Aug. 16, 2005--Looking for New Board Members? Connect with “YP Voice”

OSWEGO, NY-- “YP Voice,” a new young professional networking and community activism organization, will partner with SUNY Oswego’s Center for Business and Community Development and Leadership Oswego County (LOC) to connect non-profit boards with young professionals seeking increased community involvement.

LOC participants embark on a nine-month course of intensive study of leadership skills, resources and current issues facing the Oswego County and visioning for the future. Students are prepared to serve the community in the roles of board member, citizen, employee or volunteer with organizations that serve Central New York.

“Utilizing the LOC alumni database, YP Voice (YPV) will match a board’s needs with the prospective members’ interests in order to facilitate the advancement of Oswego County’s young professionals into leadership positions in the community,” said Shannon White, YPV president.

The Workforce Development Board (WDB) developed a strategic plan to help identify key industry clusters for future growth in the county, as well as the human resource challenges for these industries.

As part of this process, the WDB in conjunction with Next Generation Consulting (NGC) of Madison, Wis., hosted three focus groups last year which were designed to identify strategies to attract and retain young, talented employees throughout the county. The groups were convened in Oswego, Pulaski and Fulton and served to gather participants’ ideas on what makes Oswego County attractive to professional employees.

“With an increasingly competitive market for talented and educated professionals, Oswego County must be attractive to this generation in order to sustain our economy and quality of life,” said Nancy Bellow, director of SUNY Oswego’s Center for Business and Community Development and the WDB.

“One of our top priorities for attracting and retaining this critical demographic is to support young talent as they assume leadership positions in the community. We are thrilled that YPV has agreed to utilize the LOC alumni database to facilitate the development of future leaders in Oswego County.”

“YP Voice--Change. Community. Fun.” was formed to guide the growth and evolution of Oswego County by organizing professional, social and community involvement within Oswego’s young professional community. Part of the group’s mission is to educate others about the economic and social capital in the greater Oswego County area and to offer its members professional development and peer-to-peer networking opportunities, as well as social and cultural events, and community development and service initiatives. YPV membership is open to employed personnel and entrepreneurs ages 23 to 43.

For more information about YP Voice membership and/or board member referral services, contact Shannon White, YP Voice president, at 343-1545 or swhite@oswegocounty.org.

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