20-29 Age Group | My Roanoke Story .: Roanoke, Virginia

April 4, 2008

I am a recent college graduate who wants to change the world. Typical story, I guess, but I chose an atypical location and am so glad I did. Growing up in Northern Virginia and graduated from the University of Virginia, I decided that I wanted to move to a friendly city rich with non-profits, with less congestion, a lower cost of living and slower pace of life, surrounded by nature. I wanted to develop a career in non-profits that would allow me to better the community in which I lived. I soon discovered that a great way to do that is to move to Roanoke and work for United Way of Roanoke Valley. When I started last May at United Way, I really had no idea of what driven people and a great organization can accomplish. I am learning about the challenges that the Roanoke Valley faces, but I also see how many people there are here that really want to make a difference. This community encourages me to do big things and I am excited about what the future will bring.

I got my idealistic notions through my involvement with Alternative Spring Break (ASB) at UVA as a participant and on the Executive Board as well as some non-profit internships. I learned from ASB that there is always something we can do to help someone and that I wanted to seek out these sorts of opportunities. I still hang on to this ideal, and am now leading an ASB trip through United Way. I believe that the young people of today are true change-makers and I want to mobilize them to enact that change.

Upon moving to Roanoke, I realized that I wanted to be a part of showing young professionals here that they have the power to really affect a community for the better and that Roanoke is a great place to do it. United Way of Roanoke Valley is creating a Young Leaders Society (name to be determined) to bring young professionals together with goals of service, philanthropy, awareness, and personal professional success. I am happy to be working on the project with some great volunteers and successful young professionals from our community.

I am excited for what the future holds for young professionals in the Roanoke Valley and young people in non-profits more specifically. I am so happy to call the Roanoke Valley my new home with its relaxed, friendly, and encouraging atmosphere. I believe Roanoke to be a great place to live, work, relax, socialize, explore, grow, and most of all, make a difference.

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March 28, 2008

I grew up on a farm near Abingdon, Virginia - a small town that is near the Virginia/Tennessee border. My entire family still lives in Abingdon, and I knew I didn't want to move too far away after graduating from Virginia Tech in 2004. I was attracted to Roanoke, which is about two hours away from my hometown, when searching for my first job because I felt the city provided opportunities and plenty of things to do for people my age, yet still fostered a sense of community and felt a little like home.

I have found that Roanoke is a great place for a young person to start their career. There are job opportunities here, but rent and other living expenses are much more affordable than other urban areas in Virginia. We don't have to deal with the long commutes and traffic either! I also like the way that Roanoke Valley neighborhoods form their own communities. I love to participate in my neighborhood's events! It makes me feel like I am living in a small town within a city!

After living here for four years, I have some great friends and loved ones. Roanoke feels like home as much as the place where I grew up, and I don't expect to be moving any time soon!

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March 2, 2008

Cameron Johnson from Roanoke is a contestant on Oprah's Big Give! Read Cameron's bio on Oprah's website!

Cameron Johnson was born and raised in Roanoke, Virginia. After graduating from Patrick Henry High School in 2003, he attended Virginia Tech briefly but left to focus on continuing his business career. Cameron had started many successful Internet companies before graduating high school and while attending Virginia Tech, he started yet another successful dot-com. This time it was the Internet's first gift certificate marketplace and he left college and successfully raised $10 million in venture capital (which he subsequently turned down and sold the company instead).

In 2007, Cameron wrote a bestselling business book telling his story and offering advice for young people and entrepreneurs of all ages. (You Call the Shots was released by Simon & Schuster and is available in bookstores nationwide). Today, Cameron is 23 and travels the world for various speaking engagements but he still calls Roanoke home.

"I think Roanoke offers many career opportunities for young professionals - and plenty of social events as well. I'm proud to call Roanoke home and with its affordable cost of living, I look forward to more young people making Roanoke their home as well. It's always about progress, not perfection."

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February 24, 2008

I was born and raised in Roanoke and was lucky enough to come from a very large, close-knit family. Growing up I started to realize how great a value living in Roanoke is compared to other cities. I was graduated from the University of Virginia in May 2007 and chose to come back to Roanoke. I received job offers in other cities but had long ago decided that Roanoke was where I wanted to start out.

