Charting Your Course: Professional Growth with Findlay Young Professionals

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Chamber Amplified, host Doug Jenkins from the Findlay Hancock County Chamber of Commerce is joined by Jaimee Streacker, the Events Chair of the Findlay Young Professionals (FYP). The podcast returns after a brief hiatus to talk about the importance of professional development and networking opportunities for young professionals in the local community. Jaimee shares insights into the initiatives led by FYP aimed at empowering the future leaders of Hancock County.

Jaimee discusses FYP's upcoming event, "Lost at Sea," which integrates innovative team-building exercises with community networking. Offering a glimpse into the organization’s benefits and opportunities, Jaimee emphasizes the transformation of FYP from a social group into a robust platform fostering professional advancement and personal connections.

Key Takeaways:

• Findlay Young Professionals (FYP) is dedicated to connecting, impacting, and leading the local community with initiatives that support professional growth and community contribution.
• FYP hosts events like business spotlights and volunteer opportunities to provide networking and professional development for young adults in Hancock County.
• The upcoming "Lost at Sea" event at Gillig Winery is designed to introduce members and the public to FYP's mission through engaging team activities.
• Membership in FYP is a cost-effective investment for both individuals and companies aiming to develop and retain young talent.
• The organization offers leadership roles within its structure, allowing members to grow professionally and explore new career paths.

Resources:

