Jeremy Holmes

How someone born at the San Diego Naval Hospital ends up settling down in Roanoke might sound like an exciting story, but its really pretty boring. I grew up in and around San Diego, regularly visiting family in San Bernardino County (including my grandmother, who lived and worked at a forest service station and proudly claimed Smoky Bear as her boss), hiking in the desert scrub and occasionally visiting the beach. Just before high school, my father’s company moved their base of operations to the opposite coast and we moved, ending up in Roanoke on the other side of the world.

Starting high school at Cave Spring was quite a culture shock for someone who grew up in the southern California suburbs, but I eventually adjusted and even settled in. I knew I had become assimilated into the Roanoke Valley when, upon returning to San Diego for the first time in over 13 years, I couldn’t help but think, “Wow, this is awfully flat - and where are all the trees?”

I started college with a computer science degree at Virginia Tech but ended up finishing with an English degree from Roanoke College, and recently wrapped up my Master’s from Hollins University. I’ve worked in data analysis, published some science fiction, an now work as a transportation and air quality planner at the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission, including running the RIDE Solutions alternative transportation program. I’ve become dedicated to maintaining and improving the Valley’s already wonderful quality of life through responsible use of its natural resources, and am proud of the many individuals and organizations - including our local governments - who are putting Roanoke on the forefront of sustainability.

I have become so dedicated to Roanoke, in fact, that I married a native and have two wonderful stepsons - one of whom will be attending Roanoke College - and a beautiful daughter. I can think of no better place to raise a family.

• Jeremy’s Occupation: Transportation Alternatives Coordinator, Roanoke Valley Alleghany
  Regional Commission; Program Director, RIDE Solutions
• Jeremy’s Hometown: San Diego, CA
• Jeremy’s Social Profiles: NewVa Moves blog, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr