RB has served the electric cooperative industry for well over 40 years, starting his career at Crescent EMC in Statesville, NC and rising to CEO. He led the effort to merge his cooperative to form EnergyUnited, the largest electric cooperative in NC and one of the largest in the country. During his career, RB has served as Utility Director for municipal utility systems in Florida and Virginia, and as CEO of the largest electric co-op in the nation, Pedernales Electric Cooperative in Texas. RB recently retired as the CEO of Meridian Cooperative, one of the largest software providers in the electric and fiber cooperative market space.

RB has been very active in national cooperative organizations, serving on numerous NRECA task forces and committees and chairing the Cooperative Research Network. Also, he served on the Board and was Board President of the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC). While in NC, he served as Chairman of his County Commission, as a Senator in the NC State Senate, and as a member of the NC Ethics Commission.

RB is currently a Consultant for GreatCo-Ops and an Energy Consultant for enXchange.