• Findlay Young Professionals
• Lost at Sea Event Info

Music and sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com

Transcript

0:00:01 - (Doug Jenkins): Hello and welcome to the show. I'm Doug Jenkins from the Findlay Hancock County Chamber of Commerce. On each episode of Chamber Amplified, we're examining issues impacting the local business community. Whether it's employee recruitment and retention, marketing, it issues, really anything that can impact your business and make a difference. Our goal is to give our members tips each week on at least one way they can improve operations and thrive in the current business environment.
0:00:25 - (Doug Jenkins): So. So we're back after a little bit of a break. Appreciate your patience as we took a week off and then had a best of segment there. But we are back with all new episodes talking about professional development today, especially Findlay Young Professionals and how that can be a big benefit for your employees or yourself if you're in that demographic. We're gonna be joined by Jamie Streaker. She's the events chair of Findlay Young Professionals. They have a big event coming up in August that you're going to want to check out. But to going we're. But we'll also talk a little bit about what FYP is, what they do and why it's an important organization to have in a community.
0:01:01 - (Doug Jenkins): We'll get into all of that in just a moment. First, thanks for tuning in. And remember, if you're listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, you can rate and review the show. It really does help spread the word. Now let's get into it. Welcoming into the podcast for the first time, Jamie Streaker with Findlay Young Professionals. We're going to talk a little bit about an upcoming FYP event as well as the organization itself. Jamie, thanks for joining us.
0:01:25 - (Jaimee Streacker): Thanks for having me on, Doug.
0:01:27 - (Doug Jenkins): Absolutely. So before we get into an upcoming event here in August that looks to be pretty big for fyp, let's get into what the organization is first and just what the goals are.
0:01:38 - (Jaimee Streacker): Absolutely. Findlay Young Professionals is a non profit organization here in Findlay. A lot of young adults are members, whether they live in Findlay, Hancock county and the surrounding counties. And we have three pillars that we stand on, Connect, impact and lead. We feel as if we are the future of Hancock County. We like to make an impact in the community. The organization itself is a diverse group of individuals with business backgrounds that are looking to expand their community network, make a difference within the Findlay area, grow their leadership potential, all while making friends, acquaintances and having fun together.
0:02:25 - (Doug Jenkins): What's been interesting about the way the group has evolved over the years, I remember being a young professional when it first got started. I'm now like a middle aged professional. But that's all right. We can talk a little bit about that in a second too. But when it first got started, it felt more like a social organization. And it's really evolved into where the social component is still a large part of it. But like you said, there are those other pillars that make it more than just a ham. Go hang out with these people.
0:02:51 - (Doug Jenkins): There are growth opportunities for people within the organization.
0:02:57 - (Jaimee Streacker): Yeah, absolutely. As I was new to Findlay, I wanted to make new friends as well as create professional alliances, business connections, and also get involved in the community. So I feel as if Findlay Young Professionals is just that. And, and it was a great spot to start. We have added volunteer events so that we can give back to the community as well as touring businesses. We call them our spotlight events or our tours.
0:03:33 - (Jaimee Streacker): And we go to different businesses locally to learn about what those companies do and how they impact the community. And, and it also can be an opportunity for our members or the attendees to possibly find a career change. So we feel that there's different aspects in being a member and we hope that everything we have to offer is something that someone can benefit from.
0:04:00 - (Doug Jenkins): There's also a little bit of a mentorship aspect to it too. I know that occasionally businesses will have their summer interns take part in FYP over the summer or whatever their internal term is. That was a lot of intern term. We'll just roll with that. But anyway, whatever the term of that that is, it helps younger kids who are in college even really start to learn how to network and, and how to develop as a professional.
0:04:29 - (Jaimee Streacker): Absolutely. We do encourage newer interns or companies to pay for those memberships or to promote their newer interns or new employees even to join so that they can get involved and learn about Hancock county and Findlay also and you know, maybe meet some new people, some new friends, whether they plan to move on or station themselves here in Findlay.
0:04:57 - (Doug Jenkins): So let's talk about an upcoming event, Lost at Sea with fyp. Date kind of TBD right now, but coming up in August. What is the goal of this event?
0:05:07 - (Jaimee Streacker): Yes. So FYP has always had two larger events per year to gain membership and receive exposure in the public eye. This year is my second year as being the events chair and I decided to switch up our well known event that would normally be called the Kickoff to take place in the beginning of the year that has now passed. It was called the Gala for Good where we incorporated philanthropy in the event, donating a series, series of items to the youth of Hancock County.
0:05:40 - (Jaimee Streacker): So coming up, the Lost at Sea event will take place in August as You mentioned. And our main goal is to showcase our organization, gain new members, expand membership and really show people what FYP is all about. It will take place at Gillig Winery where we will welcome members as well as anyone from the public to join us in a professional bonding activity where individuals will work together in teams to work through a series of questions and find their way off a deserted island, if you will.
0:06:17 - (Jaimee Streacker): And we hope that everybody is going to enjoy themselves, meet new friends, new connections again, maybe have some new members join. There will be some appetizers as well as wine and a few drink tickets to be given and there will be hopefully a winning team from the activity.
