This week on Roanoke Podcast For Good, Hal speaks with Anna Semonco. From Marketing Director and Organizational Manager at a manufacturing firm to Executive Director of Ronald McDonald House Charities Southwest Virginia (RMHC SWVA), Anna has worn many hats in her career. Our conversation follows Anna’s 17-year tenure at a manufacturing firm, her delve into the nonprofit world, Ronald McDonald House Charities (which she holds near and dear), her philanthropic soul, her family, and her life in Roanoke.

This week on Roanoke Podcast For Good, Hal speaks with Sabrina East. Sabrina runs her own small business: Step Into Mystery Roanoke. Step Into Mystery is an event planning service that hosts live action clue games and murder mystery events at public locations. Our conversation with Sabrina today will follow the struggles and triumphs of starting your own small business, balancing full-time work with a side business, working in the caring profession as well as her tips for small business owners.

This week on Roanoke Podcast for Good, Hal speaks with Aaron Dykstra, Executive Director of The Making Foundation. Propelled forward to share the importance of manufacturing and the skilled trades, Aaron founded The Making Foundation, an after-school enrichment program that teaches hands-on, project-based learning. Prior to running a nonprofit, Aaron built and ran a hugely successful (and award-winning) small business as owner, designer and fabricator for 611 Bicycle Company and Hometown Manufacturing (his bicycles carried an 18-month waiting list!). Our conversation follows Aaron’s journey from decorated Air Force veteran, to small business owner to nonprofit director, dad, partner and passionate tinkerer.

This week on Roanoke Podcast for Good, Hal speaks with author, entrepreneur, and educator Gary Schoeniger. Gary shows us how to find our purpose and how to take action on the opportunities around us even if we have no traditional advantages at our disposal.