The addition to a school in the bush country of Kenya was built on his resolve to do something important during his time on earth and the unique talents Roang applies to that goal.
As a Peace Corps volunteer teaching math and physics, he saw a problem — only five books in a classroom of 50 students — and built a solution.
Those who work with Roang in Milwaukee have become familiar with his sincere, understated approach.
It extends across his professional work as a real estate attorney, to his pro bono services at Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity and the Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinic, and his devotion to his wife and two daughters.
"You see no ego here," said Ann Murphy, managing partner at Quarles & Brady. "He wants to really give back in a way to make our community a better place."
The only child of a musical and creative couple, Roang grew up in Madison. He helped out at his father's fruit stand, and traveled with his mother to sell clothing at art fairs.
From elementary school to the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Georgetown University, he developed interests in classical music, math and physics, and tai chi.
His legal work crafting real estate transactions exercises his intellect. Playing French horn in Milwaukee's Concord Chamber Orchestra releases his emotions.
Roang uses the metaphor of a single butterfly creating great change by flapping its wings to express his mind-set about his volunteer work, helping low-income people find affordable housing or answers to their legal problems.
"It's what I tried to do in the Peace Corps," he said. "You're not going to change the world, but to the extent you can help one person take one step in the right direction, you're doing something."
If Roang has a selfish motive, it's the near universal desire to see and touch the fruits of his labor.
Even in doing that, he keeps the butterfly wings beating.
When he and his wife traveled 8,000 miles to visit the Isaac John Roang Library two years ago, they delivered 15 boxes of books.
http://www2.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/events/2012/forty_under_40/isaac-roang.htmlRead more: Isaac Roang - The Business Journal of Milwaukee
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