Meet the
Barret Staff
Chris Kelley, Executive Director – Mr. Kelley is the Executive Director & President of the Barret School of Banking since 2003. He is a graduate of the Barret Class of 2000, and served as the Alumni Association President. Chris was a Board member prior to becoming the Executive Director. He began his banking career in 1995 in a management trainee position with National Bank of Commerce in Memphis. His final role was Senior VP in Branch Administration. Prior to starting his banking career, Chris played professional baseball for the Texas Rangers. Chris has an undergraduate degree in finance from the University of Tennessee, where he played baseball, and received his MBA from Christian Brothers University. He was born and raised in Andalusia, Alabama, and moved to Memphis in 1995. He is married with two children. Chris has served for a number of civic organizations in the Memphis area, including board member of Leadership Memphis and the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis. He has served on the PTA of his childrens’ schools for more than 10 years. He has been a volunteer youth sports coach for the past 15 years.
Ashley Gordon, Registrar and Communications Director –Ashley has been with Barret since 2017. She graduated from the University of Memphis in 2003 with a degree in Sports Management/ Marketing. Before working at the Barret School of Banking, Ashley served as the Athletic Director at Idlewild Presbyterian Church in Memphis, TN. Ashley started out at Barret as the registrar and recently took on the role of communications director. You will most likely find Ashley in the gym with a basketball in her hand watching a game, coaching a team, or just shooting around. She loves the outdoors, playing with her two boys, or cheering on the Memphis Tigers.
Byron Earnheart, Programming Director – Byron Earnheart is the Programming Director for the Barret School of Banking and the host of the “Main Street Banking” podcast…the #1 rated community banking podcast on Apple. He has over 20 years experience in the financial services industry; 11 of which have been in banking in various roles from teller work to branch management. He spends his time playing guitar and singing in Delta Heart (the “house band of the Mississippi Delta”), song writing, cooking, reading, and enduring the University of Tennessee Volunteers athletic seasons. He is married to his wife Kelly of 13 years and has two children, John Aubrey (11) and Mary Laura (8). To hear some of Byron’s original music, just listen to any of Barret’s webinars or check out his artist page here. Feel free to connect with Byron on any of his social media accounts or by email at byron@barretbanking.org
