Rupert Brown is the District III, Group 1 trustee representing members residing in the Southport area. The district is bounded on the east side by the centerline of North Bay, Deer Point Lake, and Econfina Creek, on the north by the Bay County line, on the west by the extremities of the cooperative lines, and on the south by the Gulf of Mexico.
Rupert is retired from his family-owned business, Rupert’s Cleaners, and is a member of the International Fabricare Institute.
He began serving on Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative’s (GCEC's) Board of Trustees in 2002.
Rupert earned the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Credentialed Cooperative Director certification. The program requires attendance and demonstrated understanding of basic competencies in five core courses related to governance and skills required of cooperative directors.
He also earned the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Board Leadership Certificate. That program consists of 10 courses focusing in greater depth on specific industry and governance issues. Courses provide advanced study in areas such as risk management, rate making, and policy development.
More than 62% of eligible directors nationwide have earned Credentialed Cooperative Director status. Just more than 25% have Board Leadership Certificates.
In recognition of his commitment to continuing education throughout his service on GCEC’s board, Rupert also earned NRECA’s Director Gold Certificate. The designation recognizes directors who have earned both their Credentialed Cooperative Director and Board. Leadership certificates.
Rupert served as GCEC’s representative on the PowerSouth Energy Cooperative board from 2003 until 2006. He was a member of both the engineering and operations committee and the member relations and strategic planning committee. He also served on the Florida Electric Cooperatives Association Board of Directors.
Now secretary of GCEC’s board, he previously served as president, vice president, and treasurer. Rupert and his wife, Cindy, have three children and four grandchildren. They are members of Emerald Coast Fellowship Baptist Church.