40 Below Begins Year Three
Posted by Amy Clickner on August 7, 2012
A few weeks ago, I discussed the role that talent enhancement (formerly known as “workforce development”) plays in economic development. Attaining and keeping a young, talented workforce is important for sustaining a well-balanced local economy for the future. As the current workforce ages and community leaders retire, who will step in to take their place? This is precisely the reason that talent enhancement, attraction and retention are included our economic development strategy, and we continue to look for new ways to connect employers with talent such as the Live It U.P. Career and Business Expo coming up on Aug. 22 at the Lakeview Arena.
But just as recruiting a young, well-educated workforce to the community is important, so is fostering it. Recognizing the importance of the young professional, communities began to form young professional networks in the late 1990s and early 2000s as a way to engage the next generation, and to maximize their positive impacts in the community. According to a study by Next Generation Consulting, on average, 71% of young professionals across the country own homes with an average value of $184,000, with 84% having a four-year degree or higher.
So in 2010, after a few years of research, the Lake Superior Community Partnership followed suit by creating 40 Below: Marquette County Young Professionals. September marks the beginning of 40 Below’s third year, and what a successful and rewarding experience it has been for the young professionals of Marquette County. 40 Below offers social and recreational opportunities, personal and professional development, as well as connection and engagement opportunities throughout the community for young professionals between the ages of 21 and 40.
For the past two years, 40 Below has held a variety of events and activities at various locations throughout the County, created in order to provide an opportunity for members to interact socially, exchange ideas and connect outside of the workplace. “Drinks and Links” and “Lunch and Learns” proved to be successful events, and last year 40 Below added a few new programs for its members. One of the most popular has been “Links on Location,” which is a recreational social networking event where the group meets and participates in an activity. A few examples of Links on Location have been Movie in the Park and Lawn Games Skills Challenge.
In May, 40 Below held the inaugural Upper Peninsula Young Professionals Conference in Marquette. The event was a huge success, with over 120 young professionals form across the U.P. attending to participate in workshops and discussions on social networking, etiquette in communication, polishing your professional image, personal finance, intro to services clubs and more. 40 Below will hold the next conference in April of 2013.
Cultivating a strong young professional culture is the goal of 40 Below, and a necessary part of the Lake Superior Community Partnership’s strategic plan for regional economic development. This network of young professionals has taken off faster and been more successful in its first two years than we had ever imagined. Their membership is growing and their leadership is strong, with plenty more opportunities on the horizon.
If you are a young professional who is a member of 40 Below and have not renewed your membership yet, now is the time to do so. This year all new members and member renewals will receive a 40 Below tee-shirt and window decal!
For more information, to share your ideas or obtain a membership application, please contact Lindsay Hemmila, 40 Below liaison at lhemmila@marquette.orgor 906-226-6591. You can also find more information at https://marquette.org/participate/40-below-marquette-county-young-professionals.
