Laura Miller Barber and Steve Barber

When I first approached Laura and Steve about writing their biography for the U-Club, they were hesitant. Laura’s fear was that they may not be very interesting. Well, nothing could be further from the truth! Steve spent his childhood years in Atlanta. He attended the University of South Carolina for undergrad and law school. He is a partner with Shutts & Bowen, LLP and is an ERISA (Employment Retirement Income Security Act) attorney. Laura is a native of Tampa, but moved to Georgia at age three before returning to Tampa at age sixteen. She attended the University of South Florida, where she received her degree in Business Administration. She is a business intermediary with Murphy Business & Financial Services. Matching Laura’s college background to her current occupation seems to be a relatively straightforward exercise. However, there is very unique twist between these two endeavors. Laura is a past member of the Screen Actors Guild. She is a producer (still active in assisting non-profits with marketing videos) and was an actress in an award-winning Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival commercial. She has more than 600 talent credits, including voice-overs and roles in industrial films and on television programs. Her most frequent TV appearances were as a lead attorney on “Divorce Court” and as a guest host on Home Shopping Network! Laura and Steve are sports fanatics. Their passion is college football. They met one another at a party on Davis Islands through a mutual friend. They had talked earlier at the party, but it wasn’t until 11:00 PM that they really met. Steve went walking around the house to find a television. He wanted to turn on ESPN’s SportsCenter to catch the college football scores. When he walked into a room…Laura was already there watching SportsCenter on her own. The sparks flew from there. The U-Club holds a very special meaning to Laura and Steve. After they first met at that party on Davis Islands…they decided to go out. Their first date was at the U-Club on August 27th, 1999, at the Harbour Lights Party! Laura and Steve are newlyweds, married last year. They began their celebration with a special Rehearsal Dinner, held at the U-Club. The two were wed at Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church, and Steve was attired in traditional Highland dress, wearing his kilt of Black Stewart tartan. Steve’s Scottish ancestry is alive and well in Tampa. He is on the Board of the St. Andrew’s Society of Tampa Bay, currently serving as Chief Steward. I am told if you are looking for an endless evening of toasting, then attending the annual Feast of the Haggis on the first Saturday of December is a “must” event! I asked them both what they liked best about Tampa. Laura said “It is a big city with a small town feel”. Steve said “It is a small town with big city amenities”. I guess opposites really do attract. They both agreed that the people here are great. They love the ability to do outdoor activities. They are also big supporters of the Arts. They enjoy attending concerts by The Florida Orchestra and Broadway musicals at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, as well as watching classic films at Tampa Theatre. Laura is a lifetime member of the USF Alumni Association and previously served on its Membership Development & Benefits Committee. She is a past member of the Board of Trustees of The Spring of Tampa Bay and a current member of the Patron Committee for Pavilion XXII and the USF President's Council. In addition to the St. Andrew's Society, Steve belongs to the Exchange Club of Tampa, the Florida West Coast Employee Benefits Council, the Tampa Bay Pension Council, the Tax Section of The Florida Bar, and the American Bar Association’s Joint Committee on Employee Benefits. Laura and Steve are a fun, charismatic, intelligent, and as comfortable a couple as you will find. Their careers, hobbies, and charitable work all support the growth and culture we all aspire for Tampa. Written by Jeff Weiner, 273-8528.