Upside of Life: Professional groups aren't wasted on the young

It's a term you're going to hear a lot more of in Marquette County in the coming years: 40 Below.

No, that's not what the weather is going to be like tomorrow or, likely, ever around Marquette County. It's the organization created by the Lake Superior Community Partnership for young professionals.

There's no arguing that young professionals are a big part of the county and the businesses around the region. A quick stroll through Marquette and you're likely to run into a quite a few of them: executive chef Shane Baker at Doncker's, city councilman Jason Schneider or Wattsson & Wattsson's Ruby Wattsson-Rhodes, among many others. That's exactly why the LSCP saw an opportunity to offer a chance for them to become more networked all while engaging one another and exchange ideas.

This idea, to be frank, isn't a new one. Iron Mountain has a YP group of their own, and Sault Ste. Marie is starting one under the guidance of the new chamber of commerce director. It doesn't have to be original, though--it's a great idea nonetheless.

What's great is that organizations like this one allow young professionals to have social and recreational opportunities with like-minded individuals of approximately the same age. What typically stems from that is personal and professional development and opportunities to connect and engage with the community in which they work, live and play.

LSCP's 40 Below offers a lot of fun activities, too. Take Drink and Links, for example--a members-only event that is held as regularly as every third Tuesday of every month, all in various venues. They also have professional development seminars, typically featuring a guest speaker discussing issues and topics in Marquette County that will have an impact on young professionals.

The organization also has an annual event that includes a banquet and awards to "Four Under Forty." In fact, that particular conference will be held May 2 this year at Northern Michigan University. The event is, obviously, geared toward YPs and aimed at providing speakers and sessions that range from community involvement and organizational skills all the way to personal finance and everything in between.

And the cost to be a part of this organization? Just $50 a year--one heck of a bargain when you consider the benefits. Young professionals who choose to join 40 Below, or any other similar organization in their area, can only benefit from interacting and networking with like-minded people of the same age bracket.

If you'd like to get more information about 40 Below or the Young Professionals conference, contact Lindsay Hemmila (herself a young professional in Marquette County) via email.

Sam Eggleston is the managing editor of UP Second Wave. He was born and raised in the Upper Peninsula and has been a young professional for the past 12 years. He can be reached via email.