Young professionals flexing muscle

<p>When you are in school, every semester is an opportunity to meet people who share similar interests. But as Nicole Smartt of Star Staffing found, once you are a working professional it can be difficult to connect with people going in the same direction.</p><p>To meet that need, Smartt and Cassie McDowell of Productive Learning and Leisure partnered with the Petaluma Area Chamber of Commerce to launch the Petaluma Young Professionals Network. </p><p>“We had both reached out to the Chamber about starting a young professionals network; a group where young established and emerging leaders could meet to discuss issues, mingle with like-minded peers and learn about Petaluma's vast resources,” said Smartt.</p><p>After an initial meeting to develop a vision and action plan for YPN, McDowell and Smartt started reaching out to their contacts in the community to form a Petaluma YPN committee. In the year since the group was formed, the membership has grown to 50 and they hope to reach their goal of 100 by the end of this year.</p><p>Smartt was first introduced to the YPN program in Santa Rosa and “thought it was great,” but she believes that Petaluma is an ideal environment for achieving YPN's vision of “engaging young professionals to impact the current and future marketplace.”</p><p>“Petaluma has so many young business owners and entrepreneurs and YPN targets helping young professionals grow their business,” said Smartt.</p><p>In addition to being a voice for young professionals, YPN is a resource for members by providing professional development, education, socializing and networking opportunities at their monthly meetings. “At our after-hours mixers, we do something different every time. There might be networking games or ‘shameless promotion' where everyone can take the floor and talk about their business, event or job search.”</p><p>The meetings are held at different venue every month so YPN members get introduced to the variety of Petaluma businesses owned by young entrepreneurs. Expedition Island, Taps, and La Dolce Vita are just a few of the businesses that have hosted a YPN mixer.</p><p>Smartt believes that the relationships that are being built through YPN will have a lasting impact on commerce in Petaluma. “People like to do business with people they know and trust and we are building a community that creates just that,” she said. </p><p>Petaluma YPN is celebrating its one year anniversary by sponsoring awards to recognize and reward the achievements of young talent that impact the community. “Many young leaders have made conscious decisions to build their futures in Petaluma and focus on the development of not only their own careers, but an industry, the surrounding community, and the business climate as a whole. We commend these individuals and regard them as consummate examples of the kinds of leaders we want shaping our economic future,” Smartt said.</p><p>YPN meets on the third Wednesday of the month. Members are typically 21 to 40. </p><p>Anyone interested in becoming a member of YPN can find more information at www.petalumaypn.com.</p><p>(Contact Colleen Rustad at argus@arguscourier.com)</p>