Zachary Barker, CEcD

Hailing from Colorado Springs, Colorado, Zachary Barker is a Certified Economic Developer specializing startup support training, as well as entrepreneur-led economic development strategies and program design. With 20 years of entrepreneur consulting, Zachary has designed a strengths-based training supporting the growth of first-time entrepreneurs. The custom Entrepreneur Blueprint or EBP model, empowers entrepreneurs to use their unique strengths, skills, and interests to build a business that is designed to thrive based on the individual. By helping to develop successful entrepreneur ecosystems in Nashville (TN), Lafayette (LA), and Colorado Springs (CO), Zachary has become recognized as an expert trainer in growing and supporting entrepreneurs. He is also as an expert economic development professional by multiple organizations including the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), International Business Innovation Association (InBIA), and Oklahoma University’s Economic Development Institute. Zachary holds a Master of Science degree in Economic Development from Murray State University, as well as a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Middle Tennessee State University. He is happily married to his beautiful wife, Dr. Nancy Dubuisson Barker, and is daddy to two rescue dogs, Millie the Bean and Java Lava.