As Jeff Barber retires, who will replace him as Triangle’s Craig (Mr. Plaid) Sager?

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Jeff Barber’s decision to retire from PricewaterhouseCoopers has created great, great consternation in the region’s high tech community. Who, they are asking, will now wear the loud – and I mean LOUD – plaid jackets and other attire to networking and other events?

“Before they were cool, Jeff always was wearing pastel shirts,” said Monica Doss with a laugh. The president of the Council for Entrepreneurial Development has worked with Barber on a wide variety of issues over the past two decades, and Doss noted that Barber never fit the mold of his profession.

“He’s the bean counter,” she said, “yet he always had creative ideas.”

Not to mention jackets and shirts that would be worn proudly by another loud dresser – TNT basketball analyst Craig Sager.

The Skinny talked with a number of folks about Barber’s plans to step down at PwC after a career stretching three decades. They all had humorous as well as series stories to share about the guy who played critical roles in taking Red Hat, PPD and other companies public.

“Jeff and I have been good friends for many years and have traveled together many times over the last 25 years,” said Dennis Dougherty of Intersouth Partners, the dean of venture capitalists in the southeast. “That’s how I know he is the single hardest working individual on the planet.

“One year we were on a trip in France and Jeff called into an audit committee meeting for one of his clients at 1 a.m.,” Dougherty added “I can’t even count how many tee times he’s missed taking care of client emergencies.”

Dennis’ tongue was planted firmly in cheek, we might add.

On a more serious note, Doughtery offered plenty of praise about his old (55) friend.

“Jeff’s retirement will be a loss to the business community as he was a trusted advisor and rigorous champion of his clients’ issues,” Dougherty explained. “He has always been innovative of thought and generous with his time. Although he will be missed as the audit partner we all love, I know he will stay involved and remain dedicated to the entrepreneurial community in North Carolina.”

Jason Caplain, a venture capitalist at Southern Capitol Ventures, was surprised to hear that Barber was stepping down as head of PwC’s Raleigh practice.

“We’re a huge fan of Jeff’s,” said Caplain, who first met Barber while working at Red Hat in 1998. “He’s a legend in our market, and I’m sure he’ll stay engaged as a board member at companies. He would be a phenomenal board member.”

Doss remembered having to ask Barber to serve a second consecutive year as chairman of the CED board – NOT an easy job, by the way – when the person named to the post backed out. “Jeff was on vacation when I called him,” Doss said. “He didn’t even blink.”

Doss, who is stepping down from the CED on May 31, called Barber “one of my favorite people. Oh, I love Jeff. He’s great.”

Barber has been a tremendous force in the Triangle entrepreneurial community while at the same time working with many large firms. And Doss is glad he plans to remain active in business, not just playing golf.

“He is loyal, rather to a person or to a cause or to anything,” Doss said. “That’s just something you don’t see as much any more. But it’s not blind loyalty. It doesn’t mean he’s not afraid to speak his mind. You never have to ask Jeff twice about what he’s thinking.”

Or wearing, either.