Kathy Barber has taken the role of legislative director for the Austin office of the National Federation of Independent Business/Texas. She will be responsible for maintaining the federation's public policy and political programs in Texas.

Barber has served as vice president of government affairs of the Texas Retailers Association; state government relations manager where she dealt with multi-state legislative issues; and has held government relations and lobbying positions
with the American Cancer Society, the YMCA of the USA, and the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services.

Barber holds a bachelor's degree in Legal Studies and a master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Illinois at Springfield.