🎙️ Talking Treasures | Episode #5 — The Next Wave is Here, and It's Coming in HOT

Featuring: Next Wave — Young Professionals of Little River

Little River has always been a community worth investing in. Now, a bold new generation is stepping up to prove it.

On Episode #5 of Talking Treasures, we're sitting down with the movers, shakers, and rising stars behind Next Wave — the Little River Chamber of Commerce's newest and most exciting program yet. Built from the ground up for the next generation of leaders, Next Wave is more than a young professionals group. It's a movement.

The Little River Chamber has always led with a mission to make this area a better place to live, work, and play  — and Next Wave is that mission in action. The Chamber saw the talent, the drive, and the hunger in Little River's young professionals, and decided it was time to give them a seat at the table. Their own table.

Think networking with purpose, leadership development with edge, and a community of ambitious professionals who aren't waiting for opportunity — they're creating it. These aren't just the leaders of tomorrow. They're leading right now.

Whether you're a young professional ready to plug in, a business owner looking to invest in the next generation, or a community member who believes Little River's best days are still ahead — this episode is for you.

The wave is building. Are you ready to ride it?

🌊 Next Wave. New Energy. This is Talking Treasures.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:03

Welcome back, Talking Treasures, the Little River Chamber of Commerce podcast. We are back. Jennifer.

SPEAKER_02 0:10

Good morning. Oh, do I say that?

SPEAKER_01 0:12

Don't say good morning.

SPEAKER_02 0:13

Okay. Just say Hello.

SPEAKER_01 0:16

Wait. Jennifer, welcome back.

SPEAKER_02 0:18

Hey, it's great to be here.

SPEAKER_01 0:20

So we have several guests today. Yes, we are. So I want you to introduce our guests and explain who they are and what part of the Little River Chamber this all represents.

SPEAKER_02 0:30

Well, the Little River Chamber of Commerce has started a new program for this year, and it is to help us uncover and develop our future leaders and our future business owners, future management directors, board members possibly for the chamber as well as other organizations, and we're calling it next wave.

SPEAKER_01 0:54

I love it.

SPEAKER_02 0:55

It's a young professionals group. We try to target those that are under 40.

SPEAKER_01 1:00

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 1:00

And that way we can have the next wave of leadership for Little River.

SPEAKER_01 1:05

It's great that you're thinking down the road because that doesn't happen automatically, does it?

SPEAKER_02 1:09

No, it doesn't happen automatically. We find that we've got a lot of great members here at the chamber that have staff that are younger that's in the office that may not get out to get to come to some of our um ongoing programs like our monthly networking and our monthly um other opportunities. So we're trying to uncover those individuals in our businesses and give them a little spotlight, some time to shine.

SPEAKER_01 1:35

Well, we have two of them here.

SPEAKER_02 1:36

We do, and I'm gonna let them introduce themselves and tell this, tell us how they came to want to be a part of this new program. Skylar, you first.

SPEAKER_00 1:48

It is great to be here. Thank you for having me. I am Skylar Byrd. I am the vice president of the Young Professionals. I was so excited when I heard about this happening in the area over here. Um I've been running my business, doing the networking thing for a good 11 years now. I'm a very long time. And when you are under 40 or under 30, as I as I am still, it is always the old man's club. Every time.

SPEAKER_02 2:13

You get to sit at the kids' table, right? It was always we don't do that here.

SPEAKER_00 2:19

And it has been really, really refreshing to be around peers and be around people that are in the same position I was years ago. New to networking, new to speaking publicly, and new to all of these things that I get to work with and help out and go through the journey with them. So I've been very, very enthused by that.

SPEAKER_02 2:35

That's awesome, and we are so glad to have you as part of our team.

SPEAKER_04 2:40

Hello, I am Tanisha Gore. Um, I am the head of the events committee with the Next Wave Young Professionals. I am a native of this area, Little River, South Carolina. Woo-hoo! It's not a lot of us, but we are here. Um, and when I heard that we were gonna be launching this, it was a no-brainer for me. Like I said, I am very involved in my community, been here my whole life, um, and it just made sense for me to be able to develop young professionals and help play a part in that and also be a part of planning those initiatives in ways that we can reach and we can give back to the community. So I'm very excited.

SPEAKER_02 3:22

And y'all have just jumped in with both feet this year. We have uh we we plan to to launch it and see if y'all wanted to meet quarterly or monthly, and y'all are getting together every other week, it seems. Yeah, and you've got uh developed, I mean they've taken the ball and run with it. They we we just come in and say, hey, do you need me for anything? And then just let them go. And they are going and going and going. And you've developed a um routine of series, like you have an uh a meeting and then a social and then a professional development type program, and you kind of put these things on the rotations because you're doing the events, right? Correct.

