Young professionals will soon have a new organization catered toward connecting its members and local businesses with opportunities in Plant City.
EMERGE Plant City will have its launch party at Three Hands Mead Company, 111 S. Evers St. at 6 p.m. on Aug. 13. Advanced registration to the event secures you one complimentary drink ticket.
The group is founded in partnership with the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce and was created as a rebranding of a former young professional group, Rise Plant City.
“We spent quarantine rebranding and want to help young professionals have connections with leaders in the community, to provide networking opportunities and incorporate volunteerism, all while forming connections among young professionals,” Elizabeth Oeltjenbruns, chair of EMERGE’s steering committee, said. “There was a need in the community, especially because Plant City is thriving right now and there are a lot of young people. A lot of people may work in Tampa, but live in Plant City or work in Plant City, but live in Tampa and they were finding young professional groups outside of our community. We want to keep our young professionals here and help them become the next generation of leaders for this community.”
The group will be based off four events:
AROUND TOWN
Each month EMERGE will host an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at a day in the life of a Plant City business owner.
SUCCESS SERIES
At EMERGE’s bi-monthly interview series, hear from local community leaders sharing their experiences in becoming a successful and engaged member of the Plant City community.
EMPOWER BRUNCH
Each quarter, this event provides members and nonmembers alike the opportunity to form business connections, build strong friendships and get plugged into the Plant City community.
MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
EMERGE’s unique program provides members with a one-on-one mentorship with a local business owner who can help identify their goals, provide tips for success and develop a plan of action.
Oeltjenbruns said that the organization is new and thus is still open to feedback, ideas and adaptations to make sure EMERGE ends up being the perfect fit for the Plant City community.
She added that there is a need for volunteering opportunities in town that they want to add to the group as well, perhaps tackling projects like cleaning up downtown or volunteering at the United Food Bank.
“We want to really purposefully create events where people find value in everything we do,” Oeltjenbruns said. “One of the silver linings with COVID was really us being able to hammer this out. We were creating something out of nothing and this is something we are passionate about and worked really hard to accomplish. So far the buzz about the community seems to be really positive because there is a strong focus and intention with this group.”
The group operates via memberships. Young professionals can become members online at emergeplantcity.org. The memberships are $50 a year, but right now you can sign up for $40 a year with the code EMERGE40.
Because this is a group under the umbrella of the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, those interested in joining do need to be members of the Chamber.
However, that membership can come in a few different forms. If the company you work for is already a Chamber member you are covered. If not, pick up an individual membership with the Chamber in order to join. Memberships will provide access to discounted or free admission to specific events and those in the group will have a network of support and connections at their fingertips.
During the launch party on Aug. 13 the steering committee for the group — comprised of Oeltjenbruns, Jerilyn Rumbarger, Sophia Dedon Hyde, Alyssa Piccari, Paul Conley and Randon Trowbridge — will address interested young professionals and talk about the group and the benefits of membership.
Several events have already been planned for the year and members can sign up online for each event they’re interested in. The fist Success Series will feature Kayla Drawdy at 8 a.m. on Sept. 14. The first Around Town event is Sept. 24 at Wish Farms. It will be a lunchtime tour of the facility and end with a catered lunch by Wish Farms.
For more information follow EMERGE Plant City on Facebook and Instagram and visit emergeplantcity.org.