The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 30

40 UNDER 40

Brent Hershey, 38

John Hull, 38

David Jones, 37

Tara Marciniak, 36

State Farm Agent/Rocket Mortgage
Professional, Brent Hershey Insurance
and Financial Services Inc.

Director of Market Intelligence,
Roanoke Regional Partnership

Owner/Orthodontist,
Roanoke Valley Orthodontics

Vice President for Institutional
Advancement, Center in the Square

" From outdoor adventures to
community events, my wife and
I are blessed to raise our family
right here. "
Brent Hershey is one of the Top
100 New Agents within State
Farm, and is currently a leading
agent nationally for mortgages
with Rocket Professional, as well
as a Top Rocket Professional
Mortgage Loan Originator. He is
also a board member for Yovaso
(Youth of Virginia Speak Out).
Involved with the Botetourt
Chamber of Commerce, Hershey
is a founding member of
Botetourt Rotary, as well as a
mentor and speaker with The
Gauntlet. Hershey provided
weekly lunches to Botetourt
essential workers during Phase
1 of the COVID-19 pandemic,
is a Deacon and church board
member and participates as
a connect group leader and
men's Bible study at Fincastle
Baptist Church. " I have always
had a passion for people, " he
says. " Being in the business I
am in has allowed me to use
my business for the greater
good of our community. We
are constantly looking for ways
to support our community in
unique ways and love the smiles
it brings around us. "
*	 Earned degree in Sport
Management, Liberty
University, 2004
*	 Top 100 New Agents within
State Farm
*	 Top Rocket Professional
Mortgage Loan Originator
*	 Founding member of
Botetourt Rotary

30 JAN/FEB 2021

" Roanoke is a fantastic,
welcoming and open
community where connections
and friendships are easily
made. "
John Hull holds a bachelor's
degree summa cum laude
in Political Science from
Roanoke College, completed
the Management Institute
at Roanoke College in 2019
and is a 2020 graduate of the
Economic Development Institute
at Oklahoma University. He
has completed projects for
eight local governments, the
Virginia Economic Development
Partnership, Fralin Biomedical
Research Institute, Virginia
Western Community College
and more. While managing
the Roanoke Regional
Partnership's research and
business investment functions,
Hull assisted in the creation
of more than 6,000 jobs and
the attraction of more than $1
billion in investment. Hull has
completed more than 10 half
marathons, a full marathon
and a 24-hour ultra-marathon.
" My professional passion is
the economic development of
this region and that means
more specifically finding ways
to contribute new jobs, new
investment and to attract new
residents to this region, " he says.
*	 2020 graduate of the
Economic Development
Institute at Oklahoma
University
*	 A tenured community
volunteer with the Boy Scouts
of America (est. first female
Scouts BSA troop in Roanoke)

" Since moving here ... we have
established so many lifelong
friendships. Our family is truly
happy here and proud to call
Roanoke our home! "
Passionate about orthodontics
from a young age, Dr. David
Jones learned the profession
from his father. Raised in
Martinsville, Jones earned his
Master of Science in Dentistry
from the VCU Department
of Orthodontics, moving to
Roanoke in 2014 to buy and
rebrand his own practice and
expand to three locations. Jones
currently serves as President
of the Roanoke Valley Dental
Society, treasurer of the Virginia
Association of Orthodontists
and is a delegate for the Virginia
Dental Association. In his spare
time, he is the Vice President for
the Komen Virginia Blue Ridge
board, a clinical volunteer at
the Mission of Mercy projects
around the state and volunteers
at the Bradley Free Clinic once
a month. " I have found how
rewarding it is to give back
and witness the positive and
profound impact we can make
in our community, " he says. " As
much as I love my profession, I
also love the ability to support
my patients in their activities
and all of the wonderful local
nonprofit organizations in the
Valley. "
*	 Roanoker Best of Platinum
Orthodontist, 2020, 2019;
Silver, 2018
*	 Roanoker Magazine Top Doc,
2019

" The variety of offerings here
can help a person truly shape
who they want to be in life... "
Tara Marciniak earned her
English degree from Virginia
Tech in 2007. Now responsible
for raising funds at Center in the
Square, she is a grants writer
with an annual goal of $500,000
in campaign dollars. She is also
honored to have 10 of her works
published, and is excited to offer
creative writing workshops
through the Center's new " Get
Schooled " program. She has been
extensively trained by the Global
Equipping Centre, and was an
integral part of the team that
created the popular holiday event
Illuminights. Marciniak serves
on community boards and is a
member of the Roanoke Kiwanis
Club, and showcases her own
creativity such as painted displays
for the Greek Festival, the Roanoke
STARCADE and the Holiday
Village at Explore Park. She also
creates some of the graphics and
brochures for Center in the Square
and engages fans on their social
media pages. " ... I enjoy creating
opportunities where people can
create great memories together.
... I was honored to have been
invited to help create our region's
first walk-through holiday light
show, Illuminights, " she says.
" Through this event in addition
to the variety of other offerings
Center in the Square has, I hope
to continue being a part of what
our community and tourists
remember fondly about Roanoke
for years to come. "
*	 Earned bachelor's degree in
English, Virginia Tech, 2007
*	 Won the Poetry Award for a
Graduating Senior, Virginia
Tech, 2007

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The Roanoker - January/February 2021

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