The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 38

40 UNDER 40

Chris Vail, 29

Thomas Vinopal, 21

Michelle Williams, 26

Fredy Wright, 36

Real Estate Appraiser,
Vail Appraisal, LLC

Client Coordinator, Joe Kraft Team/
Lichtenstein Rowan, Realtors

Digital Marketing Specialist,
R&K Solutions, Inc.

Digital Director, Wheeler Digital

" The way the business
community in Roanoke
collectively works together to
better the area and better the
careers of young professionals ...
is hard to beat. "

" I love being an ambassador for
Roanoke by informing people
about the sense of community,
quality of life and all of the
amazing outdoor activities right
in our backyard. "

Chris Vail became a certified
general appraiser at 25, and is
a current candidate for MAI
designation from Appraisal
Institute, the highest ranking one
can earn in the field. He owns and
operates an appraisal business
with five full-time appraisers,
catering to both residential and
commercial market segments
in SWVA, and started a real
estate investment firm with
properties in Virginia and North
Carolina. He is a regular speaker
for Virginia Tech's " Careers
in Real Estate " program and
often presents at local real
estate brokerage meetings and
seminars. Vail was also appointed
to a four-year term on the Board
of Zoning Appeals from Roanoke
City. He and his wife recently
welcomed their first child,
ensuring Vail's commitment to
contributing for an even better
community for her to grow up
in. " I aim to improve Roanoke in
every project I take on, whether
it be through improving one
property at a time to provide safe
and comfortable housing or in
serving the community on boards
or commissions which I feel that I
can have a positive impact on. "

A transplant from Los Angeles,
California, Thomas Vinopal is
a licensed real estate agent in
Virginia and one of the first
points of contact for those
reaching out to the Joe Kraft
team. Described as a hardworking, ethical and ambitious
individual, Vinopal is someone
who " makes you feel like family. "
He is constantly helping clients,
from video walk-throughs
and answering inquiries at
all hours of the day or night.
Vinopal enjoys Roanoke's charm,
finding that when he moved
here, it " felt like everyone
knew his family for 40 years! "
Along with the socialization,
he found a kindness here he
loves, and it pushes him to help
the community. He attends
several community mixers
and often helps clients move
into their homes, or compiles
recommendations and referrals
for those new to the area. " I
believe my passion impacts the
community of Roanoke by letting
me share what it is all about, " he
says. " As being one of the first
spokespersons of our Roanoke
Valley that people meet when
considering a move, I want to
share with them ... the kindness
and honesty that really brought
the positive connotation you
think of when you hear the word
community. "

*	 Earned B.S. in Health and
Human Performance, Roanoke
College, 2014
*	 Former member of Economic
Development Committee for
the Roanoke Valley Association
of Realtors, 2018
*	 Former Public Relations Chair
for the Virginia Commonwealth
Chapter of the Appraisal
Institute, 2018

38 JAN/FEB 2021

*	 A licensed Real Estate agent of
Virginia
*	 Currently a Buyer's Assistant
on Zillow

" The people in the Roanoke
community care about the
town and our neighbors that
inhabit it. "
Since joining R&K Solutions,
Inc., Michelle Williams has
mastered the use of over a dozen
technology tools to support
the company's communication
strategy. In addition, she
manages the conferences and
tradeshows program at R&K,
including coordination of annual
source selection, preparation of
annual budges and marketing
materials; she now sits as Chair
of the R&K Employee Ownership
Communications Committee and
spearheads communication and
marketing. Williams has earned
several recognitions, including
the Charles R. Edmunson
Scholarship and winner of the
2020 " Intranet " AACE category
for businesses with less than 250
employees. She volunteers yearround for multiple organizations,
including PLAY Roanoke,
RVSPCA, Angels of Assisi,
Feeding America and Habitat for
Humanity. " I'm very passionate
about connecting with people,
harvesting creativity and
pushing myself and my team to
try our best and grow, " Williams
says. " Giving back ... helps us
grow, not only professionally, but
as one community. "
*	 Received title of " 2019
Employee-Owner of the Year "
for the Mid Atlantic Chapter of
the ESOP Association
*	 Recipient of the Charles R.
Edmunson Scholarship from
the Employee Ownership
Foundation

" We do big things ... and project
them on a nationwide scale ...
yet we all share a bond with our
neighbors and a commitment
to our city and its history that
makes our home unique. "
Fredy Wright graduated with
Cum Laude honors from
Roanoke College in 2005,
majoring in English and
Communications. He first
started at Wheeler as an intern
and now leads a team to create
innovative marketing strategies
and revenue-driving campaigns.
With over 15 years of experience
working in digital, mobile and
social media marketing, he
has shared his knowledge with
businesses around the world. He
most recently brought Amazon
Premium targeting to Roanoke,
providing direct results for
clients. In his spare time, Wright
has volunteered his talents
for March of Dimes, Ronald
McDonald House, Children's
Miracle Network and the Spina
Bifida Association. Recently
featured on an episode of BUZZ
4 Good on PBS, Wright came
up with a pro-bono custom
digital strategy that resulted in
helping the RAM House grow
their donations and get more
volunteers. " I feel like my work
aligns with who I am - I love
getting to know everything I
can about businesses and the
minds behind them and that
lead them, locally and nationally, "
Wright says. " Seeing results
is what gives me spark, to see
the thankfulness in a business
owners' eyes ... that's when I
know I've done something right. "
*	 Brought Amazon Premium
targeting to Roanoke Valley
*	 Recently featured on an episode
of BUZZ 4 Good on PBS I

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