The Young Professionals Organization of Greater Peoria (YPO) and the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce have teamed up to bring young professionals to the tri-county business community.
The relationship between the Chamber and YPO will better integrate young professionals into corporate and community life, and the two organizations also will work to cross promote each other's events.
The affiliation was formally adopted at the Chamber's meeting in June and announced at the Business After Hours in July.
The partnership aims not only to attract new faces to the area, but also to retain those who may still be looking for everything the Peoria area has to offer.
The YPO strives to provide a forum for other young professionals to network, discuss local and regional issues, and serve in an advisory setting-a goal the YPO board currently is working toward. Another announcement pertaining to that objective hopefully will be made soon.
Volunteers currently fill the YPO board's 11 seats, and a few more remain open for like-minded individuals. Officers include President Tom Gerend, with the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission; Vice President and Chamber liaison Rhonda Ham, with Morgan Stanley; and Secretary David Williams, with the Center for Entrepreneurship at Bradley University.
The YPO is still a fledgling at about one year old. The board continues to look for the best ways to provide opportunities for its membership, while at the same time working to enhance the community and business environment. IBI