Letitia Hanke is described as an inspiration by the people closest to her. The work ethic and drive she possesses has catapulted her roofing company—Alternative Roofing Solutions (ARS Roofing & Gutters)—into success and allowed her to create the Lime Foundation.
The nonprofit offers at-risk youth an opportunity to pursue a career in the trades while also advocating for seniors and veterans by providing mental health services, music and arts as well as technology and construction training.
Hanke, 48, has always had a knack for the creative, from a young age she quickly picked up instruments and developed a deep love and appreciation for music. During her schooling Hanke endured incessant bullying and found that music offered her an escape.
In the early 2000s, Hanke attended Sonoma State University where she majored in music and performing arts. In her junior year at SSU, Hanke found herself a financially struggling musician and took a job at a local roofing company—Associated Roofing Services.
Earning a college degree was always a dream of Hanke’s parents but once she started making a livable income from the roofing company, college became a thing of the past. And her parents supported her every step of the way. Hanke’s pursuit of the trades over a college degree further contributed to the goal of the Lime Foundation.
Hanke eventually purchased the roofing company and in 2004 established ARS Roofing & Gutters—where she currently serves as CEO. Along with her roofing duties, Hanke is the executive director of the Lime Foundation which she founded in 2015. For more information visit thelimefoundation.org.
How does your son Emil feel about the Lime Foundation being named after him?
He was really excited and inspired, because the story was around him being bullied as I was as a kid. And that’s why I named it Lime Foundation because kids used to tease him and call him “Lime” [Emil spelled backward] as a form of bullying. So for him it was really inspiring and he just has always been a part of it, he loves to volunteer and be a part of it. [Now 22], he is still very proud every day to have something amazing named after him.
Any advice for minorities who work or go to school in predominantly white areas?
For me it’s just been about making sure I surround myself with people that care about me. And people that recognize that’s it’s not about our skin color, it’s not about what our race is or what our nationality is. It’s about people and loving people and embracing our differences.
You started the trumpet at 7, performed with the high school marching band at 10 and taught yourself how to sing and play the piano by 12. Are there plans for a future in music?
That was my dream since I was 7. I still get to play the drums at my church. I am part of battle of the bands, there are little bands that we form, and we do battles around Sonoma County. So, I still love to play but professionally—nah it’s not happening, no more for me.
Who’s your favorite musician?
Yanni—he’s a pianist. I taught myself how to play piano by listening to Yanni. And Yanni, to this day, is still one of my favorite artists. It’s just piano music but it really made me feel good during some of my worst times. And then I got to meet him.
You met your hero, Yanni?
When I was 16, he came to the Luther Burbank Center and my parents surprised me with front row tickets and backstage passes. So I got to meet him, and I was crying. It was really nice because he was just a real inspiration to me.
What keeps you going?
The only reason why I do, pretty much, what I do is because I know that it only takes one person to really turn someone’s life around and make a difference for them. I can save someone’s life by just showing them that I care.
Has there been a moment with the Lime foundation that exemplifies what the nonprofit stands for?
One of the moments that stood out for me was one of our youth that went through the program—came from [a single parent household]. He had three [siblings] and was wanting to help his mom. When he came to us he was 17 years old and he was really interested in being a contractor one day. He took our class, passed it and then we got him a job as a contractor. He went on to work for that contractor for five and a half years until he went and got his own contractor’s license, and he started his own business as a general contractor. He just hired his first employee from NextGen Trades Academy.
Tell me about your other love—the outdoors!
I like traveling and I love going to places of nature like Yosemite, the Grand Canyon and stuff like that. The trail that I walk the most is the Foothills in Windsor. I love the trees, like I said I grew up in the country—climbing trees.
