Young Professional's Network (YPN)

BY MELINDA RIZZO

Will you be there Wednesday, June 5??
 
Excitement and expectations are high for the region’s first ever joint chambers of commerce Young Professionals Networking mixer hosted at Free Will Brewing Company in Perkasie.
 
They’ll meet, greet, mix and mingle, make new connections and learn something new.
 
Look for ongoing fresh YP Networking events at different chamber locations about four times throughout the year.
 
“As a high school or college grad entering the workforce for the first time, it is sometimes difficult or intimidating to get out and meet new people,” said Tyler Stalletti, a credit analyst at QNB in Quakertown.
 
Joining forces and resources for the YP Networking mixer are: Indian Valley, Pennridge, Upper Bucks and Upper Perkiomen Valley Chambers of Commerce. They’re taking the guesswork out of connecting while providing young pros a gathering place along with an easy opportunity for purpose driven service.
 
As the next generation of private and public sector leaders – in business, politics, education, government and in non-profit agencies, young professionals are faced with different challenges than those who’ve gone before them.
 
Their needs are different, too. 
 
“[Our] Rolodexes and experiences are not as developed as seasonal professionals, so we need opportunities to develop those skill sets,” said Michael T. McGuire, account executive for Johnson, Kendall & Johnson based in Newtown. McGuire represents Indian Valley Chamber of Commerce in Souderton.
 
While joining a chamber of commerce might seem “old-school” to some, it makes sense for young professionals to innovate using well respected and long established organizations.
 
Chambers of Commerce have longstanding histories – along with abundant professional resources geared toward helping serve their local communities.
 
“Chambers are great at many things but most specifically they are good at getting businesses known in the local area,” Stalletti said.
 
He noted training and education “you might not find somewhere else” along with social mixers and opportunities to make new contacts are reasons to join and become active in a local chamber of commerce.
 
Creating a young professional’s group, which draws from across four chambers offers a unique opportunity to get to know others in similar or complimentary businesses while exploring areas outside a business home base.
 
“We put a committee together which includes two members from each chamber (a total of eight members)…. Our goal is to host quarterly events in each of the four chambers’ areas,” said Alex Lipyanik, vice president commercial lending at QNB in Quakertown.
 
“The YP Networking [group] hopes to establish a way to take the fear out of getting out and talking to new people, as we are all in the same boat,” Lipyanik said.
 
What’s more, it aims to “create an atmosphere where you can actually get to know each other and build real relationships,” said Corey Armideo, chief operating officer of PBR Productions in Perkasie.
 
Armideo said those under 40 keenly understand job security is no longer a given, nor is the idea of working for and retiring from a single firm for an entire working career.

Among the keys to enjoying a successful business – either as an employee or a small business owner, are growth and strong professional relationships.
 
Morgan Sweeney of Lechner & Stauffer Inc., in Pennsburg said she’s looking forward to making new connections with other local businesses.
 
“I work in a traditionally ‘older’ industry and most of the people I meet at networking events are more seasoned in their jobs,” Sweeney said. She noted meeting “more people that are at similar stages in their careers” would give her and others a cohort with which to grow in their careers together.
 
Armideo said the idea for a young professionals networking group had been “brewing for some time” and coming together for a mission-driven purpose was among the joint chambers’ signature efforts, too.
 
“We are branding this as networking with a cause, [and] all unused proceeds go to a charity of the hosting chamber’s choice. Of course by being a joint chamber venture we all want to be able to collectively grow and expand the ability to let people know who we are,” Armideo said.