Spencer barker
President of The Licking County Courthouse Lighting Committee, Inc.
Spencer, a lifelong member of the Licking County community, is actively involved in various projects throughout North America. He serves as a Corporate Real Estate Analyst at MPW Industrial Services, where he manages over 80 properties across the U.S. and Canada. In addition he serves as a Newark City Councilman representing the city’s 5th Ward.
Following the legacy of his late father, John C. “Jay” Barker, Spencer is deeply committed to the Licking County Courthouse Lighting Committee, where he currently holds the position of President on the Board of Directors. His community involvement extends to being a member and past president of the Newark-Heath Rotary Club, a member of Second Presbyterian Church in downtown Newark where he also serves on the governing board, and a former board member of the LICCO Supporting Foundation. Additionally, he is an active participant in the Young Leaders of Licking County and previously served as Vice President for Marketing & Events on the Board of Directors. In 2020, Spencer joined the Marketing Board of the Ronald McDonald House of Central Ohio, contributing his extensive knowledge of the Licking County market to support RMHCO’s growth.
In 2023, Spencer was appointed to the Energy Co-Operative Roundup Foundation Board by the Energy Co-Op Board of Directors. This role holds special significance for Spencer, as his late father, Jay, was the first Chairman of the Foundation, and his mother, Beth, also served on the board from 2016 to 2022, ending her tenure as Chairwoman.
In 2019, Spencer became the Marketing Manager for Newark Development Partners, leading efforts to revamp the image and branding for the City of Newark. Later that year, in November, he was appointed to fill a vacant Newark City Council At-Large seat and was reappointed in 2020 for a two-year term. He successfully ran for re-election in November 2021, winning by a margin of over 400 votes.
Spencer also has a rich entrepreneurial background. He owned Elite Marketing, a local agency specializing in brand development, logo design, sales and marketing collateral, and social media management. From 2009 to 2020, he ran a video production company, iSAB Video, based in Granville, which was the exclusive videographer for Patty’s Dance Center, LTD.
In 2018, Spencer was recognized as one of the Newark Advocate’s 20 Under 40 honorees and was named Young Leaders of Licking County’s Member of the Year.
A graduate of Granville High School, Spencer went on to attend The Ohio State University – Newark. He later attended The Ohio Auction School, becoming a licensed auctioneer in Ohio, and obtained his real estate license.
Spencer currently resides in Newark with his wife, Caileigh, their son, John, and their dog, Winston.
Previously, Spencer has held roles at HER, Realtors; Shai Commercial Real Estate; Apple Tree Auction Center; Central Ohio Geriatrics; Apple Inc.; and The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art & Technology.