Riviera Utilities CEO Brian Skelton to Retire at End of November, Closing 41-Year Career in Public Power

FOLEY, Ala. — Riviera Utilities President and Chief Executive Officer Brian Skelton plans to retire at the end of November, bringing to a close a 41-year career in the municipal utility industry, the Foley-based utility announced.

Skelton has led Riviera since May 2024, when the Riviera Utilities Board of Directors selected him for the job. He will continue serving as president and CEO through the end of November. Riviera said information about its leadership transition will be announced at a later date.

“It has been the honor of a lifetime to wrap up my 41-year career in municipal utilities serving as CEO of Riviera Utilities,” Skelton said. “Riviera was thriving long before I arrived, and I know it will continue to thrive long after I leave. I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together and grateful to our Board of Directors and every Riviera employee who welcomed me and made my time here so rewarding.”

Decades of utility leadership in three states

Skelton came to south Baldwin County with extensive experience running public utilities in the Southeast. Before joining Riviera, he served as:

• President of Tullahoma Utilities Authority in Tennessee
• General Manager of Bowling Green Municipal Utilities in Kentucky
• Director of Opelika Power Services in Alabama

Those organizations are community-owned utilities, the same model as Riviera. Municipal utilities are owned by the communities they serve rather than by investors, and they are typically overseen by locally appointed boards. Leaders of those systems must balance keeping rates low with investing in the poles, lines, plants and pipes needed for growth.

A period of growth and transition at Riviera

According to Riviera, Skelton led the organization through a period of continued growth and transition while maintaining a strong focus on its employees, financial strength and long-term future.

Board Chair Charlie Ebert credited Skelton with steering Riviera through a major business change and a heavy load of construction.

“Brian Skelton has done a tremendous job for Riviera Utilities as CEO. Brian guided us through a complicated sale of the Broadband and Cable TV division while also providing steadfast leadership managing numerous infrastructure improvement projects,” Ebert said. “I wish Brian all the best in his retirement and appreciate all he has done for Riviera Utilities and our incredible team of professionals.”

The Riviera Utilities Board of Directors extended its congratulations to Skelton on his retirement and its appreciation for his leadership and service to the utility and the communities it serves.

Infrastructure projects under way

Skelton’s departure comes as Riviera prepares to open a major new piece of its water system. The utility has scheduled a dedication and commissioning ceremony for the new Schreiber Water Treatment Plant on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 11 a.m. at the facility, 120-B County Road 20 in Foley. The plant, named for former Riviera board member Bob Schreiber, is designed to grow to about 10 million gallons of water a day by 2035 and will replace the utility’s older South Water Plant.

That plant is one piece of a larger set of water projects Riviera has planned over the next several years. The list includes six additional wells, a new water treatment plant in southeast Foley, another new plant on Fern Avenue, new water storage tanks in Elberta and southwest Baldwin County, raw water mains connecting new wells to treatment plants and thousands of feet of large-diameter transmission lines.

Riviera has also been marking a milestone this year. Earlier this month, the utility celebrated its 110th anniversary with community events and an interactive history map highlighting its long role in Baldwin County.

About Riviera Utilities

Riviera Utilities is a community-owned utility headquartered in Foley that serves customers in and around Foley and south Baldwin County, one of the fastest-growing areas in Alabama. New homes, businesses and tourism development across the area have steadily increased demand for electricity and water.

That growth has shaped much of Riviera’s recent work, from building water capacity years ahead of need to managing electrical demand during peak periods to help keep power costs low for customers.

What comes next

Riviera has not said whether it will name an interim leader, conduct a national search or promote from within. The utility said only that details about the leadership transition will be shared later.

Until then, Skelton will remain in charge through the end of November.

Key facts

• Who: Brian Skelton, president and CEO of Riviera Utilities
• When: Retiring at the end of November 2026
• Career: 41 years in municipal utilities, including leadership roles in Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama
• Tenure at Riviera: Since May 2024
• Notable work: Sale of Riviera’s broadband and cable TV division; management of numerous infrastructure projects
• Successor: To be announced at a later date