Mary Hastings

Having been raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico, I moved to Virginia when my husband began Law School at Washington & Lee University. Unsure of whether or not we wanted to return to the southwest, it was ultimately networking and job opportunities that convinced us to settle in Roanoke. Seven years later, I can happily say that my independent advertising and marketing business, Hastings Design Corporation, has grown, and that I receive the majority of my clientele through word of mouth. While Roanoke is large enough to provide jobs for everyone, it is also small enough to allow individuals to network effectively. In addition, the city provides ample opportunities for children, as my ten year-old daughter is involved in everything from rec basketball to dance, tennis, violin, and summer workshops at Mill Mountain Theatre.

• Occupation: Owner, Hastings Design Corporation
• Hometown: Denver, Colorado