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History
The
need to attract and retain a diverse, young workforce,
the need to redefine the way the region market’s and
showcases itself, the need to identify and grow emerging
leaders, and the need to engage young people in issues
facing the region have risen as a community-wide
priority and strategy.
Understanding these needs, the Illinois Quad City
Chamber of Commerce and the Quad City Chamber Federation
partner to bring you The Network: Young Professionals of
the Quad Cities –
an organization dedicated to engaging area young
professionals in shaping and showcasing the greater
Quad
City
region.
Where it all began…
The Young Professionals Network (YPN) of the Quad Cities
kicked off its first event on
April
11, 2002
with 150 young professionals in attendance.
This officially began the first young
professionals organization in the Quad Cities.
YPN ended its first year with 375 young professionals in
its network. From
the very beginning, YPN was focused on serving the
bi-state region by allowing open membership to all
individuals, regardless of affiliation or membership
with the Illinois Quad City Chamber.
Since, YPN grew to be a
network of
Iowa
and Illinois Quad
Cities
young professionals, with nearly half of YPN's network
living in Iowa.
As this network has grown, so too has the
involvement of the region’s business community through corporate
sponsorship. From
2002 to 2007 the network grew from 150 to over 1,700
young professionals from diverse backgrounds, professions, and
lifestyles. This
represents employees of nearly 400 area businesses and
organizations.
neXt Professionals was
a network
of positive professionals, in their twenties and
thirties, interested in the growth and prosperity of the
Quad Cities. Involvement with the neXt Professionals
provides opportunities to become better connected,
involved and informed in the QCA.
neXt represents the
Quad
Cities
’ up and coming leaders.
Prior to the merger of neXt and YPN, neXt consisted of a
membership base of just over 700 young professionals.
Where we are today…
In January of 2008, The Young Professionals Network
and neXt Professionals merged together to create a more
regional approach to the attraction and retention of
young professionals. The newly merged organization
is now know as The Network: Young Professionals of the Quad Cities.
The Network offers a wide array of programs and events
that fit right in with the organizations goal to be
BOLD, ENERGETIC, VOCAL, and PROFESSIONAL. The
organization strives to cultivate social and
professional development, provide service leadership
opportunities, facilitate the connection of young talent
with the hiring needs of employers, and engage in
advocacy of YP interests.
The
Network has to signature events that have become well
known in the Quad Cities - The Network @ Noon and The
Network @ Night. The Network @ Noon is typically held the 3rd Wednesday of
each month and focuses in on personal and professional
development opportunities for young professionals.
The Network @ Night is typically held the first Thursday
of each month and is an opportunity for friends, coworkers, and other
young professionals meet each month at an area
restaurant, bar, or special venue after work to
socialize, make business and community contacts, and
experience the Quad Cities quality of life.
Each event bring approximately 100 young
professionals together.
However, this isn’t The Network: Young Professionals of the Quad Cities’s only event.
The Network: Young Professionals of the Quad Cities
has developed new programs and events to
broaden young people’s knowledge and experience of the
Quad Cities.
Through the groups advocacy committee, yps are able to
be VOICE for young professionals in the community by
participating in the group's Issue Forums, held
quarterly. The Network also allows young
professionals to get involved in the community through
eNgage, the volunteer arm of The Network.
Participate in a monthly group volunteer activity or get
involved individually, the choice is yours.
To help encourage the development of a social network
and showcase the Quad City region’s quality of life, The
Network connects young people through special events, such
as a New Year’s Eve party or a Chicago Cubs rooftop game, and
its many interest clubs, which includes a book, cigar,
dinner, fitness, hunting, poker, ski, travel, and wine
clubs.
One of the newest and rapidly expanding programs is the The
Network's
Hot Spot Card, through which over 50 area retailers,
restaurants, entertainment and cultural amenities offer
exclusive discounts to The Network's members.
Where
is The Network: Young Professionals of the Quad Cities
going?
The Network: Young Professionals of the Quad Cities
has a strong vision for helping
the Quad Cities become a vibrant economic leader with an
engaging, diverse population from all backgrounds,
professions, and lifestyles.
To this end, The Network will continue its current
mission while seeking out and encouraging a diversity of
people, ideas, experiences, and professions in the
organization.
The increasingly mobilized members will also
seek ways to advocate issues important to enhancing the
Quad Cities’ quality of life.
As an integral component of BluePrint2010,
The Network will continue developing new programs to assist the
Quad
City
region’s talent attraction and retention initiatives.
With a growing network of over 2,300, young people
can explore the social, professional, and cultural
opportunities in the
Quad
City
region through The Network.
Over the upcoming years, The Network
will strive to be
the connection to the Quad Cities’ quality of life for
all young professionals.
Click here to learn more about The Network: Young Professionals of the Quad Cities
programs.
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