“It helped me. I shudder to think where I’d be if I had not discovered Jackson College and had it not been accessible to me when I needed it. Being on the board is my way of giving back.” Barnes said. “For me, it’s a matter of giving back to the institution that’s helped me create my standard of living.” Barnes was born and raised in the Hanover-Horton area and serves as the COO of Commonwealth Associates. Saying, “I’m fortunate enough to be here in Jackson and work in Jackson at Commonwealth Associates. Commonwealth is a fantastic, employee-owned company; which makes a huge difference. We’re not controlled by someone in another city, we are the world headquarters right here in Jackson. The employees own the company and I serve as the Chief Operating Officer.” Barnes added that he marvels at student success outcomes, and his reward is the stores of perseverance. “It is so awesome to see the stories of folks who are really, really struggling, but they persevere, Jackson College is there to help them and it is making measurable difference in their families’ lives. They’re bringing home a livable wage, a sustainable wage, that they wouldn’t have been able to do without that education. That, to me, is worth it right there.”
