August 2024 | Hype | Young Professionals of Manhattan, Kansas

The Power of Professional Mentorship

It was an incredible evening at Rockin K’s on January 25^th, as Hype teamed up with the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce’s Established Business Leaders for a special Hooray Thursday event focused on mentorship. Attendees had the chance to connect with experienced mentors who shared valuable insights and advice while enjoying refreshments and appetizers.

One of the main highlights of the evening was hearing from Kendahl Goetzmann and Gail Urban about the success of their relationship through this program. They both stressed the importance of seeking mentorship early in your career and that mentorship is an invaluable resource, providing young professionals with guidance, support, and the tools they need to reach their full potential.

A special thank you goes to our founding investor, the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, whose support makes events like this possible. During the event, Vern Hendricks, President and CEO of the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, spoke about how fostering the next generation of leaders is truly commendable, and by doing so it allows young professionals to have a voice in making our community a better place to live.

Hype’s mentorship program continues to offer opportunities for growth and development throughout the year. As a benefit of your Hype membership, you will have the ability to review mentor profiles, select mentors you might like to be paired with, and develop relationships with diverse and experienced community members to help you reach your full potential. For those interested in joining either as a mentor or mentee, please reach out to Allison at [email protected].

Highlights from the 2nd Annual Young Professionals Day at the Capitol

A group of Manhattan Area Young Professionals attended the 2^nd Annual Young Professionals Day at the Kansas State Capitol on February 25, 2024. This event provided young professionals across our state an opportunity to sit at the table with our elected officials and advocate for a more competitive, innovative, prosperous, and welcoming state.

The day unfolded with remarks from elected officials followed by a panel discussion featuring several well-established Chamber Executives including Jason Smith, CEO of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce. Others included Juliet Abdel of the Topeka Chamber, Renee Duxler of the Salina Chamber, and Dennis Clary of the Wichita Chamber.

The lunch session allowed for the opportunity to dine and converse with peers and legislators. These moments of informal interaction fostered new connections and opened doors to collaborative possibilities between the various chambers.

Diving deeper into the legislative process, many participants attended committee meetings or arranged meetings with their local representatives. This direct engagement highlighted the importance of voicing community needs and concerns at the state level. Allison Muth and Samantha Ellison, Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce staff members, met with Representative Mike Dodson, Senator Usha Reddi, and finished the day meeting with Lieutenant Governor David Toland.

The event’s success has laid a foundation for future gatherings and empowered young professionals to engage in positive, meaningful change to improve their communities and set the stage for ongoing engagement and advocacy with state leaders.

Join the team!