Although I did not end up working for a company based out of Roanoke, I decided to start an office in Roanoke. Working for Advanced Planning Services has given me the chance to start a regional office in Roanoke instead of Richmond or elsewhere. In fact, our company is just a couple of spots ahead of another Roanoke company, Atlantic Credit and Finance, in Inc. Magazine's top 500 fastest growing private companies list! I also recently joined the golf committee for the National Kidney Foundation tournament held at Ashley Plantation. Coming back to Roanoke was definitely a great decision!

Having always loved downtown, I recently purchased a condo at The Candy Factory on Salem Avenue. Downtown is becoming so much better than I had heard it described when I was a child. With exciting new restaurants and bars opening, I have no fear that when entertaining out of town clients there will be no shortage of things to do. With the good friends I have that chosen to stay and start something in Roanoke, and with the unbelievable golf community I have grown up in, I know that I will have no shortage of friends or fun in the years to come with the good friends I have that chose to stay.

Barry's Career: Mid-Atlantic Brokerage Director, APS, Inc
Barry's Hometown: Roanoke, VA

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February 18, 2008

After my dad retired from the military in 1997, our family moved to a little town called Bedford, Virginia. I spent my teenage years there and, after graduating from high school, ended up attending college 45 minutes away at Hollins University in Roanoke. I originally didn't want to even look at women's colleges, but when I walked on campus I fell in love with it. I was impressed with their academic programs (especially the English/Creative Writing department), small class sizes (my largest class had maybe 30 or so students), and the sense of community (fun traditions like Tinker Day).

I have so many wonderful experiences from my time at Hollins. I met my best friend there my freshman year who I am still very close with. I spent a semester in London through the Hollins Abroad program, which was an amazing opportunity I will never forget. I wrote a screenplay for my honors thesis - which I submitted to the Virginia Screenwriting Competition in 2007 unfortunately I wasn't a finalist, but I got some good pointers to improve the script). I worked part-time at Community School across the street from Hollins, which is a wonderful private school that I would send my kids to if I'm still in Roanoke when I start a family (whenever that may be I'm still looking for Mr. Right!).

I really liked what Roanoke had to offer. So when I received an email from the Hollins Career Center last March about a job opportunity at the Veterans Affairs Roanoke Regional Office, I jumped at the chance and was happy when I found out I got the job. I'm so thankful that I found a great job which not only has good pay and benefits, but is helping out veterans get the benefits they deserve.

As I'm writing this, I've been at the VA for nearly nine months (it doesn't seem that long!). I'm living in an apartment with my crazy but loveable cat and recently started taking ballroom lessons at Arthur Murray Dance Center. I also became a member of the Methodist Church I attended regularly while at Hollins.

Life is great here in Roanoke, and I wouldn't be surprised if I stayed here for a long time!

Kristen's Career: Veterans Service Representative at the Departmentof Veterans Affairs

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February 5, 2008

Since college at Virginia Tech, I've always been fairly close to Roanoke, but had never really gotten to know it until recently. I had the opportunity to work in the area for most of December, and I really enjoyed everything from the warm people to the incredible views. Berlin is great for the time being, but I'm really looking forward to getting back to Roanoke in June, so I can become a permanent part of the community and brew some great local beer to share with the rest of the city.

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February 3, 2008

I was born and raised in Roanoke, and after graduating from Roanoke Catholic School in 2005, I opted to extend my stay in our sweet little city. Though many Roanoke teenagers would consider this to be a very "uncool" decision, I have been amazed at all the opportunities that have come my way as a result. Currently a junior at Hollins University, I have taken part in internships with Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Special Projects Coordinator for the City of Roanoke, as well as studied abroad in Italy, taken tennis lessons, and participated in local writer's workshops. This spring, I will begin volunteer work at the Blue Ridge Women's Health Center and continue to finish-up my English major. Though I will always be partial to Roanoke because it is my hometown, I can honestly say that the preconceived notion "there is nothing to do in Roanoke," is quickly changing. I no longer have to go to Charlotte or D.C. to shop, take in a Starbucks, view great artwork, or dine-in at a trendy restaurant. Right now, my fear about leaving the area after graduating is that if I do, I will miss out on something big and exciting!

