Born and raised in Carmel, Indiana, Stacey Barker brings her homegrown hospitality, free spirit, diverse skill set and strong value system to Jade Umbrella. Having graduated with a B.A. in Clothing & Textiles from the University of Akron and completed graduate studies in Fashion Design from the Art Institute of Chicago, Stacey’s professional career started with the Levis Corporation. Having a knack for networking and being out on the Chicago style circuit, she quickly established her footing in the fashion community as an emerging designer and significant member of the apparel industry. Combining the subculture of the underground electronic music scene and avant-garde, Stacey quickly merged the two worlds — balancing a career in fashion and DJ representation. Vinyl Kitty Productions and Proteksion Records marked the birthplace of large-scale club events, promotion and artist management. It was here she learned the alpha role in running a record label amidst the tight-knit Chicago house music community. Trading out snowflakes for sunshine, Hollywood, CA became the next stop on Stacey’s map in 2000.
People’s Revolution served as Stacey’s first splash into public relations, showroom experience and fashion show production. PR powerhouse and owner, Kelly Cutrone, became a tremendous influence and mentor to Stacey. The creative chaos of behind the scenes action and “rush” of the runway became a milestone marker, fueling her future in PR and marketing. Over a decade-plus now resided in Los Angeles and having worked for multiple public relations firms and in-house positions later, Stacey has served a plethora of lifestyle brands and entertainment accounts. Alive Expo Green Pavilion’s celebrity driven eco-luxury lounges played a significant stepping stone to Stacey’s commitment to the natural products category, non-profits, and philanthropic campaigns. Now a permanent fixture to Power & Industry’s #IndieLounge, Stacey is a proud representative of the sixth largest and third oldest running independent lounge at the Sundance Film Festival.
From concept to creation, Stacey has a crafted way of thinking outside the box and is obsessed with details, details, details!!! Known for her Midwestern TLC, Stacey watches over Team Jade and their clients as the proud “Mother Hen” of the Jade Umbrella organization. Whether it’s promoting Kevin Hart’s Heartbeat Weekend at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas, the Los Angeles Soul Music Festival, independent movies such as “Range 15” at Sundance and GI Film Festivals, off-road race car drivers in the Lucas Oil Series, Grammy Award-winning songwriters or the high intensity rush of a strategic, nationwide beauty campaign, quality work, results and integrity are key to this proud “Hoosier.” With synergy and sense of “sparkle,” Jade Umbrella’s CEO knows good business!
Jade Motto: “My idea of a superwoman is a woman who scrubs her own floors…” (Bette Midler)