The Roanoker January/February 2022 - 34

40 UNDER 40
Cameron Terry, 33
Farmer, Garden Variety Harvests
" Roanoke is the perfectly sized
city, large enough that we
have at least one of anything
a person might need, but small
enough that a single person or
small business feels capable of
making a true impact. "
Cameron Terry moved to Roanoke
in 2017, quickly ingraining himself
into the local food and agriculture
community. He is a grower partner
with the Real Food Campaign,
a research project exploring the
nutrient density of organic and
local produce, and farm manager
at Morningside Urban Farm, an
educational plot for Carilion Clinic,
where he also teaches quarterly
classes. Terry leads public farm tours,
serves on the Board of Directors at
LEAP and is on the board of the SWVA
Agrarian Commons. He regularly
leads field trips with schools and
after-school programs, and donates
unsold produce to area food banks.
He was a featured speaker in Book
City Roanoke's " The Cooking Gene "
book club and a workshop lecturer at
Mountain Run Jam: In Celebration of
Agriculture and the Arts in 2021. " My
passion for growing nutritious food
feeds local people, of course, " Terry
says. " But more importantly, GVH's
urban farm plots are a demonstration
of the fact that small spaces can be
productive. I hope that people see
what this little urban farm network
has accomplished with the support
... and are inspired to take charge of
their own food sovereignty. Whether
it's berries, veggies or a small flock
of layer hens, everyone should
be getting a regular dose of the
satisfaction that comes from working
with nature to provide for you and
yours! "
* Featured farmer at Local
Roots Urban Farm Dinner,
2021
Isabel Thornton, 39
Founder/Executive Director,
Restoration Housing
" I love [Roanoke's] mountains,
the fresh air, the lack of
traffic, the beautiful older
neighborhoods and the sense of
community. "
Roanoke native Isabel Thornton
founded Restoration Housing
in 2014 as a community-based,
nonprofit developer focusing on the
historic preservation of neglected
architectural resources for the social
benefit of low-income communities.
What began as a start-up, solo
operation developed into a full-time
development and management
company with four employees
overseeing a complex business model
that combines historic tax credits,
in-house schematic drafting, tax
credit syndication and construction
and property management. Thornton
also participated in The Power in
Preservation exhibit at Dumbarton
House in Washington, DC as one of
ten innumerable, trailblazing women
working in preservation today. " I hate
to see the negative effects of neglect
throughout our built environment
no matter where I am, but especially
so in the city where I grew up, " she
says. " Restoration Housing's mission
is to help reverse the trajectory of a
failing older home and turn it into
something bright, welcoming and
affordable. I hope that each home
we're able to rehab will positively
impact not just the family living in
it but also the broader community
within Roanoke by reducing blight
and bringing more beauty back to
our city. "
* Earned BA in Architectural
History, University of
Virginia, 2005
* Earned a MHP and MPL in
Historic Preservation and
Urban Planning, University of
Southern California, 2013
Devin Tobin, 29
Chief Operations Officer,
LewisGale Hospital Montgomery
" Whether you are walking
through the grocery store or
hiking on the Blue Ridge
Parkway, you are always
met with a friendly smile
and warm southern greeting.
Roanoke is the place where
I became a wife and mother
and I am so blessed to be able
to raise my family in this
beautiful part of the country. "
Devin Tobin stepped into her
latest role in August 2021, having
previously served as a vice president
of operations for LewisGale in Salem.
She earned her Master of Healthcare
Administration from Virginia
Commonwealth University in 2018
and is a member of American College
of Healthcare Executives. She oversaw
the construction of a $3 million
rooftop helipad to expedite patients'
air transport; oversaw the upgrade
of two endoscopy suites to support
higher complexity gastroenterology
services; launched the renovation
of the Women's Center; and
launched several new service lines,
including weight loss surgery with
a comprehensive surgical program
offering individualized treatments
and education. She also assisted
with the launch of the midwifery
program, which delivered 100
newborns in its first 12 months.
" I am passionate about creating a
healthier tomorrow for SWVA, " Tobin
says. " As a leader within LewisGale
Regional Health System, I have the
unique privilege of supporting our
teams in their commitment to the
care and improvement of human life.
We believe in always doing what is
right for the patient and that excellent
people make excellence happen. "
* Earned Bachelor of Health
Science, University of Florida,
2015
Taylor Tran, 31
Veterinarian, Emergency Veterinary and
Specialty Services of Roanoke
" I love experiencing all four
seasons, driving to work
with mountains in view and
having the luxury of both
urban and rural life. I feel safe
in Roanoke, and find it to be
a desirable place for families to
settle down. "
Roanoke native Dr. Taylor Tran earned
her Bachelor of Science degree in
Biology from Virginia Tech in 2011,
following up with her Doctorate
of Veterinary Medicine from the
University of Missouri CVM in
2017. With Emergency Veterinary
and Specialty Services of Roanoke
since 2018, Tran's interests include
soft tissue surgery and emergency
medicine/surgery. Last year, she
performed a risky but successful lipto-lid
transposition surgery to save
a cat's eye from cancer affecting the
entire upper eyelid. EVSS reaches full
capacity nearly every weekend, with
long hours, overnights, weekends and
holidays, but for her, the reward of
saving an animal's life is always worth
it. " Veterinarians are in high demand
right now, especially following the
spike in pet ownership since COVID19, "
she says. " Statistics say there is
currently one veterinarian for every
1,000 animals (dogs and cats) in the
U.S. ... It is tough to only see sick
and critical patients, but my passion
for emergency medicine allows me
to help the animals in the area when
they need it most. ... We are so lucky
to have a local emergency clinic that
stays open 24/7 ... or a lot of pets
would suffer and go without care.
It is truly heartwarming to see how
many patients and clients we aid on a
weekly basis. "
* VVMA (Virginia Veterinary
Medical Association) member
* RVMA (Roanoke Veterinary
Medical Association) member
34 JAN/FEB 2022
TheRoanoker.com
SAM DEAN / COURTESY OF ISABEL THORNTON / COURTESY OF DEVIN TOBIN / COURTESY OF TAYLOR TRAN

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The Roanoker January/February 2022

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