Mrs. Harlowe is the first female to be elected to serve on the CVEC Board and quickly gained the reputation for standing up for her views and being a leading voice in the Board room and in her community. Since joining the CVEC Board in 1983, she has represented the East District and served as a dedicated leader with excitement and enthusiasm for the Cooperative’s business model, mission, and member-owners. She cares deeply for the members, their rural families, and for our employees. Mrs. Harlowe completed the highest level of training for cooperative directors and stayed abreast of all new challenges and developments during annual training sessions.
Recognized for her accomplishments in the community and at CVEC, the Harlowe-Vest Community Room was dedicated in her honor. She achieved the Leadership Award, the highest honor from Virginia, Maryland, Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC), as well as the Tom Downing Fellow Award, the highest award given to a Ruritan.
Mrs. Harlowe has a passion for educating youth in rural communities and served with distinction as Chair of the VMDAEC Scholarship Foundation for over a decade. She and her husband Bill founded the Roberta I. Harlowe Scholarship Fund to help high school seniors whose homes are served by CVEC to further their education. In addition, she and her husband formed, operated and retired from Harlowe-Powell Auction, Ltd. after forty plus years.
“It has been my great pleasure to serve CVEC members for over four decades. I have witnessed so many changes at the Cooperative and in the energy world. I have enjoyed working with other Directors as stewards of the organization, as well as providing strategic leadership to advance the mission of the Cooperative. One of my favorite memories will be discovering my passion for youth education and finding an outlet to make a difference. I will cherish the deep and meaningful connections and relationships formed with members, employees, and colleagues from cooperatives across the nation,” said Harlowe.
Mrs. Harlowe and her husband reside in Palmyra and take advantage of every opportunity to head to the Outer Banks and to spend time with their children and grandchildren.