A little over 15 years ago, then-Bay Area Chamber President and CEO Mike Seward sat down with Magen Samyn to talk about how to bring young professionals in the community together. Samyn told Seward that young people needed a space to network with others.
A short time later, Samyn and Rob Pope teamed up to start
Bay Area Energize.
Today, Seward is retired, Samyn is the Chamber President, and Energize is a thriving program in the community.
Energize is a program under the umbrella of the
Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. It gives young people an opportunity to grow and build relationships. Ultimately, Energize bolsters economic growth in the community and helps retain talent.
A networking celebration to commemorate the15
th anniversary takes place on Fri., Sept.13 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the
Liberty Harbor Event Center, 804 E. Midland St.
The celebration is more than a party. It’s also an opportunity to find out more about Energize, says Chamber Marketing and Membership Manager Annabelle Schweiger. Regional partners from Midland and Saginaw also are invited to the celebration.
“Our goal was to attract, engage, and retain young professionals in the county and help connect them to other young professionals,” says Samyn.
Other avenues for networking existed 15 years ago, but the Chamber wanted to provide an opportunity specifically for people between 21 and 40 years old.
There are few requirements for membership.
People between 21 and 40 working in any field or for any size business are invited to join Energize. College students, professionals learning the ropes of a new job, and seasoned veterans 40 years old or under all are encouraged to join.
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Photo courtesy of Bay Area EnergizeCoffee socials are one way the young professionals in Bay Area Energize build their networks.Samyn says Energize provides many benefits including helping young professionals reach their full potential.
“They may realize there’s this whole network of people to hang out with, to help educate them,” she says.
John Bellsmith, one of the original Steering Committee members, owns
Bellsmith Graphic Design Studio, 721 Washington Ave. Suite 202C in Downtown Bay City. Bellsmith attributes much of his success and his deep roots in the community to the Chamber and Energize.
“
Being a member of the initial Energize Steering Committee was extremely instrumental in the development of my graphic design business as well as shaping me as a proud member of the Bay City community,” Bellsmith says.
It also helped him forge connections as a new business owner.
“As the idea of Energize was being formed I was asked to create the logo.”
Bellsmith made the most of the opportunity.
“I wanted to be a member of their ‘club.’ It turned out to be the very best decision I could have made both professionally and personally.”
Since then, Bellsmith’s business has grown and he’s made many connections in the community.
“More importantly, I treasure the friendships that I made, as many of them continue to be a support system in every element of my life.”
Another original Steering Committee member, Nicole Bartlett, Associate Manager of Production at
SC Johnson at 4867 E. Wilder Road, says she made lifelong friends.
“
Through Energize, I was introduced to many wonderful individuals and had the opportunity to attend numerous events that enriched both my professional and personal life,” Barlett says.
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Photo courtesy of Bay Area EnergizeAn annual golf outing is more than a fun event for Bay Area Energize. Through such outings, the members build lifelong friendships and foster business relationships.“The organization’s focus on development, networking, and community involvement significantly contributed to my understanding of Bay City and its opportunities.”
She says as a transplant into Bay City, Energize helped her form relationships that, like the spokes of a wheel, reach out to the wider community.
“I frequently encounter people I met through the network, particularly now that I have two young boys who are actively involved in school and sports in the region. A fellow Steering Committee member’s husband has even coached my son in travel baseball for the past two years.”
Measuring the success of the program isn’t always simple, but Samyn can tell many anecdotes of success. Members who served on the early Steering Committee, subcommittees, or who just came to events now are in leadership positions.
“You’re giving these young professionals an opportunity to lead and build that network for themselves, for their peers. We’re also giving them leadership opportunities within that, and the growth to go where they go from here.”
One of the goals of Energize is to retain talent in Bay County. While some members have left the area, Samyn says the evidence is clear the program is meeting its goals.
“These young professionals we have as part of our network, including our Steering Committee, are incredibly dynamic and talented and we learn from them all the time. They are just a dynamic group and we’re so fortunate.”
Going forward, Samyn says it remains important for young people to network and learning from each other.
“We wanted them to have a seat at the table,” she says. “So many, especially 21 year olds, they come out of college and they feel like they’ve got the world by the tail, but then they don't know what to do with it.”
Energize gives young people a network to help them figure out what to do with their ideas and energy.
“These kinds of networking groups put them together with people that are not that much older, but in that same generational group that can help them along the way.”
She says it’s also important for retention to “focus on our young professionals who are here and let them know that we appreciate them being here. We want them involved and to have a say in our community.”
Over the course of the last decade and a half, Schweiger says the networking group has grown.
“I think it’s important for that demographic of individuals to be able to develop their own network and create those lasting connections.”
The calendar of events includes monthly coffee socials, quarterly lunch and learns, and golf and bowling outings. Energize is free for Chamber members and $30 per year for all others.
To learn more or to join Energize, follow them on
Facebook, or
Linkedin