Tony Barnett

Tony has had a remarkable journey to where he presently stands. The son of an information technology & communications pioneer (a co-founder of Telenet), he grew up in an environment that taught him all aspects of a business, small and large. He can honestly say he’s had every job from dishwasher to the owner of an IT services firm and recruiting firm. His career experiences range from hospitality, financial, and technology to entertainment, government contracting, and not-for-profit. Most recently in insurance.   

Over the years, he’s had the pleasure of working with people like Paul Newman, Donna Rice, and former Congresswoman Barbara Comstock, to name a few.     He is a passionate and insightful leader who understands the challenges of building and managing successful teams while sustaining a growing margin. He has a passion (like his father) for following innovative and disruptive businesses. In recent years he has consulted for companies in AI, Software Development, Cyber Security, Manufacturing, and Food Service. For the past three years, he has been a leader in the Kaufman Foundation’s One Million Cups program, fostering entrepreneurship development in the Washington DC Area.     

In his current role as Chief of Staff at Shirley Luu and Associates, he assists in managing an independent insurance firm with over 4,000 nationwide agents. In his spare time, he manages a community pool, develops fundraisers for cancer research, and leverages his skills as a trained chef for private events and charities. Additionally, he has a newfound passion for nighttime scorpion hunting.     

Tony is working with Mark & Bridget and the team at SLA to improve the confidence of business owners throughout the Mid-Atlantic region by implementing the GOALL Program.