2016-2017 PROPELLER CLUB MARITIME PERSON OF THE YEAR—PATRICK T. BARBER
An article several years ago, described Pat Barber as “a quintessential American entrepreneur, building his business from the bottom up and providing informed and selfless leadership to the logistics industry of South Carolina.”. His trajectory has gone from founding a trucking company in his twenties with one truck, one trailer and one employee to the Superior Transportation we all know today. Today, Superior operates more than 40 company power units with 75 employees. The company is regarded as one of the top haulers of oversized and high-valued cargoes in the United States. Beyond his commitment to building the Superior brand, however, Pat serves the maritime community in countless ways.
Serving as Chairman of the SC Waterfront Works initiative and immediate past chairman of the Maritime Association where he remains actively engaged, Pat volunteers much of his time to bringing the interests of the maritime community to light. The SC Waterfront Works initiative is a maritime community collaborative effort to bring awareness to logistics and maritime sector careers, highlighting their significant impact upon our State’s economy. It is also our effort to educate the greater Charleston area about the rich history of the Port of Charleston through to today and further… to our prospects for the future.
Serving the logistics sector in an array of capacities, Pat is past chair of the South Carolina Trucking Association and the Charleston Motors Carriers Association. His leadership of these organizations are widely recognized. Pat also serves on the Board of Directors for the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce and the S.C. Fix Our Roads Coalition. Aside from his governing positions, Pat participates as an active member of a wide array of statewide organizations serving to advance the interests of the waterfront community, and further, our State.
A passionate advocate for education, Pat is a member of the Advisory Committee for the Trident Technical College Truck Driving School and a guest lecturer at the College of Charleston School of Business Logistics and Supply Chain program. He mentors young logistics managers, meanwhile offering Superior Transportation as a home for internships and means for scholarships for students and newcomers to the industry.
A North Charleston native, Pat is a devoted husband and doting father. He and his wife Kimberly live in Mount Pleasant with their four children, Daniel (19), Thomas (16), Eliza (14), and James (8).