What does a photography studio and a mentorship program for young men have in common?
The answer is Roland Salas.
Meet Roland!
Roland Salas Photography is the place to go for not only wedding and portrait photography, but he has a special area of expertise in the photography of men, specifically fathers. Fatherhood is a common theme in Roland's life, inspiring his non-profit, My Father which was founded to help men be better fathers and build better relationships with their children.
Roland stays busy through all of his endeavors, but he has added one more title to his roster as HDP's newest Business Outreach Coordinator, taking the lead in securing sponsors for all of our amazing programs and projects.
After working alongside HDP for the last year, Roland realized he wanted to lend his people-skills to our organization. He has big goals for this position and hopes more than anything to find local businesses who are passionate about our community and want to play a more prominent role in some of the community events we organize.
About his new position, Roland says, "What I love most so far is connecting with small business owners and hearing their stories and what inspired them."
Roland's photography is still his biggest passion.
Roland turned his hobby into a career. He explains, "It's not a just a job to me, it's a passion. After almost 16 years of photo shooting, I still can't wait to go home and look at the images. I love the photography aspect to it plus all the lighting, background, compositions, but most importantly I love the people connection. Helping others feel comfortable with being themselves and helping them find a confidence they may not have had before."From one on one, to the whole neighborhood, Roland is big on community
All of Roland's business and charitable endeavors lead back to what matters most to him- community! He is the executive director of MY FATHER a local non-profit educating men to be better fathers and he also serves on the board of directors of Elevate Him, a men's resource center non-profit.
About his business on Main Street, Roland explains, "Community is EVERYTHING!! I've shot photography for nearly two decades but am new to business. It is great to have not only the support of our local community but our business community. There are those who can show you the ropes and bring you in under their wing and partner with you! It a great community all around!"
Speaking of community, HDP's involvement in Downtown events is what originally piqued his interest in working here. He loves all of the events, but says his favorite was our Halloween block party. He said, "There is something about seeing a grown man in a blowup T-rex outfit that just makes your day!"
Get to know him better!
Roland considers himself an avid outdoorsman and when asked about his ideal vacation, he says he would love to be anywhere in the woods near a lake.
In the city, the adventure continues. On eating out, Roland says he loves to order whatever the server's favorite item on the menu is. "It's backfired a few times," he jokes, "but I like to live life on the edge"
Check out Roland's websites, You can get a good feel for all he has to offer and feel free to reach out if you have any questions or just want to connect with him.
