Shelby Berry Barhorst

As an Executive Vice President at Higginbotham, Shelby Barhorst serves as a strategic partner to mid-size and growing employers by designing, implementing and governing benefit programs. She leads teams in delivering cost containment strategies, innovative funding and plan designs and streamlined benefits administration and compliance operations that support talent goals while protecting the organization’s financial health.

A calm and strategic problem-solver, Shelby makes complex benefits and HR issues clear and manageable while always putting the client’s goals first. Raised in a family-run insurance agency, she brings a proactive, relationship-driven approach – communicating clearly, anticipating challenges and owning outcomes to build trust over time.

Shelby joined Higginbotham through a partnership with her family’s agency, where she spent 12 years and ultimately served as Director of Business Development. In 2023, she joined Higginbotham and quickly advanced to her current role as Executive Vice President.

A proud Texas A&M graduate, Shelby earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in 2019 and a Master of Science in Marketing in 2020. While at Texas A&M, she was an M.B. Zale Leadership Scholar and a Research Scholar at Mays Business School and held leadership roles in organizations including Delta Delta Delta Sorority, the business honors program, student retail association and the sales club, where she served as vice president.

Shelby lives in Houston with her husband, Thomas. They share an adorable dog and have one child. She is actively involved with the River Oaks Women’s Breakfast Club, previously serving on the board and as Vice President of Programs from 2022 to 2024.