0:06:38 - (Doug Jenkins): It's like an escape room, but with wine to a degree. Right?
0:06:42 - (Jaimee Streacker): Yeah, I like that. Everybody will kind of work together, but no one has to run around outside if they don't want to find three.
0:06:51 - (Doug Jenkins): Different size keys and put them in some sort of order. No. So that, that'll be a lot of fun and, and get people kind of familiar with everything. Again, the date tbd. We'll put a link to the events page for the chamber in the show notes for the podcast so people can sign up and they can get updates on on when the event is going to be. One thing I wanted to to touch on though that you talked about is that you're serving as the Events Chair for fyp. And I think that's another interesting part of the equation that Findlay young professionals bring is it's an opportunity for professional growth within the organization where you have that opportunity to be a leader within FYP to help organize events like this.
0:07:34 - (Jaimee Streacker): Yes, I really enjoy putting on events in my home or in my spare time for work. And when the opportunity came about to kind of apply to be on the board as the Events Chair, it was really intriguing. And there's obviously different committees underneath the chairs and there's different positions for our chairs on the board. And it really helps people, as you said, take on a leadership role or maybe find a new interest.
0:08:04 - (Jaimee Streacker): We have marketing, membership, business development, and some people really find a passion within their role and it may also lead them to a near new career change or career path as well. But I think it's great because people can then, you know, be on a board or learn how to be on a board and make a change for not only the community, but also for fyp.
0:08:31 - (Doug Jenkins): One of the things that I always encourage our members in any business in the community really to do is if they have newer or younger employees that they want to hang on to, they don't want them to leave the area and they want to make sure that they're investing in that type of those employees. This is an easy pot for them where it's $50 for a year of membership for an employee to take part in this, and that helps. I think I look at it as a way for younger professionals to put roots down in the community. And I wonder if you've maybe seen that in action as being a part of the organization.
0:09:07 - (Jaimee Streacker): I have. As you mentioned, the membership fee of being $50, I don't think it's significant, but it does, you know, cover a lot of the events or the perks of being a part of fyp. Some of our events are always free to members or to the public. Some events we do have to charge the public for not being a member just due to what the event maybe consists of. But if you've gone to a couple of them, that $50 really kind of covers those events.
0:09:39 - (Jaimee Streacker): And I think that, as you mentioned, you know, businesses getting the younger generation involved can be impactful for the individual as well as their business.
0:09:50 - (Doug Jenkins): So, jb, if people are interested in maybe signing up or learning more about Findlay Young Professionals, what's the best way to go about doing that?
0:09:58 - (Jaimee Streacker): I think the best way to go about signing up or finding out more information is going to be our website link through the Chamber. I believe you said you were going to mention that we also have a Facebook page that, you know, showcases a lot about what we do, our events and those who participate on the board as well.
0:10:18 - (Doug Jenkins): And again, FYP goes up to age 40, but it's not like you guys card when people hit 40, say you're out or anything like that. But it's, it's a fun group. I always like when I get to, to peek in on, on a few events and everything. Thanks for your time today, Jamie.
0:10:35 - (Jaimee Streacker): Yeah, absolutely. We definitely don't card. Obviously, if there's going to be adult beverages or something at an event, we'll allow that carding to happen. But yeah, we, we really appreciate everyone from all ages to share their wisdom, their experiences, new ideas, even to make FYP bigger and better.
0:10:55 - (Doug Jenkins): Thanks again to Jamie for joining us on the program. And I know I talked about it a little bit with her, but I, I can't stress enough how invaluable an organization like Findlay Young Professionals can be for your business. Again, it could be yourself wanting to take part, and certainly we welcome that, but it could be that you have that new employee that you really want to hang on to. You really want to invest in, but you want to do it in a budget friendly manner. $50 for a chance for them to help put roots down.
0:11:26 - (Doug Jenkins): That's a great way to go. And not only that, when you look at how people talk about younger adults these days and how there's that sense of isolation sometimes, if you can help mitigate that and you give them that sense of community right from the get go as they join your organization, you're going to have a more grounded and more productive employee as well. And those are just sort of residual benefits from having them take part in a program like Findlay Young Professionals. Definitely worth checking out. Check out the Findlay Young Professionals website. We'll have it a link to that in the show notes as well. And of course, the Lost at Sea Adventure. Probably a good way to get an intro to the group as well, so be sure to check that out. Sounds like it's going to be a fun time.
0:12:08 - (Doug Jenkins): That'll do it for this week's episode. Chamber Amplified is a free podcast for the community thanks to the investment of members in the Findlay Hancock County Chamber of Commerce. Because of our robust membership, we're able to focus on providing timely information to the Findlay and Hancock county business community, run leadership programs for adults and teenagers, and be an advocate for the area. That's all while providing tools to help local businesses succeed.
0:12:31 - (Doug Jenkins): If that sounds like something you'd like to be a part of, just let me know and we can talk about how an investment in the Chamber helps strengthen not just your business, but the community as a whole. And if you have ideas for topics you'd like to hear covered on future episodes, just send me an email. Djenkinsleyhancockchamber.com thanks again for listening. We'll see you next time on Chamber Amplified from the Findlay Hancock County Chamber of Commerce.