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Young Professionals
This program provides opportunities to make new connections and familiarize its members with the amenities available in Greater Mankato. The YPs are a vibrant group of 21 to 40-year-olds who love living and working in our community! | 2018 Young Professionals Program Sponsors:
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About the Program
Annual Participation Includes
- Monthly social events - past events include Wow!Zone, Kayaking, MSU Indoor Climbing Wall, MoonDogs Game, Snowshoeing & Wine Tasting, Progressive Dinner, MSU Hockey Game and more!
- Monthly professional development sessions to build your skills - past events include Customer Service, Values Assessment, Working With Difficult People, Asking for a Promotion, Running an Effective Meeting, Speed Networking, business tours and more!
- Access to mentoring opportunities with area business leaders
- Opportunities to serve on committees and community initiatives
Participant Benefits
The program gives people who are newer in their careers and the business community an opportunity to meet others. Participants also bring in additional business opportunities through the connections they make within the community. View the YP Directory!
Participants will:
- Develop relationships with more than 200 fellow young professionals
- Expand business connections while promoting their business
- Grow leadership skills
- Increase engagement in the community
- Have fun!
Employer Benefits
“The Young Professionals program at GMG is the classic win-win initiative. We can see the growth of our Young Professionals in the program, and we can see lasting relationships being built improving Greater Mankato retention at a critical career phase all while building awareness of our brand throughout the region. Providing educational experiences to Young Professionals has also been a great way to give back to enthusiastic learners. Keep up the great work!”
- Chad Surprenant, President, ISG
"Once Young Professionals get a taste of all there is to do here and establish a network of friends and colleagues in the area, they are more likely to stay and enjoy life in Greater Mankato. Employers have found the program to be a very cost-effective development and retention strategy.”
- Christine Powers, Abdo Eick & Meyers, LLP
2018 Officers
YP Officers Pictured L to R:
- Alec Pfeffer, ISG - Inter City Leadership Visit Committee YP Representative
- Kelly Sonnek, Jack Link’s - Vice Chair
- Angela Guentzel, Guentzel Family Farms – Chair
- Kaitlyn Henderson, Greater Mankato Growth – Social Committee Co-Chair
- Alyssa Nelson, Blethen Gage & Krause – GMG Public Policy Steering Committee YP Representative
- Danielle Mehia, Wealth Enhancement Group – Professional Development Committee Co-Chair
- Cody Meschke, ISG – Professional Development Committee Co-Chair
- (not pictured) Katie Heintz, North Mankato Public Library – Social Committee Co-Chair
Community Volunteer Opportunities
Check out current community volunteer opportunities at Greater Mankato United Way's Get Connected website!
Join Today!
The Greater Mankato Young Professionals hold one social and one professional development event per month. Annual participation in the program is $300 per individual (prorated monthly for anyone who joins during the year) and includes admission to all activities and events, which usually include a great meal! YP applicants must be employed by a business that is at least an Engaged-level member of Greater Mankato Growth and also included as a representative in their businesses' membership. YP Membership is generally paid by the YPs' employer, but there are also many YPs that pay for their own membership.
Contact Shannon Gullickson at 507.385.6656 with membership questions. Check-out the YP Facebook page for photos of past events!
YP Events Calendar (events in RED are open for registration)
Professional Development Event: Everyone Communicates, Few Connect Social Event: Trivia hosted by Stunt Monkey at Bradley's | February Professional Development Event: Home Financing for Young Professionals Social Event: Tour and Tasting at The Starkeller Brewery in New Ulm |
March Professional Development Event: GMG Annual Meeting - Free Admission for YP Members Social Event: "Tonight: The Music of West Side Story" at the Mankato Symphony & Pre-Social YP New Member Luncheon | April Professional Development Event: Tour of Dotson Iron Castings Social Event: Team Games at the WOW!Zone |
May Professional Development Event: 12 Habits of Successful People featuring Cathy Brennan Social Event: CityArt Scavenger Hunt and Appetizers at Pub 500 | June Social Event: Kayaking the Blue Earth River Professional Development Event: Tour of the Mankato Regional Airport |
July Social Event: MoonDogs Game on the Loft Professional Development Event: Solar Farm Presentation & Tour Special Event: "YP Summer Camp Series" featuring speaker panels | August Professional Development Event: Tour of Profinium Building Businesses & 7th Floor Patio Social Social Event: "Picnic in the Pumpkin Patch" Sign-Up for the Fall/Winter Mentor Program |
September Social Event: Patio Party at Rounders Professional Development Event: What's New on the Mayo Clinic Hospital Campus? | October Social Event: Halloween Fun at Northern Frights in Garden City, Thursday, October 18, 6:30 pm Professional Development Event: Cyber Security, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 11:30 am = 1:00 pm |
November Professional Development Event: Networking/Elevator Speech Workshop, Thursday, November 8, 7:30-9:00 am Social Event: MSU vs. Ferris State Hockey Game & Social at The Loose Moose, Friday, Nov. 16 starting at 5 pm (GUESTS WELCOME!) | December Professional Development Event: YP Annual Meeting, Monday, December 3 3:30-4:30 pm with social to follow at Bonfire Social Event: YP Holiday Party at Mankato Golf Club, Wednesday, Dec. 12 at 5:30 pm |
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Interested in sponsoring an event? Click here to email Shannon | |
