Q: What were the career steps of Jim Barber, who started as a Georgia delivery driver and was recently named president of UPS International? What is his educational background?
—Michelle Hutchinson, Marietta
A: Barber began his UPS career as a delivery driver in 1985 and held several accounting positions over the next few years, according to his company bio. He was promoted to accounting manager in 1989 and to district financial controller in Buffalo, N.Y., in 1996. He moved to Chicago before being appointed the West Region Financial Coordinator in Omaha, Neb., in 1998. Two years later, Barber became a transaction deal manager in Atlanta, was appointed controller of the southeast region in 2002 and then was named vice president of finance and accounting in the Europe region in 2004. He held other positions in Germany, the United Kingdom and Belgium, working his way up to president of UPS Europe in July 2011. He was "responsible for all UPS operations across the more than 120 countries and territories" in that role. Barber, who has a degree in finance from Auburn, will succeed Dan Brutto as president of UPS International this year.
Q: There was a news trailer on TV that said Gainesville High School won USA Today’s High School Sports Best Mascot contest for Georgia. The mascot was not identified. What is it?
—Kathy McDonough, Peachtree Corners
A: Gainesville High School's nickname is the Red Elephants. Gainesville won the state contest and was in the running for one of six region titles in the U.S. The school that wins the overall contest will receive $2,000 and "be named the best high school sports mascot in the U.S."
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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