The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 27

40 UNDER 40

Maureen Best, 39

Jessica Bohn Bishop, 33

Matthew Brown, 29

Executive Director, Local
Environmental Agriculture Project
(LEAP)

Entrepreneur, KEEPin' Up with J Bohn

Customer Solutions Expert, Shelterluv

" I love the sense of hope,
openness and willingness to try
that I see in people, businesses,
organizations and leadership
[here]. "
Maureen Best has three
undergraduate degrees, a
master's in Anthropology from
Colorado State University and is
currently pursuing a Masters in
Public Health at Johns Hopkins
University, where she is also a
member of the 2020 Bloomberg
Fellows. As the Executive
Director of LEAP for the last
seven years, she has brought
over $2.5 million of highly
competitive federal funds into
the Roanoke Valley to increase
affordable access to fresh food
and support farmers and foodbased businesses. Best works
with a variety of coalitions that
address the social determinates
of health at the neighborhood,
city, regional and state level, as
well as several local boards such
as Blue Ridge Land Conservancy
and as treasurer on the Virginia
Food System Council. " Food
connects us to each other and
the world around us, " Best
says. " I love being able to build
community, share stories,
support small businesses and
keep farmers farming ... Fresh,
local, nutrient-dense food is for
all of us, always-that is what
drives me. "
*	 Currently pursuing a master's
degree in Public Health, Johns
Hopkins University
*	 Selected to join the 50-member
cohort of Bloomberg Fellows,
Johns Hopkins University, 2020

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" The beauty of the mountains
and valley coupled with the
endless activities that are offered
here make for an excellent place
to live, work and play! "
Jessica Bohn Bishop is a
lifelong member of the Smith
Mountain Lake community
and has been a leader in the
social retail industry since
2013. Her business offers a
personal design and gifting
service through her women's
clothing and accessories brand.
She is also a lifestyle blogger
and social media manager
of five lake area businesses.
She partners with companies
for marketing campaigns
and fundraises for multiple
community events throughout
the year. She is active in the
Smith Mountain Lake Regional
Chamber of Commerce, writing
and photographing, as well as
volunteering her time as an
Ambassador. " Southwest Virginia
has been home to me for almost
34 years, " she says. " I am a huge
advocate for small business and
tourism which helps continue to
make our region the shining star
that it is. "
*	 Earned Associate of Science
in General Studies, Virginia
Western Community College,
2008
*	 Earned B.S. in Public Relations
- Communication, Radford
University, 2010
*	 Earned M.Ed. in Higher
Education - Student Affairs,
Abilene Christian University,
2012
*	 Hosted " KEEPin' Up with J
Bohn's Autumn Open House, "
November 2020

" The ability to mix so many
different cultures and interests
[in Roanoke] while ensuring
everyone feels welcome and
included is astounding. "
After an intensive learning
term in India helped Matthew
Brown discover his love
for the nonprofit world in
animal welfare, he started
his professional career as
the volunteer coordinator
at a local animal shelter.
His growth and leadership
created new programs like
Adoption Ambassadors and
built relationships with
regional and national groups
like the American Society of
the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals and the Humane Society
of the United States. He also
volunteers with the Humane
Society as District Leader for the
9th Congressional District of
Virginia, as well as the Humane
Society Legislative Fund. " The
work I do positively affects the
voiceless here in the Roanoke
Valley as well as around the
country, " Brown says. " By
helping lead and growing a local
animal welfare organization
as well as collaborating with
and supporting organizations
nationwide through state of the
art software and progressive
one-on-one mentorships, I'm
able to help organizations
support the communities they
are a part of. "
*	 Earned master's degree in
Nonprofit Management,
University of Central Florida,
2016

Lesley
Butterfield-Harrop, 38
Community Nurse & Care
Coordinator, Magellan Health

" Roanoke has a foundational
sense of community that is
welcoming and inclusive. "
Lesley Butterfield-Harrop
graduated Magna Cum Laude
as Salutatorian of her nursing
class with a RN, BSN from the
University of Texas and has
certifications and training
in Trauma-Informed Care,
Community Advocacy, Faith
and Spiritual Development,
Familial Mental Health,
Culturally Competent Care,
Domestic Violence Awareness
and Resiliency Development.
She serves on multiple boards,
has authored several published
articles as a frequent media
contributor and has been a
guest speaker for podcasts
and multiple events, including
the 2019 Virginia Tech Autism
Conference. She is also a
published photographer
who volunteers her skills to
document community events
and important causes. " My
passion really is aimed at
assisting those with unique
needs - physically, mentally
and spiritually - to know they
matter and to help them be
able to navigate the supports
available, " she says. " I am a firm
believer that when we care for
the vulnerable and marginalized
members of the community, we
have a better, stronger and more
diverse community overall. "
*	 Volunteer of the Year Nominee
for DanRiver Non-Profit
Network, 2018
*	 Awarded Outstanding Nurse of
Roanoke Valley by OurHealth
Roanoke, 2019

JAN/FEB 2021 27
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The Roanoker - January/February 2021

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