The Roanoker - January/February 2020 - 37

40 UNDER 40

AARON
DEAL

JUSTIN
ENQUIST

3 7 YE AR S OLD
Executive Chef/General Manager, The
River and Rail Restaurant

3 9 Y E A R S OLD
Owner/President, Enquist Enterprises Inc.

"...YOU GET MANY TYPES OF LIVING IN ONE
BEAUTIFUL SETTING [IN ROANOKE]."

"ROANOKE HAS THE BIG CITY AMENITIES WITH
A SMALL-TOWN FEEL."

With over 20 years of experience from restaurant operations throughout the
country, Executive Chef Aaron Deal earned his formal culinary training at
Johnson & Wales University and garnered a 2009 James Beard Foundation
Rising Star Chef nomination. He has been highlighted in multiple national
publications for his work (Southern Living, USA Today, Garden & Gun) and has
appeared on The Food Network and The CBS Early Show. In 2016, he formed
Deal & Associates, a restaurant consulting firm, to help others launch their
visions. While his work has highlighted Roanoke's dining scene on regional
and national levels, his involvement in others - such as teaching as an adjunct
instructor at the VWCC Culinary Arts Program and volunteering with the
students at the Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Virginia - continues to drive
his passions. "Thoughtfully sourcing ingredients from local businesses, farmers
and artisans to be served in the restaurant [impacts our community]," Deal says.

Justin Enquist is the president and owner of Enquist Enterprises Inc. and
JE Home Solutions, and is the Senior Managing partner of JC Capital
Management. He is a master electrician, Class A contractor, landlord, property
manager and seminary graduate. As an entrepreneur, his company has grown
to 10 employees; they specialize in custom designed kitchens and bathrooms
and whole house remodels, while his real estate investment firm involves
housing developments, rehabbing and rental properties. His team works
to transform beautiful homes for families to call their own, which in turn
increases neighborhood values. Enquist is a coach with The Gauntlet (helping
entrepreneurs with new business startups), as well as a public speaker at
events such as the nonprofit men's community event "Kings of Change." He
is passionate about helping others reach their goals. "I desire to ... inspire and
provide opportunities for people to achieve their dreams, and be able to live
their best life now on their desired terms."

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P L AT IN UM WIN N E R F OR "BEST C HEF" IN THE ROANOKER M AG AZINE, 2 0 1 2 - 1 9
2 0 1 5 US A TODAY, #2 OF 10 BEST SOU THERN FINE D INING
2 0 1 4 WIN N E R , GUY ' S GR O C ERY G AMES, FOOD NE T WORK TELEV ISION

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P RESID ENT OF T HE ROA NOK E VA LLEY REFERRA L P ROF ESSION A LS
M EM B ER OF T HE HOM E B U ILD ERS A SSOCI AT ION
VITA L 7 SU CCESS P ROG RA M B U SINESS A ND LIF E COACH

JORDAN
GIBSON

KERI
GARNETT

3 3 Y E A R S OLD
Financial Advisor, Edward Jones

3 2 YE AR S OLD
Executive Director, Roanoke Skatepark
Initiative

"I WANT TO SEE YOUNG PEOPLE INVOLVED IN
THE PROCESS."

" W E A R E P E O P L E T H AT C A R E A B O U T O N E
ANOTHER [IN ROANOKE]."

While Keri Garnett loves her day job as Financial Empowerment Center
Manager at Freedom First Credit Union, there is another cause near and dear
to her heart. After Garnett took her son to the Wasena Skatepark, she saw an
instant need for something better for Roanoke's youth. In 2015, she founded
the nonprofit organization Roanoke Skatepark Initiative (RSI). Through RSI,
Garnett has worked tirelessly to raise awareness, including fundraisers and
town hall meetings. She has also worked closely with the city's parks and
recreation and City Council to add a modern concrete skate park to the city's
master plan. For Garnett, it's about giving young people a voice, and not only
encouraging them to get involved, but insisting that they be heard. "Witnessing
local teenagers and young adults show up to planning meetings or speak in front
of City Council has been very impactful to me," she says. "It's something I didn't
know how to do when I was growing up and I hope that their involvement ...
has sparked a desire to become active members in the community as they age."

Jordan Gibson grew up in Roanoke before earning her BA in Finance and an
MBA in leadership from Liberty University, eventually taking her expertise to
Edward Jones as a financial advisor. New advisors in the region are trained
under her leadership; the company took notice, inviting her to the home office
in St. Louis to be part of their Client Care Commitment team. Gibson loves the
area not only for the beauty of the area, but because of the people who offer a
sense of belonging and community. She has a personal goal to volunteer at least
two hours per month at different nonprofit organizations, wanting to see what
goes on in the community at large. "A mentor of mine continuously reminds
me, 'activity breeds activity,'" she says. "My hope is that my passion for people
will bring others together to share ideas, solve problems and ... take action to
positively improve communities."

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E A R N E D A M A S T E R ' S IN E DU C ATION FROM NORTHEASTERN U NIV ERSIT Y
R E F U GE E A N D IMMIGR AT ION SERV IC ES REFU GE MENTOR

TheRoanoker.com

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M EM B ER OF LEA D ERSHIP ROA NOK E VA LLEY, CL A SS OF 2 0 2 0
P RESID ENT- NOM INEE OF T HE ROTA RY CLU B OF G LENVA R
A M B A SSA D OR F OR T HE ROA NOK E SA LEM CH A M B ER OF COM M ER C E

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

37
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