One of the most exciting, most personal, and potentially most daunting moments in the lives of young professionals is the moment that they decide to become first-time homeowners. No more landlord. No more rent. They are moving into a home that they can truly call their own. For our Young Professionals Network, they would choose to become first-time homeowners in one of the hottest residential real estate markets in the country. “We talk in real estate about the average days on the market,” said Amanda Hoyle, regional director for Metrostudy. “Right now, the average time on the market for some homes in the Triangle will be calculated in hours, not days.” Hoyle spoke at our March meeting of the Young Professionals Network at PNC Arena. The topic was tracking Triangle trends in residential real estate for 2019 and beyond. “It’s going to remain a seller’s market for the foreseeable future,” said Hoyle. “We’re going to see bidding wars.” She talked about why the Triangle market has been so hot, mentioning recent high-profile jobs announcements from companies including Pendo, Advance Auto Parts, and Arch Capital. Hoyle also discussed how Forbes ranked North Carolina the No. 1 State for Doing Business. “More millennials are choosing to go the route of buying and remodeling, rather than buying new,” said Hoyle. She talked about how home sale prices have been increasing, as has the price of land. “That’s making land more competitive for builders,” she said. For those who rent, Hoyle mentioned how apartments and multi-family units are still in high demand. “The Triangle added 21,000 new apartment units in the last five years,” she said. Her forecast was for slower, but steady, growth in 2019 and beyond. Hoyle then opened up a moderated discussion with three other experts, each representing a different aspect of the residential real estate business. Ann-Cabell Baum, owner/broker of the Glenwood Agency in Raleigh, spoke from the realtor’s perspective. Amy Bonis, with the Amy Bonis Mortgage Team, spoke from the mortgage broker’s perspective. Alaina Money-Garman, the founder and CEO of Garman Homes, represented the homebuilder’s perspective. “Building a home for someone is an honor and a privilege,” said Money-Garman. “I love my job.” She mentioned how the biggest challenge is affordability. Speaking about how quickly some homes move in this market, Baum said, “If something comes open inside the beltline, you need to be ready to move on it in a couple hours.” Bonis said one thing that first-time homebuyers need to be aware of is the number of down payment assistance programs that are available in North Carolina. As for the entire home buying process, Baum advised, “Ask questions of the agent, the lender, and the builder. Ask for a referral. Know what you’re getting yourself into. Make sure your agent is smart and have them walk you through the process.” We would like to thank all of our speakers for their great insight and stories that they shared. To see more about the discussion, check out our official event hashtag on Twitter, #RaleighYPN. We also want to thank our sponsors who made this event and other YPN meetings such a success. Please join us on May 16 for our next meeting of the Young Professionals Network. We will learn about planes, trains, and automobiles in Raleigh. Hear from top experts in the Triangle about what’s coming down the pipeline to improve traffic, advance public transportation, and…
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By: Spencer Lazzari VP of Operations Proforma Brand Centric Solutions Networking can truly happen anywhere. Whether you are in a coffee shop, at an industry event, or at an event at a jewelry store! The Young Professionals Network, a program of the Raleigh Chamber, hosted a social at Diamonds Direct Crabtree in February with great success. Here is why you should attend the next one:
1. Great People At Raleigh Chamber YPN events, you always will find great ideas and great conversation. You will meet and make lasting connections with other young professionals. Wonderful moments happen when our people come together. At the most recent Raleigh Chamber YPN social, everyone was mingling and having a great time. There was not a lone individual looking for conversation. 2. Fun Activities Networking events are always more fun when there is something to do. This could be anything from a "speed networking" type setup, where there is an enforced format, to a table with food that sparks conversation. At the recent Raleigh Chamber YPN event hosted by Diamonds Direct, there were several of these activities. J Alexander’s catered hors d'oeuvres; the Carolina Hurricanes mascot paid everyone a visit; and members were stopping by a station to get their rings cleaned. There also were some spectacular giveaways including North Carolina Symphony tickets, Carolina Hurricanes tickets, and a pair of diamond earrings from Diamonds Direct. Be sure to attend the next one, and you could be our next winner! For more details on upcoming outings that you won’t want to miss, please visit www.raleighchamber.org/ypn. By Aolani Donegan Social Media Specialist The News & Observer Publishing Co. The Young Professionals Network programs committee is a brave group. They continue to push the envelope with program ideas that make YPN exciting, but the vision needed to execute this idea that included more than a hundred people, moving and meeting each other in a speed-dating type of way, was outside of most conventional boxes, and it was fabulous. Keynote speaker Phillip Frye spoke about the importance of networking to build relationships. His tips included suggestions for tomorrow's leaders. How do you become a super-connector? Well, if you follow Phillip's tips and arrive early, do your homework, and look for connections, you will be well on the path to building lasting relationships. His presentation pumped up the audience. We had our stack of business cards; but, wait, what? You're telling me we have to move two seats to the right every two minutes? Whose crazy idea was this? As the noise level rose and people leaned in to learn about the person sitting across from them, a beautiful thing occurred. People were connecting and sharing an experience that was unique and memorable. As we took notes and collected business cards, it was easy to see that we are more alike than we are different. We all have these interesting stories about how we got to the table and where we hope to go. One of Phillip's tips to keep your business cards in one pocket and the ones you collect in another suddenly made perfect sense. Who wants to shuffle through a deck of business cards? Oh, these tips were like liquid gold. I saw people engaging in a way that was so exciting! The experiment worked! Hats off to the programs team! One of Phillip's tips is to follow up. My hope is that everyone follows up with an email or invitation for coffee after each program, but especially after networking roulette. Your network grows as you water each connection. You never know who your connection knows and how that relationship will impact your future growth. My hope is the programs committee will do a "Networking Roulette" workshop every quarter. Despite losing my voice, I couldn't help but look around to recognize that the room was filled with leaders that are making a meaningful impact on their community at work and by attending YPN events. Keep the Conversation Going The Raleigh YPN Facebook page is a great place to connect and share your stories after each program.
