Staff Spotlight – Lee Barnes, Jr.

Lee Barnes, Jr.

Director of Operations at Upper Room/Upper Room, Inc.

Tell us a little about your family and where you are from.
I am from Kansas City, MO. I have a wife, Terri Barnes, and a son, Lee Barnes, III.

How long have you been at the Upper Room and in what roles/capacity?
I have been here for 13 years; started as Director of Operations and been here ever since. In June of 2016, I began as Interim Executive Director.

What made you desire to work for the Upper Room?
I guess I had been working with the DuBois Learning Center and the director there asked me if I would help them run their summer program and that got me in touch with the Upper Room and that was the start. I was kind of asked if I could help them.

What is your favorite program that the Upper Room provides, and why? (I know people aren’t supposed to have favorites, but everyone does!)
Probably the music program, because I am a musician myself and understand how music helps children enhance other skills.

What hobbies or interests do you have outside of work?
I enjoy music and play the drums in a band called “Ground Level.” I like sports, I used to play baseball through high school and college, and now enjoy watching all sports.