Young Bath Professionals will begin Networking

Sometimes when you are working hard to get a new business off the ground, or trying to keep an old one afloat, it’s difficult to remember to visit with others doing the same thing. Bath Chamber of Commerce hopes to makes this easier. Emily Plecker, the Chamber’s Executive Director tells us how.

“We are going to host a young professionals network event on Thursday, September 10^th at Garth Newel Music Center Manor House from 5 to seven PM. And this event will target young people, ages 21 to 40 working in Bath County and surrounding areas. The idea for this program is to kind of kick start a young professionals’ network. The goal is to create a setting in which young professionals can build relationships and develop professionally. This program will also help cultivate these future leaders and provide them with opportunities for making connections and developing their careers so that they can shape the future of Bath County.”

“So this includes both people who are employed by larger companies but also, say, individual business owners?”

“Yes, definitely. It’s been a long-term goal of mine since I started working with the chamber to create a network for young professionals.” Emily Plecker continued,

“I think that Bath County has been lacking in atmosphere where young professionals and entrepreneurs are fulfilled professionally and socially. So, I believe it’s the duty of the Chamber to create that environment for them; and it might seem weird to think that the Chamber would be responsible for that, but it’s an important investment in the future for not only the chamber, but our community.

They’re critical to the long-term relevancy of the chamber, and relevancy of our home.”  This move in Bath’s Economic Development has a fresh, new face.

Again Emily Plecker,

“I definitely believe that this program can create a cornerstone, which will attract and retain innovative thinkers who can invest in the area, strengthen our economy, and care for our community, and really just define the future with the next generation of leadership.”

So just consider, whether you have inherited your grandfather’s logging business, or are entering medical records online from home, meeting other young working people from Bath County, and those with experience, can only benefit your business.

“It’s not only a good opportunity for my peers, but also seasoned professionals, influential voices that are leading the community right now, you know they have a say in the future, so that’s where they need to engage the younger professionals, “ said Plecker.

“So I think this program has the potential to bridge the gap, the generational gap through mentorship and relationship building.”

Is there anything we can do to insure a good turnout at this group’s first meeting?

“Any young professionals that you know, ages twenty-one to forty, please invite them, and have them RSVP to me at the Chamber.”

Again, this first Young Professionals Networking event will be held Thursday, September 10^th, from 5 until 7 o’clock in the Garth Newel Manor House. Please contact Emily Plecker, Executive Director of The Chamber of Commerce at 839-5409,