Rob was born in Mt. Airy, North Carolina, and grew up primarily in Greensboro. He received degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Wake Forest University School of Law. Rob practiced law in Greensboro from 1986 to 1997, and then in Boone from 2002 to the present.

Rob is married to Emily, has 4 children and 15 grandchildren. He is active in a number of non-profit entities including Young Life and Hope International. He is member of the North Carolina Bar Association and the Watauga County Bar Association. He was awarded Best Attorney in Watauga County in 2024.