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WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (April 23, 2019) –The Young Professionals of Walton County (YPWC) will host their first “Rise & Grind” of 2019 on Thursday, May 9. Sponsored by Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast, Rise & Grind will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. in the gazebo courtyard outside of Clean Juice located in The Market Shops.

Young professionals will have the opportunity to network and participate in a round-robin style talk with Reynolds Henderson of Main Street DeFuniak Springs, County Commissioner Tony Anderson, and the South Walton Community Chaplain Emily Proctor. Each will discuss the various community and commerce practices in Walton County. Event goers will also enjoy coffee and cold-pressed juice samples provided by Clean Juice. 

Additional event sponsors include Eloquent Signs, Clutch Media Works, and Epic Photo Co. This event is free to attend. To accommodate all guests, YPWC asks those interested in attending to RSVP online at http://ypwaltoncounty.com/Events.

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (March 4, 2019) – The Young Professionals of Walton County (YPWC) will host their March event at Idyll Hounds Brewing Company titled “Puppies & Pints: A Saint Paw-Trick’s Day Social” on Thursday, March 14 from 5:00 – 7:00pm. 

Event goers will enjoy live music by DJ Dad, food for purchase from the Back Beach Barbecue food truck, and receive one free beer from Idyll Hounds with an item donation to Lucky Puppy Rescue. Needs include: Purine ONE puppy kibble, pee pads, liquid washing detergent, baby meat food found in glass jars, evaporated milk, liquid goat’s milk, baby cereal, and monetary donations.

Lucky Puppy Rescue was founded in 2008 in an effort to change the luck of rescue dogs forever. The organization is located on a 125-acre farm and through proper veterinary care, including spaying and neutering, they are able to tend to the physical health of every dog that comes to them.  Additionally, the organization fosters a healthy emotional environment for the dogs, providing a pack family that will socialize them and improves their overall behavior. 

This event is free and open to the public to attend, but donations are highly encouraged. To stay in the know with all that is happening, be sure to follow Young Professionals of Walton County on Facebook and Instagram or visit their website http://ypwaltoncounty.com.

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (February 7, 2019) – The Young Professionals of Walton County (YPWC) will host their inaugural professional development luncheon featuring "For the Love of Money," Financial Planning with Simona from Krueger Fosdyck & Associates: Merrill Lynch, which will take place on Thursday, February 14. 

The Young Professionals of Walton County invites the community to join them at the new Hyatt Place Sandestin at Grand Boulevard from 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. for this professional development luncheon. Simona will discuss the basic concepts of financial planning, the time value of money and investments, use of credit, and getting a head start on retirement planning.

Simona Ondrejkova, originally from the Czech Republic, has been a Financial Advisor at Krueger Fosdyck & Associates: Merrill Lynch since 2012. Her overall goal is to assist clients in every aspect of their financial lives by working with them to formulate an approachable financial plan that is customized to their unique needs and objectives. Simona utilizes the vast resources and research capabilities of Merrill Lynch and Bank of America to bring clarity to investment opportunities and ever-changing market conditions that can impact portfolio returns. After moving to the United States in her early teen years, Simona graduated with an MBA and a B.S. in Finance and Business Administration from Florida State University. She is also actively involved with local non-profits including the Destin Woman’s Club, American Cancer Society, and Toastmasters. 

Cost to attend is $20 for members and $25 for non-members which will include lunch. To stay in the know with all that is happening, be sure to follow Young Professionals of Walton County on Facebook and Instagram or visit their website http://ypwaltoncounty.com.

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (January 24, 2019) –The Young Professionals of Walton County (YPWC) announced today its first experience of the New Year. This welcoming and informative social will be hosted on Thursday, January 31, 2019, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30p.m. at the Amavida Coffee Roaster in the South Walton Commerce Park. “Hit the Ground(s) Running” will be an introductory event for young professionals along Florida’s Emerald Coast looking to further engage in the professional networking realm and kick off their New Year with intensity. 

Young Professionals of Walton County is an organization created by the Walton Area Chamber of Commerce whose mission is to bridge social, geographical, political and economic boundaries across Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast, while providing a venue for ambitious individuals to network and enhance their professional development skills.

“Hit the Ground(s) Running” is complimentaryto attend and open to all young professionals on the Emerald Coast. Guests will enjoy live music by Tanner Gray, lite-bites, local beers from Grayton Beer Company, specialty craft coffee cocktails by Amavida, as well as the chance to participate in raffle/door prize drawings.  Additional event sponsors include Clutch Media Works,Eloquent Signs, Epic Photo Co.,Land • Air • Sea Productionsand the Walton Area Chamber. 

If your business is interested in donating a door prize, or sponsoring an upcoming event to raise awareness amongst this local group of young professionals, please email Kelly Thompsonatkellyt@cvhnkids.org.

The 2019 Young Professionals of Walton County Board of Directors include:

President – Chelsea Blaich, Grayton Beer Company

Communications (E-news & Press Releases) – Bryanna Rose Muscella, Proffitt PR

Communications (Website & Social Media) – Chelsea Fox, Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center

Design – Jessica Plowden, Clutch Media Works 

Historian/Photographer – Jeff Provinse, Epic Photo Co.

