Karenthia A. Barber

Karenthia A. Barber is a consultant, strategist, and coach whose expertise spans business, education, and politics. Barber is the founder and CEO of Professional Development Associates, LLC, a consulting practice that provides leadership and workforce training, coaching, and diversity, equity, and inclusion audits and consulting. Her career spans more than three decades, during which she has worked with over 300,000 individuals and organizations through a range of programs and services.

Under Barber's leadership, the firm has delivered organizational development and training programs for companies of all sizes, including federal, state, corporate, and nonprofit organizations in the United States and internationally. Her areas of expertise include leadership, motivation, supervision, communication, conflict management, diversity and inclusion, customer service, community engagement, and workplace violence mitigation.

Barber has contributed to academia as an adjunct faculty member at both university and community college levels. She has held both appointed and elected positions, providing guidance to corporate executives, elected officials, and public figures. Her academic background includes undergraduate education at the University of Pittsburgh and graduate studies at Penn State University. She is also an alumna of Leadership Maryland and Coach University.

Barber made history as the first woman chair of the Board of Trustees of Maryland Automobile Insurance, overseeing governance and leadership for the $100 million carrier. She was appointed by the Governor of Maryland as a commissioner on the Port Commission of Maryland, becoming the first African American woman to hold this position. Additionally, she served as chair of the Baltimore City Democratic State Central Committee, leading the organization through the pandemic lockdown.

Barber has received recognition for her contributions, including The Maryland Daily Record's Top 100 Women in Maryland, the Gold Leadership Award from Leadership Maryland, the Living Legend Award from the National Association of Negro Professional and Business Women's Clubs, the George Russell Jr. Community Service Award, a Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Pittsburgh Alumni Association, and Influence Digest's Top 15 Coaches in Baltimore.

Barber's commitment to community service spans more than four decades. Through the Jay and Rosa Barber Family Foundation, she awards scholarships to students in select Baltimore City Public Schools. She also contributes to the Morgan State University President's Committee for the Morgan State Choir, the Maryland Democratic Party Executive Committee, and the Baltimore City Historical Society Board. Barber continues to influence business, education, and public service through speaking engagements, consulting, and civic leadership.