In a town filled with students hunting for future career options, one group hopes to bring those options closer to campus.
Moscow Young Professionals, which began hosting monthly events less than a year ago, is a group dedicated to providing avenues for young professionals to gather for networking and professional development opportunities, said Chloe Rambo, co-chair and founder of the group.
Rambo said another goal for the group is to keep a passionate workforce in Moscow.
Chloe Rambo | Courtesy
“We want to provide opportunities for these young professionals to have a happy career here and to really build businesses here and to want to stay here because it really is such a vibrant place to live,” Rambo said.
The group hosts a variety of events ranging from casual to somewhat formal, typically during the evening of the first Wednesday of each month. Some events include networking socials, speed-networking, business tours and professional development seminars.
Rambo said while this group will repeat some events from last year — including a casual networking social every other month — she is planning a new event for the month of May to celebrate professional development opportunities. She said the event will also serve as the group’s one-year anniversary, featuring “TED-Talk-like presentations” driven towards starting a small business or growing a career in Moscow.
A few years ago, there was a similar group for young professionals in the Moscow-Pullman area, Rambo said, but the group disbanded within about a year of its start-up.
“When I started thinking about opportunities that I wish existed now that I’m a young professional here in Moscow, this sort of group came to mind,” Rambo said. “That’s something that I felt we could really use here in Moscow.”
Kendra Ewing, Moscow Young Professionals events lead, said making connections with individuals across coffee or lunch is not as prevalent as it used to be.
“What (Moscow Young Professionals) provides is a platform for individuals to not only have that face time and be able to interact and socialize but to add educational processes and information into their own tool kit that they’re able to take back to their own industry or organization and implement,” Ewing said.
She said Moscow Young Professionals provides an important opportunity for people to hear stories from other individuals that are in similar positions. Story-telling increases growth opportunities for individuals that are trying to pursue being a leader or manager within their own industry, Ewing said.
For older professionals in Moscow, the group provides an opportunity to mentor young professionals, Rambo said. But for younger professionals, it’s helpful to communicate with other young individuals, she said.
Jenny Ford, Moscow Young Professional Community Liaison, speaks during a team meeting Jan. 28.
“It’s something that I really wish would’ve existed or I would’ve known about when I was a student because it is so helpful when you’re just starting your career to meet some people who are already in careers but they’re still young,” Rambo said. “So they have that career mind, but you can still relate to them, and they can still relate to you.”
Jenny Ford, the group’s community liaison, said joining the group would be beneficial to all students trying to improve their socialization skills and better understand the Moscow community. Ford said the professionals who attend events each have a different perspective, which helps assist student growth. Plus, the individuals that students would have access to could really be potential employers, Ford said.
“It really is just an opportunity for you to share what you do, what you love, what you’re passionate about with a group of people that are equally as passionate,” Rambo said.
Jordan Willson can be reached at [email protected]