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January 28, 2008

I am originally from Coeburn, VA; a very small town in southwestern Virginia. I am 26 years old and moved to Roanoke in the summer of 2004. I loved it here immediately! Through my position at Bright Services, a regional staffing company, I have been given the tremendous opportunity to be involved in the community (Alzheimer's Association, the Roanoke Regional Chamber, SHRM, etc.) and connect with some pretty amazing people! I quickly learned that Roanoke is not only a great place to work, but a great place to live. Just this past year I rented a boat on Smith Mountain Lake, hiked up Sharp Top Mountain, and visited < a>Chateau Morrisettewow! I think Roanoke is such a treasure because not only do we have all of these great outdoor amenities and cool places in our backyard, we have nice restaurants and bars to visit and there is always something going on. To me, it's the perfect mix!

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January 27, 2008

I am a Roanoke Valley native, born in our very own Community Hospital. I have always loved having my roots here and being close to my family and the Blue Ridge Mountains. I have a profound appreciation for "home sweet home," despite my passion for adventure and I guess what you would call my "inner calling" to travel. I attended Virginia Tech for the first two years of my college career, ending up at Roanoke College for the latter half. I absolutely fell in love with the close contact and supervision, mentorship and guidance that I feel blessed to have received at Roanoke College. Everyone there holds a special place in my heart for that reason.

I have worked with the Roanoke Valley Department of Economic Development in a previous job at Atlantic Credit & Finance and currently am employed by Lincoln Financial Group, the smaller agency Premier Advisers, Ltd. is located in our very own downtown Roanoke office. I have also been involved with the Contemporaries, Valley Forward, and became a member of the Roanoke Valley Booster Club during the past year. I anticipate future affiliation with such positive partnerships and I'm currently looking into helping out with the Clean Valley Council. I love to hike and explore our mountains, spend time with friends and family, and watch our big-hearted, small-town grow.

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January 23, 2008

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January 17, 2008

I was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia; somewhere that I thought I would always call home. If you would have asked me two years ago where I would be living now, I can promise you I didn't think it would be Roanoke, but Roanoke is home to me now. I came here after school for an internship with Center in the Square, which is a non-profit that houses seven organizations. I was here for three months and fell in love with this charming town. Since then I have moved on, but not from Roanoke. After my internship I was offered jobs in Northern Virginia and Richmond, but I took an Account Manager position with a technology firm here in Roanoke, ABS Technology Architects, where I work today. I live and work in the heart of downtown Roanoke, and wouldn't have it any other way. I have been here for 2 years now and have joined many organizations such as Square Society, NewVa Connects, the Contemporaries, and the Junior League. I love to be involved and Roanoke has many opportunities for me to do so.

Living the downtown life is great, but one of the best things about it is I can still look out my window and see mountains in my back yard. And not too far down the road is Smith Mountain Lake, which is a great relaxing get away. It really is a wonderful place to live and a place that I call HOME.

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January 16, 2008

The key to being able to survive in the music world is creativity and diversity. I've been involved with the Roanoke Symphony for about 2 1/2 years now, though I officially won a contract in September of this year. It's opened up a lot of other doors through getting to know all of the other musicians there. I've also done a good bit of private teaching, most of the students coming from other area teachers' referrals. I have also become involved with starting the Virginia Tech Strings Project, which begins Blacksburg students (3rd and 4th grade) on string instruments, since they are not offered in the public schools there anymore. As a business venture, I recently bought a good number of cellos which I rent out to the students there as well.

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January 14, 2008

It is interesting how perspectives change. I always thought that I wanted to live in a large city. I chose my college, Vanderbilt University, largely because of its urban setting in Nashville, TN.

As soon as I graduated, I packed my car up and moved to Washington, D.C. where I entered the rat race of working on Capitol Hill. But, after a few years of battling the crowds (and cost of living!), my wife and I realized that we were missing the things that were so important from our childhoods - outdoor recreation, spending time with family, and being an active part of our community.

