James R. Barker is an American shipping businessman who is the chairman of the Interlake Steamship Company and SeaStreak.
[3] Barker grew up spending summers with his uncle, a boat captain in Sault Ste.
He then graduated from Harvard Business School, and worked for Pickands Mather & Co., a raw materials production and shipping company.
[8] Barker served in his chief executive role until 1988, when he acquired the company's cargo shipping operations.
[9] He has served as chairman of the Interlake Steamship Company since he acquired the subsidiary from McCormack in 1987.