News
Hundreds Attend 2010 Young Professionals Summit
Published: 3/10/2010
Hundreds of young professionals, community and business leaders gathered at Qwest Center Omaha on Thursday, March 4, for the annual Young Professionals Summit, a daylong mix of networking events, breakout sessions and speakers. It is a one day "splash," but organizers see the ripples leading to engagement and action all year long.
"People were really energized," said Kirsten Case-Penrod, manager, Greater Omaha Young Professionals. "We want people to leave with a sense of responsibility and empowerment that they can do something."
This year's event carried the theme "Your Seat at the Table" and incorporated ideas from "Your Omaha 2020," a unified vision for Omaha's growth and development crafted last fall.
More than 830 young professionals attended breakout session on topics that included engaging in politics, building your résumé through social media, and eliminating poverty and homelessness in Omaha. The Summit's opening speaker was Patricia Martin, CEO and founder, LitLamp Communications and author of "Renaissance Generation." William Taylor, entrepreneur and founding editor of "Fast Company" was the closing speaker.
A capacity crowd of 1,260 were inspired by luncheon speaker Blake Mycoskie's story of establishing a for-profit business as a way to sustain his desire to give a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair sold -- one for one. Mycoskie is founder and chief shoe giver at TOMS Shoes.
Also at the Summit, the Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) received the annual Young Professionals Choice Award, recognizing its efforts to attract, retain and develop young professionals.
"OPPD stood out for so many reasons. They have found this really authentic way of engaging their young people at all levels," said Case-Penrod
Koley Jessen Attorneys sponsored the award. Bellevue University, HDR, Inc. and TD AMERITRADE sponsored the Summit itself. With the event drawing a growing number of attendees from outside Nebraska, Case-Penrod is confident it will only gain stature year after year.
View handouts of select Summit break out sessions. Check out pictures from the event.