40 Below: Young Professionals Conference
Posted by Amy Clickner on April 1, 2013
Talent, talent, talent. It’s the hot topic everywhere these days. How do we attract and retain top talent? How do we keep our young people in Michigan? How do we integrate the next generation, our future workforce, into our businesses and communities? One way is to let them lead, take an interest in what is important to them and support their efforts to be a part of the place they choose to call home. Marquette County’s Young Professionals network, 40 Below, is providing a perfect opportunity to do just that.
40 Below: Marquette County Young Professionals is hosting their 2nd Annual Upper Peninsula Young Professionals Conference on Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at the Holiday Inn following a very successful conference last year. The conference is geared towards helping young professionals strengthen and refresh professional development skills. The conference features a keynote speaker, luncheon speaker and four breakout sessions that revolve around the theme of “Connect, Develop, Lead, Inspire.” Attendees will also have the opportunity to network with other young professionals from around the Upper Peninsula, not just Marquette County.
The keynote speaker is David Beson, author of “My Customer, My Co-Worker,” and customer service coach for New Edge Training. Beson graduated from Michigan State University and has since established a successful career in sales and management, holding to the principal, “treat the customer as you would want to be treated.” This statement is the core of Beson’s customer service training program, The Essential Work Skills Certification, focusing on the important things in life and how those things can be transferred to customer service. The program is employer-minded and targets reliability, positive attitude and good customer service.
Beson has spoken at several Young Professional Conferences and business expos.
The luncheon speaker is Bob Jacquart, CEO of Jacquart Fabric Products, in Ironwood, MI, home of the stormy kromer. Jacquart bought Jacquart Manufacturing, a canvas repair and small custom bag business, in 1983 with eight employees, today there are 160 employees. Family, service and quality have remained key values for Jacquart and his business. Additionally, Jacquart has given back to the community having served on the local Wells Fargo Bank Board, Minneapolis Federal Reserve’s Business Advisory Board and 10 years on Northern Initiatives Board.
Today Bob is a member of Michigan’s Council for Labor and Economic Growth and part of its Entrepreneurial subcommittee. He is also a member of Northern Michigan University’s Business Advisory Council and the Board Chair at Gogebic Community College.
The morning will feature two breakout sessions with topics that include: differentiating yourself in the workplace, connecting in a virtual world, how to secure business financing and writing a successful business plan, pushing inspiration to the next level, fire up finances and destroy debt, learn what the library can do for you and inspiring with attitude, time and motivation.
Afternoon topics include: leading in 2013, dining etiquette, connecting with technology, developing your communication style, learning stress management and exercises and inspiring 1,000 things to do in the U.P.
The conference will have a pre-registration social at the Holiday Inn the night before to ease registration in the morning and to network with other conference attendees.
So mark your calendar and plan to attend or send the young professionals in your business to this valuable event!
Registration is online at Marquette County’s 40 Below Young Professional website, www.40belowmqt.org, along with sponsorship opportunities and the conference agenda. Individual registrations are $65, table of six attendees for $345 or a table of eight for $410.
