Shawn Barnes is Williams-Keepers LLC's director of business development. He has more than 16 years of professional experience in news media, higher education, state government and professional services marketing and business development. He joined the firm in February 2002.

Shawn works with WK’s member owners and associates to develop innovative business development strategies designed to reach existing and prospective clients in the following industries: financial institutions; higher education; construction; family business; not-for-profit; employee benefit planning; agribusiness; real estate; and healthcare.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s of education from the University of Missouri. Shawn is a graduate of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce’s 2006 Leadership Columbia program, and he has served as co-chair of the Chamber’s Small Business Committee and as a member of the Leadership Columbia Steering Committee. He was also named to the Columbia Business Times' 2007 20 under 40 list, which recognizes outstanding business leaders under the age of 40 in the Columbia community.

Shawn is member of Columbia Metro Rotary Club and serves on the club’s Board of Directors. He is also a member of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce and the Association for Accounting Marketing. Shawn is serving his second term as a member of the Marketing and Business Development Committee for the PKF North American Network, an association of 89 mid-sized accounting and consulting firms.