With a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hampden-Sydney College and post-graduate studies in business administration, Reaves has professional experience as Territory Sales Manager for heavy construction and municipal equipment, as CCTV operator in digital inspection of construction infrastructure and as Technical Team Lead for outdoor equipment sales. An avid sportsman, he has received awards in Outdoor Leadership and Citizenship, and has planned and directed fishing excursions in an educational environment. Reaves grew up on a small farm in rural Franklin County, Virginia where he learned hunting skills and developed a unique appreciation for land and the environment.