SPEAKER_01 4:03

I want I want to hear about the events. What are you doing?

SPEAKER_04 4:06

Yeah, so we are newly establishing roles in that space. Um, and so we are still collaborating in terms of putting events together. Um, but for now we do know that we are gonna collaborate with the event we have next week, Crabcatchers um doing a fundraising event there. We also have our first social um at OD Pavilion schedule. So, yeah, so that'll be time for us to get together um and you know just network, fellowship with each other. And then also we are planning um to do more fundraisers and doing more ideals so that it can all tie into December. Um, and Skylar can kind of give you a little bit more information about um that.

SPEAKER_00 4:53

Yes, of course. What? Let's let's pretend I zoned out from it and missed the question.

SPEAKER_03 4:59

So uh are we gonna cut this?

SPEAKER_00 5:02

No, this is the entertaining part.

SPEAKER_04 5:04

This is awesome, yeah. No, um so how we're doing the we want to be able to do the collaborate with the Christmas event that um the chamber does. The waterfront winterland.

SPEAKER_00 5:17

Yes, currently we are looking at just the fundraising aspect of that, things we can do um, I think uniquely for us. Because I've angled a little bit, we've had a lot of ideas in the room as to what to do, but we are younger people. We can probably do some more fun, energetic, athletic types of fundraisers and things like that. Maybe a race, maybe a pickleball tournament, something of that nature.

SPEAKER_04 5:39

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 5:40

We're very, very open to um getting that going, and that's been the motivation from the start for a lot of us is this community involvement, improving things around us out of the gate. Um, that was the first thing discussed was you know, we're here together, we're in the room. How do we make a difference? Yes, how can we be impactful?

SPEAKER_02 5:58

And they have taken on a couple of the things that um our board met this year and went on a retreat to kind of develop a strategic plan for the chamber for the next 12 to 18 months, and one of them was a beautification project for Little River.

SPEAKER_01 6:11

Oh, nice.

SPEAKER_02 6:12

And the young professionals have embraced this. The next wave is can help us with um not only looking for the project in the community that probably needs a little love, um, but also to be um the the boots on the ground to to make sure that the project is executed. So we're the board is is greatly um loves the fact that they have just taken that challenge on and run with it. And we've also um taken uh assigned a board position for one of the next waves so they actually get to sit on the board and immediately get them connected, get them connected to the board so they can see from that you know 10,000 foot level what the the chamber does for the community and how they can get better involved in those respects.

SPEAKER_01 7:00

Now, this is the next wave, is an official part of the Little River Chamber?

SPEAKER_02 7:04

Absolutely, yes, it is. Okay, all right.

SPEAKER_01 7:07

So tell me about membership power. Uh do you have goals? What does it look like now? Who are who who's involved, and what do you really want to achieve?

SPEAKER_00 7:16

Yeah, of course. Um we've made that very, very accessible because I think obviously the advantage of being an older professional is you have your network built up, you have assets and money built up, of course, ideally. Um starting out, we wanted every advantage possible for our new members. Um, of course, if you are a chamber member, we've established, you know, come on over, one of us as well, have at it. If you need that entry level to get into here, I think we'd establish 45 a year for membership on that. It makes you a basic, you know, next wave young professionals membership.

SPEAKER_02 7:47

But it's also a member to the Little River Chamber. We establish a new membership level just to accommodate. But if you are a member of the chamber and you have staff that falls into this group, yes, they're welcome to come. Just like if you are a member of the chamber and you want to come to one of our networking events, or somebody in your organization.

SPEAKER_01 8:04

If there's somebody in your organization that is younger, under 40, you want to get them involved. Exactly. This is the place to get started.

SPEAKER_04 8:14

That's great. So if you come to benefit yeah, so if you come on separately aside from the Lou River Chamber membership, then that's when the they have a special membership level for that.

SPEAKER_01 8:24

And then um, you should have $45? Yes. Yeah. What can you get for $45?

SPEAKER_02 8:29

Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 8:29

So you can get a member of Next Wave. Friends for a year.

SPEAKER_02 8:33

Friends for a year, opportunities for um professional development and personal development. I mean, some of the educational programs that we have um on our calendar um going forward is you know, personal finance. Um, right? Yes, Tanisha? Yes. And um, you know, some of the uh like oh now I've got so much going on in my head, I can't get it to my mouth. Um, but for example, they have the opportunity to build wealth for retirement now better than anybody does, you know, just in understanding compound interest, for example. And not everybody gets that in their formal education anymore. So we want to make sure we get that to them. Networking opportunities and how to, like Skylar said earlier, how do you go to be the person in the room that doesn't know anybody and figure it out? Right.