We decided to settle down in Roanoke because it combined the best of both worlds for us. It is large enough to provide job opportunities and cultural activities that we enjoy, but small enough to provide a sense of community and support that we have grown to love.

My path is not unique. I sense an energy in Roanoke and have met and befriended so many other young professionals who have moved here and are seeking the same type of balance in their lives.

I think that positive growth is in Roanoke's future and I look forward to being a part of it. I am proud to call Roanoke my hometown.

Court's Occupation: Partner / Project Manager, Walnut Creek Development Group, LLC
Court's Social Profile:Facebook

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January 10, 2008

I was born in Roanoke, but grew up mostly in Franklin County. I returned to the area after I graduated from Elon University, in 2004. I began working in Advertising Sales at The Roanoke Times shortly after coming back. I really enjoy the beautiful mountains and many activities that Roanoke has to offer. Having grown up in Franklin County, I also love the fact that Smith Mountain Lake is so close and think it's a huge asset to our area. There have also been several social groups in Roanoke that I have enjoyed being a part of. One of those groups is the Junior League, where I have been able to meet and network with other young women.

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January 5, 2008

Holly Hodges grew up in Southside Virginia and came to Roanoke when she found her first job after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. After moving back home to begin her job search, she realized Roanoke was quickly growing with many opportunities and was also near family and friends. "I couldn't be a beach bum forever so I decided to get serious in my job search." Holly found her ideal position as Director of Business Development with Universal Rx, a prescription benefits management company in downtown Roanoke. "Roanoke has all of the perks of living in a larger city, but it is more tight-knit."

"There's a good balance of career opportunities and social events that keep young professionals satisfied and it's only going to improve."

Holly's Occupation: Director of Business Development, UniversalRx
Holly's Hometown: Gretna, VA
Holly's Social Profile:Facebook

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January 10, 2008

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January 5, 2008

"There's a good balance of career opportunities and social events that keep young professionals satisfied and it's only going to improve."

Holly's Occupation: Director of Business Development, UniversalRx
Holly's Hometown: Gretna, VA
Holly's Social Profile:Facebook

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January 4, 2008

Brian Muelenaer moved back to Roanoke after living and working for a year in Chicago. He returned because of a great employment opportunity as a national account executive at McAirlaid's, Inc. "After living in Chicago, I quickly realized that Roanoke has some big-city amenities, with not as many hassles, such as the highest gas prices." Brian said Roanoke's location near friends and family, and proximity to larger cities influenced his return. Plus, he noted, "One winter in Chicago was enough for me."

Brian's Occupation: National Account Executive, McAirlaid's
Brian's Hometown: Roanoke, VA
Brian's Social Profile:Facebook

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January 3, 2008

Brittany Yarber arrived in the Roanoke Valley with her family in 1991. She graduated from Cave Spring High School in 2003. After four years at the University of Tennessee, she graduated from UT with a dual concentration in Marketing and Logistics. Once back in Roanoke, Brittany began a project as a Loan Executive for United Way of Roanoke Valley. Having now completed that program, and with some R and R behind her, she now is immersed in the next phase of her careerseeking the career path that best suits her capabilities. With a Marketing and Logistics degree, many firms in our area have a need for such a well-rounded and focused professional; they are lining up. Brittany's hopes and desires are to see Roanoke and the greater Roanoke Valley grow and attract young professionals such as herself. "Our area, with all it has to offer, is a fantastic place to live and work," Brittany says. With Smith Mountain Lake so close as well as the many outdoor recreation opportunities available, it's an awesome place to live. Now we see huge, positive changes in downtown Roanoke, the exciting art museum, condominiums and apartments that anyone, especially young professionals, can obtain; and the list goes on and on.

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January 2, 2008

Jordan, 28, has deep family roots in Virginia and is "thrilled to call Roanoke home." After living in Phoenix, Albuquerque, Dallas, and San Diego for the last five years working for Black & Decker, he was transferred to this territory. Jordan went to school at Southern Virginia University and graduated with a degree in Business and Spanish. Before graduating, he took a couple of years off to serve on a mission team in Argentina.

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20-29 Age Group | My Roanoke Story .: Roanoke, Virginia

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