, The Northern Forest Center
• Member, Governor's Job Corps Center Task Force

Previous positions served:

• President, New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association
• President, New Hampshire Travel Council
• President, NH Golf Association
• Chairman, New Hampshire Public Television
• President, Ski the White Mountains
• Chairman, National Resort Committee - American Hotel & Lodging Association
• Member, Coos County Planning Board
• Director, Business and Industry Association
• Director, New Hampshire Nature Conservancy
• Director, New England Innkeepers Association
• Vice-chair, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
• Vice-chair, New Hampshire Joint Promotional Program (25 years)
• Selectman, Town of Dixville (35 years)
• Director, Northern New Hampshire Foundation
• Commissioner, The Governor's Blue Ribbon Commission on Educational Funding
• Trustee, New Hampshire Historical Society

Awards:

• New Hampshire Public Radio "25 in 25" - One of Twenty-five citizens who have shaped New Hampshire during twenty-five years of NHPR—2007
• Distinguished Citizen Award - Boy Scouts of America, Daniel Webster Council—2006
• Lifetime of Service Award - Northern New Hampshire Foundation—2005
• Official Commendation - Governor John H. Lynch—2005
• New Hampshire Business Leader of the Year—2003
• Official Resolution - New Hampshire State Senate—2001
• Lifetime Achievement Award - Business and Industry Association of NH—2001
• Lifetime Achievement Award, New Hampshire Travel Council—2001
• Volunteer of the Year - AH & LA—2000
• Granite State Award - University of New Hampshire—1998
• Yankee Award - The Yankee Chapter of PRSA—1992
• National Resort Executive of the Year—1991
• New England Inns and Resorts Association: Lifetime Membership Award—2005
• New Hampshire Tourism Person of the Year—1988
• New Hampshire Innkeeper of the Year—1981