Charles Barber
Age: 52
Biography: graduate of West Rowan High School; has operated restaurants; photography business.
Business: Barber Furniture Company and Supply established in 1976 ówood products, construction, restoration of old buildings, construction of new houses, buildings; designs and build furniture; Charlie’s barbecue sauce; sells woodstoves, cookers.
More on Barber family business go to Web site: barberwood.com.
Family venture: wife, Susan, is the accountant; daughter, Angel, handles Web site and technology, also operates equestrian venture, Tender Mercy Farm, established in 1996; Ana (Christiana) Barber, secretary; son, Charles Christian, works at the plant; Charles Barber: “We got the whole family including a couple of wannabe son-in-laws.”
Family ties: parents, Geraldine Barber and Preston Barber; grandfather, the late William Preston Barber Sr. ran a veneer plant in Cleveland.
Going Green: Heats warehouse and kiln with burned motor oil and transmission fluid.
Charlie’s BBQ Sauce: Six-year-old venture, sells locally and from Boston to Florida on Web site. Four varieties ógoes from mildest, Pantyhose, with the temperature rising through Coon Dog, Redneck and Super Red ó the hottest. Barber claims it works great on anything including cornbread and greens.
Favorite foods: Shrimp provencal; also likes collard greens with Coon Dog sauce.