Organization focuses on social interaction for young professionals
By Jeff Berndt
During the past decade, weather conditions pushed most of the Big Country region into drought conditions. Water rationing, yellow lawns, brown pastures, burn and a wide-range of wild fires have symbolized the worst of West Texas summers.
Meanwhile, a drought of a more subtle kind has been forming, one beyond the confines of Mother Nature, but equally significant to the residents of Abilene and the surrounding region: The exodus of young, professional talent for the lure of greener pastures of opportunity in metropolitan areas. Each May, area colleges, high schools and trade schools see a majority of their graduates continue to walk beyond the stage after ceremonies, setting their sights on Dallas, Houston, New York, Chicago and other metropolitans with the thought of robust, urban living.
But just as this spring answered several of the issues with precipitation, Abilene’s concern regarding capturing and retaining young talent may have hit a reprieve.
On April 16, with skies darkening and winds picking up, relief for both droughts arrived. Rain fell, bring much-needed moisture to the city; but only after the Chamber of Commerce successfully launched its inaugural event for the Abilene Young Professionals (AYP) organization with more than 400 professionals between the ages of 22 and 40 mixing among their peers.
“I am from Abilene and was surprised we had so many young professional people in our community,” said Elizabeth Niblo Wallace, an attorney at McMahon Surovik Suttle. “This will be a good way to meet career-minded people who are interested in networking and building relationships outside their own offices. These events expose young professionals to a bigger cross-section of their contemporaries who work in Abilene.”
Niblo Wallace was among 14 young professionals chosen to the AYP standing committee, which is tasked with creating the criteria and event steering for the organization.
With more than 500 pre-registered, the inaugural event turn out was slowed slightly by the overcast weather, but it didn’t dampen the spirits of Anna Stuteville, coordinator of the AYP for the Chamber.
“There are a lot of young people who start careers here after coming out of college, but after two or three years they leave because they claim there’s nothing to do in Abilene,” Stuteville said of her peer group. “That’s just not the case. Abilene has so much to offer, and we just have to create that awareness.
“I fight for Abilene every day, and what’s odd is many come back to raise their families, some you would never expect to come back. The goal now with AYP is to keep the momentum and excitement moving forward.”
Previous efforts to galvanize the younger professional community have had surges of success, only to bog down, lose focus or steam over time. However, none of the predecessors have had the type of turn out and corporate support of the AYP. The importance of retaining younger talent and professionals has been steadily building as employers have struggled to retain their younger staff members.
“On most occasions when we seek funding for an opportunity and need sponsors, we have to make roughly 30 calls,” said Jason Smith, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce. “We were looking for 12 sponsors for this program and managed to hit our goal will only 11 requests. One of our early calls referred another one to us.”
The significance wasn’t lost on sponsors. Not only did they assist financially, but also with membership from their work force. Recognizing the competition for young professional talent, the Chamber created a new position – a liaison between the Chamber and AYP, with a primary focus on keeping the organization vibrant and energized.
“Attracting and retaining young professionals has become a priority item,” Smith said, noting the issue is second on the current Chamber’s agenda. “The future of our community is based on young leadership emerging. We need young professionals, young entrepreneurs, young leaders to make our future healthy. During the past several years, older businesses have sold, moved or gone out of business, so this is one of the processes to achieving our goal.”
Additionally, the AYP group has been given a seat on the Chamber Board of Directors, providing insight and a voice to the needs of younger professionals. Chris Evatt, 34, and a vice president at First Financial Bank, currently serves in the position. Evatt transplanted to Abilene from Stephenville nine years ago and has become an advocate for such initiatives to stimulate a young movement. He can also relate to the complaint of younger people in Abilene, as well as most small to mid-size communities, a common tread: ’There’s nothing to do.’
“I was 25-years-old when I moved here – single and only knew a handful of people – so I can relate to what it’s like to be a young, professional here,” Evatt said. “Most young people struggle – but I think that’s anywhere, not just Abilene. They just haven’t found their place in the community. I didn’t realize how much there was until I got involved, which is why this organization is opportune.
“We get to create a setting that allows our demographic to centralize, meet, then expand and share our lives in the community. This will bring together a broader cross section of people rather than the same people you see at normal events or work.”
Evatt believes that by connecting career-minded 20, 30 and early 40-somethings earlier though AYP, there will be more and longer-lasting bonds made. He also pointed to the recent passage of the bond elections and stimulation package for expanding civic attractions as another sign of progress.
“We’re moving in the right direction,” Evatt said, “There’s been a lot of positive change in the past nine years, and this is instrumental in reviving our community and creating a culture for young professionals.”
When Evatt passes the torch as the AYP chairman at the end of the year, it will pass to Panissa Williams, chair-elect. She has served in similar organizations in the past, but sees subtle changes that should keep the organization vibrant and healthy for years to come.
“We have great corporate sponsors who are lending support not only in dollars, but also enrolling their young professionals in the program,” Williams said. “This creates a win-win for both the individual and the employer because it makes it faster to cultivate and bring young professionals together, especially those coming from outside of Abilene.
“This organization is truly a networking opportunity where young people can meet people based on similar career paths, hobbies or interests and bond. It creates a peer group for just about any young professional.”
The past decade has seen the emergence of downtown restaurants, clubs and live entertainment, as well as expanding amenities throughout much of Abilene: Renovation of Abilene Regional Airport, expanding facilities at Hendrick Medical Center and university campuses, Prime Time Entertainment center, Frontier Texas, as well as numerous eateries and bars. Adding the new features to the existing ones, such as the Abilene Zoo, Abilene Philharmonic, The Paramount Theatre, The Grace Museum, among others, is broadening services and appeal for the city.
Recent Abilene transplant, Taylor Tomanka, partner in the newly established law firm of Clements and Tomanka, voiced her surprise of the amenities after relocating with her fiancé Martin Fergus, an Abilene native, following graduation from law school at Texas Tech.
“By far the best surprise is the downtown area,” Tomanka said, “There are places to see local bands, bars, restaurants and a theatre – all without the long lines and waiting time you get in DFW.
“I would market Abilene as a hidden gem in West Texas. There are a ton of local talents, from food trucks to local musicians and comedians, that you can’t get in any other small town.”
The advantage the majority of young professionals seem to agree on isn’t about the amenities – but proximities and personalities. Most are quick to point out the lack of having to spend hours fighting traffic or concerns of looking over their shoulders when moving around the community.
“It’s nice to be able to run to the grocery store in about five minutes,” Niblo Wallace said. “Of course, that being said, you can not really run to the store without make-up because you are bound to run into at a least a couple of people you know.”
Evatt echoed that sentiment.
“You’re just about 15 minutes from any location – and, just about everywhere you go you’re likely to bump into someone you know,” Evatt said. “There’s 120,000 people in your backyard, you’re going to know somebody. Plus, there’s a great sense of unity and care here that’s not always the norm.”
The AYP meets for 90 minutes once a month at various locations and events around town. The annual membership for young professionals is $75, which gets them into all events and covers the cost of food, entertainment and refreshments.
Though sponsored by the Chamber, the agenda is clearly open.
“We want to make sure they steer their own course,” Smith said. “Experience and research shows that it’s the personality of those leading the group that create the sustainability and vibrancy of these types of organizations. Our job is to support and assist with resources.”
By supplying those resources, along with the support of the corporate sponsors, involvement of the AYP membership, as well as the community-at-large, the organization hopes to stem a talent drought – and, in turn, build the roots to Abilene’s future development and leadership.
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