When the YPN held its first event in January of 2009 the Steering Committee had high hopes. Those leaders knew they only had one chance to make it a success. Kristin Knoll, Planning and Business Development Manager at Covenant HealthCare, was one of the founding members. It's only fitting that she is our first "Sweet 16" feature as we begin our 16th year of the YPN. Check out her answers to our questions below, and be sure to be on the lookout for additional Sweet 16 features!
1️⃣Why did you join the Saginaw County YPN?
▶️I had just moved back to Saginaw from college- empowered, energized, eager to learn and take on the world. Most professionals I encountered were eager to have young talent come back home, and most saw me as an anomaly. At the time, there was a lot of talk about the “brain drain” in Michigan, people getting their education, then moving away. I wanted to be part of something that could help retain my peers in the community and connect them, so they felt like they belonged.
2️⃣Tell us about your most memorable moment as a Member of the YPN.
▶️There were a lot of fun yet serious board meetings, professional development events, group volunteer projects, food drives, regional events, after hours, coffee shop meetings, and fundraisers, but my most memorable event was the first event we hosted. We knew we only had one “first chance” to make a good impression and we wanted to make sure it went off without a hitch. Our luncheon at Horizons had more than 200 people in attendance. There was so much energy in the room, and to me, it was a sign of the void this group was filling.
3️⃣The YPN's mission is to support the attraction and retention of young talent to the Saginaw Valley and Great Lakes Bay Region while developing the next generation of leaders. Tell us about how the YPN fulfills this mission, in your opinion.
▶️The more you engage in your community and the more people you connect with, the more you care and become emotionally invested in its success. The people who are involved in the YPN today could be the leaders of local organizations and businesses for the next 10-25 years. We want people to be able to see their futures here and I think the YPN helps bridge that gap. Giving them a place to meet new people now, while creating connections for the future.
4️⃣What wishes do you have for the YPN as it moves into its next 16 years?
▶️I hope that the YPN will continue to grow, engage, and connect people. Like the Chamber, it’s an organization that will never stop being relevant. The connections and trust you can build getting to know people outside of a work environment can last throughout your career. There are so many people I continue to cross paths with thanks to my time in the YPN, and I’m grateful for those shared experiences. I hope that seasoned professionals will encourage and support their YPs to get involved.
Principle Portfolio Manager at LinkedIn
2wAwesome. Here are some templates to use for the meeting https://create.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/minutes