North Carolina Railroad installs new chair, vice chair

North Carolina Railroad Co.'s (NCRR) board has elected Franklin Rouse Jr. as chairman and Robert Brown as vice chairman.

President of Rouse Insurance Agency Inc., Rouse succeeds Duane Long, who since 2013 has served as chairman at NCRR, which manages 317 miles of track between Charlotte and the Port of Morehead City. Rouse was elected to the railroad's board in June 2011. He became vice chair in September 2013 and concurrently served as chairman of the Strategic Planning and Economic Development Committee.

"The North Carolina Railroad Co. has been helping shape North Carolina’s economy for 165 years," said Rouse in a press release. "I look forward to working together with the board, [NCRR] President Scott Saylor and the NCRR management team to develop and manage our 317-mile corridor in ways that create jobs, help grow the economy and maximize its value to the people of North Carolina."

Chairman and chief executive officer of B&C Associates Inc., Brown was elected to NCRR's board in July 2013. He also is chairman of B&C International Inc. and president of International BookSmart Foundation.