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WILKES-BARRE — After spending an entire day taking classes on self-betterment and professionalism, a group of young professionals gathered in Rodano’s on Thursday afternoon for a much needed break — and, of course, more networking.
The networking hour was the culmination of a daylong event, called the Young Professionals Conference, a collaboration between the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of Wyoming Valley.
According to Lindsay Griffin, chamber vice president, the exercise was a smashing success.
“We sold out a month in advance,” Griffin said, saying there were 80 attendees in all who gathered at the THINK Center in downtown Wilkes-Barre.
Griffin said the 80 attendees, all ranging between the ages of 20 and 45, spent the day taking a variety of classes, learning to better themselves in both their personal lives and their careers.
Discussions throughout the day ranged from how to get ahead of student loan debt to lessons in leadership.
Bill Jones, president and CEO of the United Way of Wyoming Valley, said the event was an important way to bring young professionals together.
“We have such a dynamic group of young people in the area, and this is a way to harness that energy,” Jones said.
Rachel Olszewski, a friend of Jones’ who works for the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association, was instrumental in the planning, Jones said.
According to Olszewski, the event was such a success that some people had to be turned away after the initial tickets sold out.
“It’ll be bigger and better next year,” she said, adding that she hopes to extend the event farther north, attracting young professionals based in Lackawanna County.
