About Me
I’m a 40-something husband, father, entrepreneur, chef, writer, and serial career changer. Even though I’ve moved over a dozen times in my life, I’ve always considered the Roanoke Valley to be my home. I was one of those young professionals we hear so much about who left Roanoke in search of greener pastures. After completing my education, I set out into the world in search of opportunities that were simply not available locally. Over the years, my career led me to a number of major metropolitan areas, including Richmond, Charlotte, Washington, DC, and even Buffalo, NY. I returned to Roanoke after 20 years in late 2002.
For most of the time since returning to the Roanoke Valley I have been self-employed. After selling a small company that I built from scratch and operated for 4 years, I’m hoping to try my hand at a “real job” now, something I haven’t done since my first year out of grad school. Faced with a looming recession, a one-dimensional local economy, and my admittedly unconventional career history, my prospects are uncertain. In an age when we are all expected to change careers between 3 and 7 times, it’s still a challenge to get potential employers to focus on the skills we’ve developed rather than the job titles we’ve held.
In spite of my desire to remain in Roanoke, I find myself facing a painful dilemma. Will I be able to find new opportunities close to home that are commensurate with my skills and experience, or will I once again have to seek greener pastures elsewhere? Please check out my Resume while you’re here, and if you know of an opportunity that might be a fit, please pass my name along or send me a message with the details. I will always be happy to return the favor. Thanks for your help, and I hope you enjoy my site.
