A spin-off of a Leadership Shawano County project has turned into a popular new group — SAYPro, or Shawano Area Young Professionals.
The new Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce program is part social and part educational.
“It started as a Leadership Shawano County idea from last year’s 2013 graduates,” said Bobbi Jo Ladwig, the group’s president, who works for Farmer’s Insurance.
After the leadership training program ended, members decided to see how much interest there was in continuing the group for 21- to 39-year-olds and around 50 people came to the meeting.
“It was great,” Ladwig said. “We presented our goals and mission statement.”
SAYPro wants to create, connect and contribute to the community by creating relationships and connecting with other young professionals.
Ladwig said the group isn’t just for Shawano residents.
“We really want it to be countywide,” she said. “And be open to traveling around the county.”
SAYPro meets monthly and has four breakfast meetings, four lunches and four social events.
“We want to make it as easy as possible to be involved,” Ladwig said.
Ladwig said everyone in the community has been supportive, and the organization is great for new employees and business owners.
“It’s a great way for them to meet other people,” she said.
The group also is reaching out to high school students by showing them Shawano is a great place to live and work.
“When you come back you can make a living here,” Ladwig said. “We want to bring people back to raise their families.”
Jon Aumann, of Edward Jones, is the president-elect. Karissa Kunschke, of Wisconsin Film and Bag, is the secretary. Other members of the steering committee are Zach Linsmeyer, of Kerber Rose; Nicole Belongia, of CoVantage; Laura Warning, of Wolf River School to Work; Michael Fehlhaber, of CRI; Dana Usky, of Little Rapids; Ami Lasicki, of CRI; Tarra Fletcher, of Fletcher Consulting; Kyle Van Order, of Woodstock Hardwood Flooring; Jenny Hanson, of CRI; and Ron Lawrence; of Advanced Physical Therapy.
Wendy Crawford, coordinator of the chamber leadership program, works with the group.
Dues are $25 a year; the year starts in June. Anyone joining now will pay $12.50.
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