About Us
Barnes Healthcare Services was founded in 1909 by Charles W. Barnes, Rph. in a corner drug store in Valdosta, Georgia. In those days medications were compounded by hand and the horse was the main mode of transportation. In 1946 Barnes supplied its first patient with a hospital bed, oxygen and a wheelchair. The business has been passed down through three generations to Charles W. Barnes, III whose vision, dedication to the patient, and desire to be the best provider in the area has grown the business to 21 locations in Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. The company generates more than $50 million dollars in revenue annually and is financially stable.
Barnes Healthcare Services has the feeling of a "Family Business" while being one of the largest privately owned durable medical equipment companies in the country. With the buying power of groups like Medgroup and VGM all 21 locations are able to transfer inventory from store to store, same day, to make sure that all of our family of patients are getting the best quality product and the highest level of care.
Charles W. Barnes, III RPH.D
CEO, Third Generation Owner
Barnes Healthcare was started in 1909 by Mr. Barnes' grandfather. Charlies W. Barnes Senior was a pharmacist and founded the retail pharmacy located in Valdosta, Georgia where he and his wife operated the family business.
Mr. Barnes' father Charles W. Barnes Jr., also a pharmacist, took over the business in December of 1945. It was a typical retail pharmacy of the era with over-the-counter drugs, a soda fountain, greeting cards, etc. In 1946 he started the HME business with Oxygen, Wheelchairs, and Hospital Beds. He and his wife enjoyed operating the business until 1976.
Charlie W. Barnes III, also a Pharmacist, received an undergraudate degree in Business with a Major in Accounting from Emory University (1964 to 1968). He graduated from the University of Georgia Pharmacy School in 1975 and was Licensed as a Pharmacist on March 15 1976. He assumed the leadership of Barnes Healthcare in 1976. He expanded into the Infusion business in 1983 and into the Rehab business in 1988. In 1992 he opened the first office outside of Valdosta in Tallahassee Florida.
Mr. Barnes proudly served in the Army during the Vietnam war (1968 to 1972) as a helicopter pilot achieving the rank of Captain. He was stationed in Vietnam from 1971 to 1972
He has 2 children: 1 son Charles W. Barnes IV who is now operations manager for the state of Georgia, 1 daughter Ellen, and 1 grandchild.
Robert Steedley, R.N.
President
Robert Steedley graduated from Valdosta High School in 1984 and attended Valdosta State. After moving to Tennessee, he completed his pre-hospital education in 1988, and finished his degree in nursing in 1992. Robert has an extensive background in Home Health, Critical Care, Hospice, and the Home Medical Equipment industry.
Will Cruz
Executive Vice President Sales
Will Cruz serves as Executive Vice President of Sales for all business segments of Barnes Healthcare.
He is a graduate of Purdue University and has spent the last 16 years in the medical consumable device markets with organizations such as Medline Industries, Cardinal Health and PSS World Medical in executive sales management and business development roles.
He brings a diverse skill set that includes acquisitions, joint ventures and creating sales models for start-up companies.
Karen Butterton
Executive Vice President Operations
Karen Butterton is a seasoned healthcare professional with over twenty years experience in the healthcare industry and serves as the Executive Vice President of Operations for Barnes Healthcare.
Prior to joining Barnes in 2010, Karen has spent the last twenty years in the medical field with such organizations as Liberty-Medco, Air Liquide, Apria Healthcare, Abbey Healthcare, Total Pharmaceutical Care and National Medical Enterprises. Karen received her BA at Whittier College.
Karen brings a diverse background and experience to Barnes Healthcare in Reimbursement, Logistics, RT/DME Operations, Nursing and Pharmacy Operations, Call Center Operations, Acquisitions- Integrations, IT Platform Conversions and Managed Care.
Randy Ealy, R.Ph., BCNSP
Vice-President, Clinical Services & Corporate Compliance
Randy Ealy graduated from the University of Florida College of Pharmacy in 1990. Since joining Barnes Healthcare Services in 1995, Randy has held positions including Pharmacy Manager, General Manager and Director of Infusion Services. He has extensive experience in home infusion applications and is Board Certified in Nutrition Support, a designation shared by only a few hundred pharmacists nationwide.
Randy is based in our Gainesville, Florida office and is available companywide for clinical support and educational programs.
Richard Davis, SPHR
Vice-President, Customer Satisfaction & Human Resources
Richard Davis has over 20 years of experience in executive management and consulting.
Prior to joining Barnes Healthcare in 2007, he was president of McClain Group, a company he founded in 1992 that focused in executive placement, human resource consulting, and management training and development. He was co-founder of Paragon Ventures, LLC, a nationwide firm specializing in healthcare mergers and acquisitions.
His healthcare experience dates back to 1984 when he worked with Support Systems International (now Hill-Rom) in executive positions in New England, Canada and the Southeast.
Richard received his business degree from The Citadel in Charleston, SC. He is certified in Targeted Selection Behavioral Interviewing and holds an SPHR designation from the Society for Human Resource Management.