SPEAKER_00 9:24

There's so many soft skills to pick up, you can just get and buy. You have to do it, there's no short way around it.

SPEAKER_02 9:28

Right.

SPEAKER_01 9:28

Well, and and Jennifer, we're about in that same age.

SPEAKER_02 9:33

Yes, we are. Our birthdays are what, one week apart?

SPEAKER_01 9:37

Yes, something like that. I remember being under 40, under 30, yeah, and was absolutely intimidated by some of the social things, but also just how do I do this? How do I get involved? When I was first here years ago, I didn't know how the chambers worked, I didn't know what I should do in an event, and and this is a great opportunity. I was always intimidated. Let's say I'm 28 years old and I'm going to a big chamber meeting.

SPEAKER_02 10:12

That my company's making me go to.

SPEAKER_01 10:14

That my company's making me go to, and all of the powers that be in the chambers, and it's good, they're great, but we had nothing in common. I would never bump into them, I would not be at the same restaurants, I would not be at the same social events. And it it was I think it was a little difficult now.

SPEAKER_02 10:34

Yeah, and you know, and and you don't have that confidence, that self-confidence yet. I remember one of the first ones I went to, it was at a real nice place. There was one of the appetizers or hors d'oeuvres that they were serving was prosciutto wrap breadsticks.

SPEAKER_01 10:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 10:48

Lovely, right? Wonderful. I take a bite, the whole thing falls apart, and I, you know, it's like I got prosciutto hanging down and half a breadstick on the bar, and I was just mortified. And of course I looked up and two people were looking at me and they're like, and I and I felt so self-conscious. And I thought, today it wouldn't bother me.

SPEAKER_01 11:08

No, it's not a big thing.

SPEAKER_02 11:09

You know, but back then I was like, oh my god, every eye on the room is on me, and you know, right? And you don't know what you don't know, and then everybody's like, Yeah, I've been there, done that, sweetheart, you know.

SPEAKER_01 11:21

And it's gotta be nice to be at a gathering where it's your peers, your contemporaries.

SPEAKER_02 11:26

You can all learn it together.

SPEAKER_00 11:28

Yes, it warmed up very fast because of that. How many how many people you got involved so far?

unknown 11:33

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 11:33

We have very large crowds come to these. I would wager around 30 people, as you said. Oh, nice.

SPEAKER_02 11:37

Yeah, and they've only met what three times?

SPEAKER_00 11:39

There is so much energy and enthusiasm in the room, it is a huge opportunity.

SPEAKER_01 11:43

It's interesting you're getting that response. Obviously, it's a need. Yes. Yes. I would not have expected it to have that kind of a positive response that quickly.

SPEAKER_02 11:51

That quickly. Yeah, we didn't either. We thought it would be a slow build, but proved you wrong. Yes, you did.

SPEAKER_01 11:56

And are you meeting like here at the chamber or are you doing all over?

SPEAKER_00 11:59

Usually, yes, more often than not, yes. But we're going everywhere. We're taking it on the road for sure.

SPEAKER_04 12:03

Certain members have also, you know, offered to welcome us into their space as well.

SPEAKER_01 12:09

And I think maybe like a I don't know, a restaurant or a bar.

SPEAKER_04 12:13

Yeah, yep, yep.

SPEAKER_01 12:14

So not that young people are involved or any of that.

SPEAKER_02 12:18

Well, I mean, but they went over to one of the um the senior housing developments, was it last week? For for, you know, and you we're all gonna have to make that decision someday.

SPEAKER_01 12:28

And but it's it's great that young people are doing that because I never walk into a assisted living or senior housing until I was let's just say a little more seasoned.

SPEAKER_02 12:40

Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 12:41

And it would have been good, right, really, as a 30-year-old, to say this is part of, especially in this area, it is such a part of our population. Yes, yes, good thing to be connected.

SPEAKER_02 12:52

Yeah. But I think it's an exposure for them to see what's out there, what other businesses do, what other, you know, what other businesses are available in the community, what services are available for the community. That's a great point.

SPEAKER_01 13:03

I remember growing through my career being exposed to types of businesses that I just I I didn't really know.

SPEAKER_02 13:12

There's a you know, and it always fascinated me, there is a business for everything.

SPEAKER_01 13:16

There is a business for everything.

SPEAKER_02 13:17

And they're getting to learn it from the ground up. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 13:19

Yes, yeah, yeah. So what's next?

SPEAKER_04 13:24

So next, I would say it's just us continuing to develop it since it is new, and kind of to your point, you know, being that is such a new um group. Everyone has a voice, right? So when we're in these meetings right now, it's a lot of brainstorming, it's a lot of coming up with ideals. Like you said, everyone is very enthusiastic about it, which makes it great. So now it's just putting those ideals actually to play, right? And figuring out what's gonna make sense for us. So we are still in that phase of things. We want to be intentional about what we're doing, right?

