Bob Pike was born and raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where he worked on a farm producing corn, soybeans, and potatoes. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from the University of Maryland before joining the Cargill Corporation, where he held various positions in their poultry division. In 1988, he became the project director for Morning Glory Eggs, where he helped commercialize a North Carolina State University patent for extended shelf-life liquid eggs, revolutionizing the egg product industry. He later launched Eggland’s Best Eggs and served as Vice President/General Manager at Braswell Foods, overseeing substantial growth in product sales. In 2008, Bob founded GCB Foods, LLC, focusing on organic egg production and ethical practices in food safety and animal welfare. Prior to becoming the President & CEO of the Carolinas Gateway Partnership, Bob worked as a senior executive recruiter and held numerous leadership roles in industry associations, including the American Egg Board and North Carolina Egg Association.