President and CEO
Marshall Cherry, a native of Bertie County, has dedicated more than three decades of service to Roanoke Cooperative, beginning his career with the organization in 1993. He has served as President and Chief Executive Officer since December 2021, following his tenure as Chief Operating Officer, a role he held from 2014 through his appointment as CEO.
Marshall’s connection to Roanoke Cooperative began even earlier. As a high school student, he represented the cooperative as a youth leader—an early experience that shaped his long-standing commitment to cooperative principles, community service, and member-owner value.
As President & CEO, Marshall provides strategic leadership for the cooperative and its family of companies, guiding the organization through a period of modernization, infrastructure investment, and long-term planning. He led the completion of Vision 2025 and is now advancing Connect 2030, the cooperative’s current corporate strategy focused on electric system reliability, data-driven operations, economic development, and long-term sustainability.
Under his leadership, Roanoke Cooperative expanded its role in regional connectivity by investing in fiber infrastructure, strengthening electric operations, and ultimately transitioning retail broadband services to an operating partner while retaining long-term ownership of the fiber network through its wholly owned subsidiary, RoanokeConnect. These efforts reflect a disciplined approach to infrastructure stewardship and positioning the region for future growth.
Beyond the cooperative, Marshall is actively engaged in civic, workforce, and economic development initiatives across North Carolina. He serves on the board of myFutureNC, supporting statewide efforts to strengthen educational attainment and workforce readiness. Marshall is also actively engaged with North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives, collaborating across the cooperative system on initiatives related to power supply, system reliability, innovation, and workforce development.