Barkley Rickman has lived in Greenville most of his life. He graduated from Christ Church Episcopal School in 1979 and then attended North Carolina State University and The University of South Carolina, obtaining a degree in Marketing.

Before entering real estate, he enjoyed a career in residential and commercial floor covering and was employed by the Greenville Country Club for over 33 years, spending many of those as the Assistant Director of Tennis.

In deciding to make a career change, Barkley chose a field that he felt encompassed all the business acumen, especially his appreciation for customer service, that he had acquired over the years.