Rob Barber, Chief Creative Officer

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LEADER • DESIGNER • SPEAKER • CREATIVE STRATEGIC THINKER


Biography

Since joining ATOMIC in 2010, Rob Barber, Chief Creative Officer, has been instrumental in leading ATOMIC’s product development efforts and propelling ATOMIC to be an industry leader in modular scenic stage products.

He and his team have introduced over 100 new products and several patented product lines, including Modular SuperLever, FASTwall, and SuperZipper. His team celebrates 13 industry-related design awards and multiple patents.

In addition to leading Modular Systems at ATOMIC’s headquarters in Lititz, PA, Rob has extended ATOMIC’s product reach by launching ATOMIC Modular Systems in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Frankfurt and by building lease partnerships around the globe.

Clients include an extensive list of entertainment and media brands such as iHeartRadio, MTV, FOX Sports, NBC, Warner Bros. Discovery, Hulu, The Talk, and Ellen, and tours for artists like Madonna, Usher, Elton John, Miranda Lambert and Mötley Crüe.

Additionally, Rob has spoken both nationally and internationally throughout Europe, the Middle East and Asia on a variety of topics including leadership and creativity.

Prior to ATOMIC, Rob was part of development team for Eggland’s Best Eggs and developed and patented the technology for printing on eggs, as well as designed the technology for environmentally controlled poultry houses.

He has a formal education in fine woodworking, computer science, and business management…an oddly weird and perfect fit for ATOMIC.

Rob serves nationally on the Advisory Board of the Parnelli Awards, which recognizes high-level achievement in the Concert Touring and Live Event industries. On a local level, he actively serves on the board of the Lancaster County Community Foundation, channeling philanthropy and managing endowments that help shape Lancaster County. His recent endeavors include contributing an essay to the book, “Lights on Lancaster” (John R. Gerdy) and receiving both the Medal of Honor from the Pennsylvania College of Art & Design and The Special Event Gala Lifetime Achievement Award. These prestigious awards honor those who have made significant achievements in the fields of design and creativity. 

Publications\Perspective

DatePublicationTitle/TopicContribution
December 2023 Special Events Magazine Gala Lifetime Achievement Award Feature article 
November 2023Lights on Lancaster  
Gerdy, John R. PhD 
Wandering Warehouse:  
A Creative Collective  
(pp. 14-18) 
Author 
July 2023 Abundance Leadership Freebairn-Smith, Laura Ch 8 Visibility 
(pp. 113-114) 
Quote provider 
May 2022Interior Design MagazineSpacekit  
(pp. 46) 
Featured article 
April 2022Special Events Magazine TSE Spotlight Featured article 
March 2022 Office Insight Magazine Spacekit’s Modular Wall Art (Pg 13) Featured article 
March 2022 Office Insight OnlineSpacekit’s Modular Wall Art Featured article 
January 2022 Connected Design DesignPodcast 
January 2022 FDM+C Magazine ATOMIC blasts into residential Featured article 
October 2021 Commercial Construction & Renovation Display at NeoCon Podcast 
July 2021 Aspire Magazine Maker Monday Featured article 
July 2021 Be Well TV The Business of Creatives Interview 
April 2021 Spacekit Who We Are Feature 

Speaking Engagements

DateEvent/OccasionTopicLocation
May 2024MPI World Ed ConfUnpluggedLouisville, KY
May 2024IMEX FrankfurtCreating Scenic EnvironmentsFrankfurt, Germany
April 2024MPI Global DaysHow you WOWCalgary, Canada
February 2024 The Special Event Napkin Sketch to ShowAustin, TX 
January 2024Go West 24UnpluggedEdmonton, Canada
October 2023IFEA Conference How you WOW McAllen, TX 
April 2023 Prolight + Sound How you WOWFrankfurt, Germany 
March 2023 The Special Event How you WOW Orlando, FL 
January 2023 Go West 23 How you WOW Edmonton, Canada 
January 2023 Abundance Leadership Conf Keynote – The Big Pause… Warren, VT 
June 2022 MPI WECHow you WOW San Francisco, CA 
June 2022 IMEX Frankfurt How you WOW Frankfurt, Germany 
May 2022 The Special Event Spare a Square – the Business of CollaborationAnaheim, CA 
July 2021The Special Event 2021 The Big Pause…Same Team, New Dreams Miami, FL 
June 2020InfoComm 2020  Creativity in Three Acts Las Vegas, NV 
(COVID Cancelled) 
May 2020 IMEX Frankfurt Creativity in Three ActsFrankfurt, Germany 
(COVID Cancelled) 
November 2019 The Special event AsiaThe Changing Landscape of Experiential Events:
Design Thinking for Event Curation 
Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore 
October 2019 AIA Central PA Architects Conference and Expo & Excellence in Design Awards Keynote, “Creativity in Three Acts” Rock Lititz, Lancaster, PA 
May 2019 PA College of Art & Design Commencement Speech   Lancaster, PA  
April 2019                 Prolight + Sound Keys to a Successful Show Frankfurt, Germany 
April 2019 Prolight + Sound Technology Panel Discussion Frankfurt, Germany  
April 2019 Prolight + Sound Technology Panel Discussion Frankfurt, Germany 
March 2019 USITT  Keys to a Successful Show Louisville, KY   
February 2019Heroic Public Speaking Training Completed New Hope, PA 
February 2019 Boutique & Lifestyle Leaders Association Conference Keys to a Successful Show Los Angeles, CA 
January 2019 The Special Event  Keys to a Successful Show San Diego, CA   
August 2018 ILEA Live Conference  20 Tips to a Successful Show Denver, CO 
April 2018 Prolight + Sound Keys to a Successful Show Frankfurt, Germany
April 2018 MESE Conference 20 Tips to a Successful Show United Arab Emirates, Dubai 
February 2018 The Special Event  20 Tips to a Successful Show New Orleans, LA  
August 2017 ILEA Live Conference  Design Thinking Workshop Edmonton, Canada 

Awards

DateAwardForPresented By
2024Gala Lifetime Achievement Award Rob Barber, Recipient    Special Events 
2019 Medal of Honor Rob Barber, RecipientPA College of Art & Design 
2017 New Product Awards Best New Product – un-Panel WFX 
2016     New Product Awards Best New Product – FabLokWFX 
2016 Espirit Awards Best Industry Innovation FASTwall ILEA  
2016USPTO Patent Granted SuperZipper USPTO 
2015 New Product Awards Best New Staging – FASTwallWFX 
2015 Spotlight Awards Rental Company of the Year Event Solutions 
2015Big Apple Awards Best New Product ILEA 
2014 Event Style Awards Best New Product – SuperWallBizBash  
2014 New Product Awards Best New Product  – SuperWallWFX