Chris Berry

I was one of those young professionals we hear so much about, who left Roanoke in search of greener pastures. After graduating from North Cross School and Randolph-Macon College, I set off into the world in search of opportunities that were simply not available locally. My career in the commercial printing industry led me to a number of major metropolitan areas, including Richmond, Charlotte, and Washington, DC.

As my career advanced steadily, I was offered the opportunity to become vice president of sales for a company in Western New York. It was truly an eye-opening experience. The differences between the thriving areas I had left behind, and the stagnant economies of declining industrial cities like Rochester and Buffalo were like night and day. After 2 ½ years in the Great White North, the company I was working for was sold. My wife and I decided that we had no desire to remain in New York, and suddenly, we were faced with the unique opportunity to pack up and go anywhere we wished.

Jennifer had grown up in Milwaukee, and we met each other while we were both living in Northern Virginia. Our first instinct was to pick another major city as our next destination, but we realized that our priorities had changed. We wanted to have a child, and at this point in our lives, family life was more important than night life. We chose Roanoke as the ideal place to settle permanently and raise a family of our own. Even though I had been gone for over 20 years, I always considered Roanoke to be my hometown.

By this point in my life, I had a strong desire to own my own business, and after taking some time to consider my options, I opened Foodies in 2004. I wanted to do something completely different from my past experience, and introduce a new concept to the Roanoke Valley. I operated the business for 3 ½ years before selling it in December of 2007.

For the next phase of my career, I’m planning to put my 20 years of business and entrepreneurial experience to use as a consultant. I’ve spent virtually my entire career in privately owned companies, and I’m hoping to use this experience to help local businesses grow and create opportunities for the next generation of Roanokers. My goal is to ensure that when the time comes for my son to begin his career, remaining in Roanoke will be a viable option for him.

• Chris’ Career: Small Business Consultant, Applied Insights for Small Business
• Chris’ Hometown: Roanoke, VA