SPEAKER_01 13:58

How long has this been happening?

SPEAKER_04 14:00

So it's only been about two months. Oh, you're brand new. Yeah, mid-January. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, we got it was like up and running. It was it took us.

SPEAKER_02 14:10

Well, they were really good because I said I'm gonna need some sort of structure for this. So they have laid out their structure for me and done that part, which everybody needs to learn how the committees work and how that kids these days, you know, org charts and stuff like that to satisfy the board of directors and the bylaws and all that. And it's like, okay.

SPEAKER_01 14:29

You know, I think it it's it's good both ways. Yeah, young people learning, but I think it's also people that are a little more seasoned, right? Learning and understanding this is the generation that is going to be carrying this community.

SPEAKER_02 14:42

Yep, and we are so proud that we ready for this group in Little River to carry us forward. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:48

So for people that want to maybe learn more, what's the process? And again, remind us this is under 40. Is there a a bottom end? I mean, this is not teenagers.

SPEAKER_04 14:59

Right. So I mean, we want them to be professionals in business, right? Serious about their growth and development, serious about making an impact in the community. So, with that in mind, you know, that could be an 18-year-old, right? Yeah, but it's it's right. But yeah, as long as they are professional and they, you know, are established in that way, then they can correct.

SPEAKER_01 15:20

And what's the process? How do you do that?

SPEAKER_04 15:22

Come to a meeting, right?

SPEAKER_01 15:23

Come join us, come see us.

SPEAKER_04 15:25

Yeah, but how do you find out more and where I'm yes, I'm most of our advertising has been via Facebook, especially to attract those who are not a part of the chamber already.

SPEAKER_01 15:35

Okay, let me let me ask this more directly. Hey, I wonder if people looked at the Little River Chamber of Commerce website, would there be some information?

SPEAKER_02 15:42

There will be. We're working on redo we're redoing the whole website.

SPEAKER_01 15:46

So it's not there yet.

SPEAKER_02 15:47

But if they were to say call the Little River Chamber of Commerce information, go to our social media pages. That's they're all over social media. And we do Instagram and TikTok and Facebook. And what am I searching for?

SPEAKER_01 15:59

Next.

SPEAKER_03 15:59

Next wave.

SPEAKER_04 16:00

Next wave, young professionals of Little River.

SPEAKER_01 16:03

Okay. Next wave, Little River, it'll pop up. It'll do that Google thing.

SPEAKER_00 16:07

That's us.

SPEAKER_04 16:07

Yes, that is us. And we have an amazing team. Um, we have established, like she said already, our um hierarchies. And so we have Skylar, we have Ella, and we have Zoe who are going to, and then we also have Kimberly, and she does a lot with our marketing.

SPEAKER_02 16:24

And then Britney, I think, is on our is the board rep, right?

SPEAKER_01 16:27

She is, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 16:27

Brittany, yeah. So we've got, I mean, I know.

SPEAKER_01 16:31

You don't need to know because they're handling it.

SPEAKER_02 16:33

I am. That's great.

SPEAKER_01 16:35

It's great. Well, this has been a blast. It's been great to meet you guys.

SPEAKER_02 16:39

Is there anything that we forgot to touch on?

SPEAKER_04 16:42

I would just say, like we said before, we are open to anyone who wants to join, anyone who's serious about taking their business to the next level, developing themselves, and playing a huge part in Little River and the initiatives that we're trying to do. Um, so look us up on Facebook, social media, inquire through the chamber, and we would love to open you, um, welcome you with open arms.

SPEAKER_01 17:07

Well, you're both very enthusiastic. What's the name of this again?

SPEAKER_02 17:11

Next Wave. We're talking treasures.

SPEAKER_01 17:13

Okay, Doctor. I'll pick it up there. This has been our latest episode, our podcast, Talkin' Treasures from the Little River Chamber of Commerce.

SPEAKER_02 17:22

It's been great, huh?

SPEAKER_01 17:23

It has been great. Tanisha and Skylar, thank you so much.

SPEAKER_03 17:27

Thank you guys for having us. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 17:30

I found my treasure.

SPEAKER_03 17:32

Right here in Little River.

SPEAKER_01 17:34

No, you were gonna say it. Go ahead.

SPEAKER_03 17:35

Sorry, did I jump on you? No. What am I supposed to say?

SPEAKER_00 17:39

I found my treasure.

SPEAKER_03 17:40

I found my treasure.

SPEAKER_00 17:43

I say I found my treasure too. Right here in Little River. Okay, so look at it. It's confusing.

SPEAKER_03 17:50

I found my treasure.

SPEAKER_00 17:51

Right here in Little River.