Meet Our Team

Growing up on a North Carolina farm in Robeson County, William Barker moved to Raleigh in 1973 to attend N.C. State University. He began real estate sales in 1979, and founded Barker Realty in 1984 as an investment and property management real estate company. William Barker began selling real estate in the Raleigh area in 1979 with Bacon and Company. In 1989, William began building custom homes under William T. Barker Construction. He later formed Barker and Lovette Construction Company, specializing in commercial building renovations and fit-ups. Over this time period, William has also been involved as managing partner in several companies specializing in land development. He has served on the NC Building Code Committee, is a member of the Wake County Home Builders Association, the National HBA, and the Raleigh Board of Realtors.

Laura has been a licensed Real Estate Broker for many years and has extensive selling, leasing and property management experience. She arrived in North Carolina nearly 10 years ago with her husband and two children after spending most of her life in New Jersey. Laura enjoys spending time with family and friends. She enjoys building Legos, going to the beach, and reading. She also enjoys spending time with her 3 adopted dogs.

Laura enjoys helping others and is experienced in building relationships with owners, tenants and vendors. She is skilled at ensuring the efficiency of operations by making sure needs are completed in a timely manner, ultimately leading to the continued preservation of our owner’s assets.

With over a decade of dedicated service in the Army, Jonathan brings a wealth of experience and a strong work ethic to the field of property management. Transitioning from military life in 2020, Jonathan embarked on a new journey, applying the same commitment and precision honed during his service to managing properties with excellence and integrity.

Driven by a deep sense of purpose, Jonathan’s ambition is fueled by the unwavering support of his wife and son, as well as a steadfast commitment to his faith. This personal motivation translates into a passionate and client-focused approach in property management, where Jonathan strives to exceed expectations and deliver exceptional results.

Whether overseeing complex property portfolios or addressing the needs of individual clients, Jonathan’s military background equips him with unparalleled discipline, problem-solving skills, and a proactive mindset. His dedication to continuous improvement and excellence ensures that every property under his care is managed with the utmost attention and professionalism.

Outside of work, Jonathan enjoys spending quality time with family and engaging in outdoor activities such as surfing and camping. His journey from a decorated Army veteran to a thriving property management professional is a testament to his resilience, dedication, and commitment to making a positive impact.

Jennifer was born and raised in New Hampshire and moved to North Carolina in 2000 with her husband and two children. With over two decades of experience in sales and business development, Jennifer is a seasoned professional she consistently demonstrated her ability to drive growth and foster long-term client relationships. Her strategic approach and commitment to excellence have been instrumental in her success. Jennifer is also a volunteer with the state of NC as a GAL (guardian at litem) for children in foster care.

Chan was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Winston-Salem State University. She has been working in property management since 2010 and obtained her NC Real Estate License in 2020. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her family, watching sports and trying new recipes.

Brett is from Kernersville, North Carolina, and joined Barker Realty in 2025. He is a graduate of Appalachian State University, where he studied music business and trained as a classical guitarist. Brett’s work experience includes two years in artist management and two years in marketing.

As Property Management Assistant, Brett is responsible for showing properties, processing maintenance requests, and ensuring accurate and timely communication with tenants and applicants. He loves meeting new people every day and looks forward to helping you find your next home!

In his free time, Brett enjoys discovering new music, reading, golfing, and cheering on the Tennessee Volunteers.

Oriel was born and raised in North Carolina. She holds a Bachelor degree in Social Work. After graduating college, she began working in the Property Management business and currently has 7 years experience as an Administrative Assistant. Oriel enjoys helping others and spending quality time with family.

Karen Chronister joined Barker Realty, Inc. in February 2003 as our Front Desk Receptionist.  She was enrolled in the Secretarial Executive Program at Fayetteville Technical Community College in her youth.  Karen’s work experience includes over 20 years of Receptionist/Administration duties in a variety of fields including medical, hospitality, and insurance.  Karen’s career path has always centered around interpersonal relations and a strong willingness to help others.  Her son is a NCSU graduate of the Computer Science Department and a newlywed in July 2022.  In her free time, Karen enjoys the mountains, dancing, and collecting magnets.

Marybeth Neblett grew up in New England as the only daughter in a family of nine children; she learned early on what it meant to be a team player! She moved to North Carolina with her husband and two children in 1992. Marybeth has over 30 years of experience working in almost every discipline a company might have – engineering, marketing and sales, finance, administration – as well as working as an independent consultant doing New Product Development for major Fortune 500 companies. Marybeth understands the complexities of running a business! She is a licensed NC Real Estate Broker. Marybeth has been with Barker Realty since January 1997 when she joined the company as the Leasing Property Manager. In January 2000, she was promoted to the Director of Property Management, overseeing Leasing and Maintenance. In 2006 she moved into the newly created role of Director of Fiscal Management. As such she oversees the accounting and risk management functions for Barker Realty, Inc., Barker Property Maintenance Co., Barker & Lovette General Contractors, and W.T. Barker Construction. She is currently pursuing a Certified Residential Management Bookkeeper Certification through NARPM (National Association of Residential Property Management). When not working, she enjoys reading, singing on her church’s Worship Team, and spending time with her husband, children and grandchildren!