Letitia Hanke is an award-winning entrepreneur, philanthropist, and community leader whose passion for breaking barriers and creating opportunities has made a lasting impact throughout Northern California. As the Founder and CEO of ARS Roofing & Gutters and the Founder and Executive Director of The LIME Foundation, Letitia has dedicated her career to building successful businesses, empowering underserved communities, and inspiring the next generation to pursue their dreams.
With more than 30 years of experience in the roofing industry, Letitia began her career in 1996 as a receptionist before working her way into management, earning her California roofing contractor’s license, and establishing ARS Roofing & Gutters in 2004. Today, she is recognized as the only certified Black female roofing and gutter contractor in California, leading a successful, woman-owned and minority-owned company serving residential and commercial clients throughout the North Bay.
Driven by her own experiences overcoming childhood bullying, racism, and adversity, Letitia founded The LIME Foundation in 2015 with a mission to empower underserved youth and young adults through education, mentorship, workforce development, and community engagement. Through its innovative NextGen Trades Academy and NextGen Auto Academy, the foundation provides hands-on career exploration, industry certifications, life skills, and pathways to meaningful employment. Under her leadership, LIME has helped hundreds of individuals discover their potential, develop confidence, and build brighter futures.
Letitia’s leadership and commitment to service have earned her numerous honors, including Woman of the Year from Congressman Mike Thompson, Community Playmaker recognition from the Golden State Warriors and Walmart, Roofer of the Year, Best Philanthropist, and Best Business Community Leader. Her inspiring journey and community impact have also been featured nationally on The Kelly Clarkson Show and Mike Rowe’s Returning the Favor.
Beyond her businesses and nonprofit leadership, Letitia serves as a Commissioner on the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women, advocating for equity, opportunity, and the advancement of women and girls. She is also an active business mentor, public speaker, and host of the Raise the Roof radio segment on KSRO, where she shares her expertise and encourages community engagement.
A firm believer that success is measured not only by what we accomplish but by the opportunities we create for others, Letitia continues to challenge stereotypes, open doors in traditionally male-dominated industries, and demonstrate the transformative power of perseverance, entrepreneurship, and giving back.
Her guiding philosophy is simple: There is no ceiling to what we can achieve when we are given the opportunity to succeed.
And that’s why, even before the LIME Foundation got on its feet, my company, ARS Roofing, began donating 1% of every reroofing and gutter replacement to the school or college of our client’s choice. We started this program to help ease the burden our schools face in an era of budget cuts. Our donations help schools maintain music and performing arts programs. Today however, we make our contributions differently – and even more powerfully. Today, ARS Roofing donates up to 5% of the earnings from each job to The LIME Foundation, which focuses its resources and energy on three areas: education (especially music education), vocational training in the construction trades, and assistance to seniors.
More about these two other areas of focus by The LIME Foundation: We support a vocational training/construction apprenticeship program (the NextGen Trades Academy) and provide free construction services to low-income families and the elderly. This creates a double benefit for the community. It helps prepare people in disadvantaged communities for fulfilling careers while at the same time providing important services to people who otherwise couldn’t afford them.
Finally, the LIME Foundation also runs programs for the elderly in an effort to address America’s obesity epidemic through light exercise and healthy eating. Heart disease, diabetes and obesity run in my family, and I’m really anxious to break the chain and do something about it with this program.