Immediate Past President – Jessica Proffitt Bracken, Proffitt PR

Membership – Karah Fridley Young, Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation

Networking Events – Kelly Thompson, Children’s Volunteer Health Network 

Networking Events – Kevin Boyle, Poor Truman Creative 

Programs/Professional Development – Nathan R. Cordle, Clark Partington

Secretary – Chelsea Calhoun, Grand Boulevard at Sandestin

Sponsorship – Brooke Wheeler, The Island Wedding Company & Whole Life Fitness, LLC

Sponsorship – Chris Wheeler, Scenic Stays 30A & Whole Life Fitness, LLC

Sponsorship – Leighann Elliott, The Village of Baytowne Wharf

Time & Attendance –  Katelyn Burke, Spa 98

Treasurer – Amanda Bierbaum, Soiree

Trustee – Cory Fosdyck, Merill Lynch

The 2019 Board of Directors will be inducted during the Walton Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Gala on Friday, February 1, 2019, at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa. Those interested in attending should register in advance at www.waltonareachamber.com.

For those unable to attend the January kickoff event, YPWC invites everyone to join them Thursday, February 14, 2019, for their inaugural professional development luncheon of 2019. Additional details regarding this event are forthcoming. To stay in the know with all that is happening, be sure to follow Young Professionals of Walton County on Facebook and Instagram or visit their website http://ypwaltoncounty.com.

Networking is a skill that many young professionals are often uncomfortable with.  How does one build a network where you can pick up the phone and accomplish a difficult task? How do you build a network with potential mentors that you can work with throughout your career?  How do you start to build a network at all?

These are all valid questions with simple answers.  However, like anything worth having, you’ll have to work hard and be patient to cultivate a network that works for you.

Here is the first in a series of three easy starting points:

1. Find a hobby that speaks to a wide audience.  If you’re looking to cultivate a diverse network, spending all of your free time gaming online (for instance) is not going help foster many conversations with potential contacts who are not into gaming.  Also, those outside of your specific hobby world may not want to know anything additional about your awesome game score.

Two approaches to finding a new hobby with the right fit:

A)     Think about who you would like to connect with and your own interests.  If you want to meet more people who play tennis, sail, and go golfing, but you hate golf and get really bad tennis elbow, try sailing!

B)      Find something that is universally understood (i.e. sports, the arts, etc.) that you are passionate about (or at least like). If you love to paint, that’s great! As the conversation starts to turn away from business at your next office event, ask your new connection what he/she enjoys doing outside of work, listen actively to the response, and then share that you love to paint. Most people will ask what you like to paint, how you got into this hobby, etc. The conversation goes from there.

Regardless of the route you take, make a note in your phone of the person’s name and what you talked about.  If they offered you a card, write the conversation key points as bullet notes on the back and then add them into the notes section when you create a new contact. If you know you are going to see this person again, or need to reach out to them, but cannot remember the details, these brief notes will help you pick up where you left off.

Does all of this mean that you have to give up your online gaming? No. It just means that you are branching out to make yourself well-rounded. You may have to try more than one hobby to find a great fit! But, by trying something new, you are also learning new skills and opening yourself up to change – which are both good things!

Check back for tip #2 in two weeks!

-K

Kate Scanlan is the Coordinator for the Costa Leadership Institute and the 2016 Professional Development Chair for YP@TB. Kate enjoys supporting the community by taking an active role in the Junior League of the Emerald Coast and the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce. When not at work, Kate enjoys gardening, cooking, yoga, and playing with her dog.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month & the Emerald Coast Children's Advocacy Center is the beneficiary the 13th Annual NWFTC Grand Prix Race 5k Run/Walk in Niceville!

Golf has always been a game used to mix business and pleasure. This year, young professionals can get a fresh introduction to the game and its benefits in regards to networking with the Summer Golf Corporate Challenge at Emerald Bay in Destin.

Young Professionals at the Beach along with Walton County Chamber of Commerce is hosting a networking, summer corporate challenge. They have asked companies to put together a two man team. Teams can play at 4:30 p.m. every other Wednesday starting June 15 and lasting until the middle of August. Participants will have the opportunity to play nine-hole golf, meet other professionals, and get fed.

It's $30 per man to play. There are chances to win prizes as there will be a draw every Monday by the Golf Director. The more you play, the more likely you are to win one of the top three prizes. First place receives two, three-night stays with Southern Resorts Vacation Rentals, two free rounds of Golf at Emerald Bay, a trophy and champs T-Shirts. Second place will receive two, two night-stays with Southern Resorts Vacation Rental and a trophy, and third place will receive a trophy.

Richard Lamar, operation manager for Southern Vacation Rentals, is involved with YP at the Beach, and is looking forward to the upcoming event.

"I think it's a great networking opportunity," he said. "We're offering a different avenue to engage those involved. It's a time to meet new people."

Jamie McIntosh, president of YP at the Beach, says they host the event because, "it's a way for us to provide a venue for young professionals in the area to network and grow professionally.

McIntosh, 30, says that they got the idea two years ago when they were looking for networking ideas.

"We think it is a noninvasive way of meeting people," he said.

Story Courtesy of Megan Mosley, Walton Sun