Gerald R. Barber, ASLA, IAAO, MAE
President
Gerald has been recognized by the U.S. Tax Court as an expert in valuation, landscape architecture, land planning, and conservation easements.
Gerald is a certified general appraiser, registered landscape architect, licensed real estate broker, and estate valuation expert. He became President of Barber and Mann, Inc. in 2002 and has performed conservation easements and other specialized appraisals and real estate consulting on environmentally sensitive lands for numerous landowners, non-profits, and government agencies in Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, and Wyoming.
Prior to serving as the elected Tax Assessor of Madison County (one of the fastest-growing counties in the U.S.) from 1988-2015, Gerald was President of Oak Lane, Inc., a landscape architecture, land planning, and development firm for 16 years. He holds a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Mississippi State University (1972) and honorably served in the U.S. Army 733rd MP (CI) unit.
His passion for the outdoors extends far beyond his professional career. He has volunteered for over 40 years with several state, regional, and national conservation organizations. He is the former Chairman of the National Wildlife Federation, the former Chairman and co-founder of Republicans for Environmental Protection Educational Foundation, the former Vice President and co-founder of the Delta Land Trust, and currently serves as a Commissioner with the Land Trust of America (LTA).
Elizabeth “Liz” Rooks-Barber, CWB
Consultant to Barber and Mann
Liz is a certified wildlife biologist and co-founder of Barber and Mann, Inc. She is President of Rooks and Company, LLC and serves as a special consultant to Barber and Mann, Inc. Past clients include many private landowners across the Southeast US and non-profits and agencies such as the National Audubon Society, the Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plains, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, Ducks Unlimited, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, The Nature Conservancy, The Trust for Public Land, the Land Trust Alliance, the Partnership for Gulf Coast Land Conservation, the Mississippi Forestry Commission and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks and Rio Grande Return. Before starting her own business, she served as executive director of the Mississippi Wildlife Federation and as the executive director of the American Lung Association of Mississippi. Liz is an avid outdoorswoman and is an active volunteer in several community and statewide charitable organizations. She is the former Vice President of the Mississippi Wildlife Federation, Past Chair of the Catholic Charities Governance Council for the Jackson diocese and is a certified Mississippi Master Gardener.
She holds an undergraduate degree in Forestry/Wildlife Management (1987) from Mississippi State University and a Master of Science in Communication (1990) from Mississippi College. Liz was named Mississippi College’s Department of Communication Distinguished Alumnus of the Year in 2010 and Mississippi State University’s College of Forest Resources 2017 Alumnus of the Year.
Ray Kinney, GA-1063, Broker – 19303
Ray is a Certified General Real Estate Appraiser and Real Estate Broker. Ray has been working with Barber & Mann since Spring 2009, focusing on conservation easement and environmentally sensitive property valuation among other large land projects. As a real estate broker he specializes in buyer’s representation, 1031 exchange, and general consulting for timberland, farmland, recreational, and environmentally sensitive property acquisition. He graduated from the University of Alabama in 2006 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Real Estate Finance. Ray also studied international business while living abroad in Florence, Italy, and traveling the continent of Australia. An avid duck hunter, Ray grew up hunting the fields and flooded timber of central Arkansas, as well as the Mississippi Delta Region. Ray’s passion for the outdoors and hunting is the driving force behind his work for the conservation of America’s wetlands and wildlife habitat.
C.J. Garavelli, GA-1115, B-19197, MAE
C.J. is a Certified General Real Estate Appraiser and Real Estate Broker. He has worked in the appraisal field for over 15 years at many levels of the profession including residential, commercial, eminent domain at the state level, tax assessment, and presently environmentally sensitive land. He received his Bachelor of Management of Construction and Land Development in 2008 from Mississippi State University. C.J. is an avid outdoorsman. He has enjoyed hunting and fishing many wildlife habitats over the years including much of Mississippi and the Southeast. From this experience he has gained a great deal of respect and admiration for the outdoors.
Michael E. Pace, Jr., GA-1595, MAE
Michael is a Certified General Real Estate Appraiser with over 10 years of experience specializing in land valuation, including eminent domain, fee simple interest, and large tract appraisals. He joined Barber & Mann, Inc. to apply his expertise in environmentally sensitive property valuation, conservation easement projects, and land appraisals for clients across the South.
Previously, Michael served as Chief Real Property Appraiser for Adams County, Mississippi, where he managed property records, advised on appeals, and prepared annual budgets. He also worked as a Staff Appraiser for the Mississippi Department of Transportation, focusing on appraisals for right-of-way acquisitions.
Michael holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Mississippi State University and is certified in both Mississippi and Louisiana as a General Appraiser. His dedication to preserving the natural beauty of the region aligns with Barber & Mann’s mission of supporting conservation through responsible land appraisal services.
Lee Ann Riddle
Office Administrator
Lee Ann Riddle works as the office administrator and comptroller. She graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Professional Accounting degree. Her previous experience includes working as an auditor at banks in Jackson, Mississippi and Charlotte, North Carolina. Lee Ann also volunteered in her children’s schools throughout their educational careers. Growing up in an agricultural farming family, Lee Ann appreciates efforts to preserve working lands, natural areas and open spaces for future generations to enjoy.
Matthew Brann, FAA Certified sUAS Pilot – 4096780
Technical Support Specialist
Since joining Barber & Mann, Inc. in 2017, Matthew has played a key role in supporting appraisals and Baseline Document Reports (BDRs) through technology and property documentation. As an FAA Certified sUAS Pilot, he utilizes drone technology to capture property visuals, enhancing the quality and accuracy of appraisal and conservation reports.
Matthew has also developed strong skills in GIS software, creating detailed maps and managing property data for BDRs. His work ensures that clients receive professional and visually appealing materials. In addition to his mapping contributions, Matthew manages the company’s technology infrastructure, handling tasks ranging from server maintenance to Microsoft services support.
Matthew holds a bachelor’s degree in business from The University of Mississippi, with an emphasis in management, marketing, and real estate.