By Margaret Worten Account Executive Brandito LLC It’s the age old question: “Where do you see yourself in 10 years?” When it comes to innovation in our region, the question is the same—Raleigh, where do you see yourself in 10 years? Raleigh is growing at an unprecedented rate; however, are we ready to manage the challenges that come with such rapid growth? Raleigh already has a lot to brag about.
Smart, Modern, and Undiscovered Julie Brakenbury, director of Services for the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau, described Raleigh as smart, modern, and undiscovered. Whether you are a transplant or a lifelong resident, you are creating the story of Raleigh’s future. She emphasized the importance of how the community works together. The Triangle accounts for 80 percent of the $2.5 billion dollars in North Carolina investments since 2013. I’m not a gambler, but if I were, I’d put my money on Raleigh, as would Dhruv Patel. Dhruv is the director of Investor Relations for the Council for Entrepreneurial Development, which focuses on tech, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and minerals, and cleantech funding. So far this year they are sitting at over $425 million in equity. Raleigh has benchmarked this region. Greg Hatem has created an empire in Raleigh with Empire Properties, Empire Eats, and the roles he plays on so many boards. He’s not an “out with the old and in with the new” man; he’s more of a believer in “renovate the old, create the new.” Greg emphasized planning for the future, networking, and diversity, as well as progress over process. Thinking 50 years ahead is what made the Research Triangle possible, and that is a force that needs to continue. Become Part of the Solution It’s clear to so many that young professionals are the engine. It’s up to us to determine how much horsepower is under the hood. Raleigh is supporting small business startups and welcoming international companies. We all fit in somewhere, and our talents can make a difference. There is always room for improvement, so if you don’t like what you see, challenge yourself to be part of the solution. Become involved, find your passion, run for office. Another interesting topic that came up during the program was the question surrounding Raleigh’s brand. North Carolina’s brand, “To be rather than to see,” is being overpowered by bad political policies. Right now I think the Raleigh Chamber has it right: “All are Welcome Here.” Dr. Ben Carson recently said, “One of the things that made America into a great nation is because we have so many people with so much talent from so many different places. And our diversity is not a problem, it is a blessing.” Bring on the diversity, bring on challengers, bring the doers, bring on the innovation. If we think beyond the present, the future of Raleigh is BRIGHT. Learn More about the Young Professionals NetworkThe Chamber’s Young Professionals Network provides events every other month that engage professionals ages 23 – 39 from member firms to help them become more competitive in the business arena, establish contacts, and grow personally through a variety of program topics.
Learn more here, or visit the YPN Facebook page here. By Aolani Donegan Social Media Specialist The News & Observer Publishing Co. Walking into a packed room of young professionals at 7:30 a.m. who are focused on their cell phones seems like an everyday occurrence ... right? Millennials on their phones? What's the big deal? The latest YPN morning at the PNC arena was unlike any other. For the first time, the program required that we download an app and perform a "Strengths Finder" assessment prior to the keynote speech given by Doug Bacon of Throwing Words. Bacon is a Gallup-certified strengths coach, and the assessment offered insights into some of our top five leadership qualities. You could hear a pin drop in the room as people took the 30-minute assessment. It probably set a record for the quietest YPN event ever. After everyone had the chance to complete the assessment, Bacon began to explain what our top five meant and how we could use this information in a work setting. He asked people to stand as he called out some of the most common traits. It only took a quick glance around the room to realize that the best talent and some of the most diverse young professionals were in that room. The app provided definitions and he offered his twitter handle @throwingwords and email address ([email protected]) for people who wished to explore their top five further. He presented examples of how the various personalities can work together and how individuals can thrive with a knowledge of their specific rankings. One of my biggest takeaways after attending the event was the importance of building diverse and dynamic teams. Life is boring when everyone is the same, and the best teams thrive when people bring a bevy of talents to the table. I seek that in friendships, networking opportunities, and while at work. I was happy to see "positivity" as my No. 1 strength. That confirmed what I am probably most known for—if you need a team cheerleader with a positive attitude—I'm the woman for the job. I also have strategic and activator tendencies but I enjoyed seeing a nice mix of relationship building qualities mixed in with strategic qualities.The assessment will help us focus on being better employees, friends, and team players. I would highly recommend that folks download the app and take the assessment (it's worth the $14.99), and for businesses looking for tips and strategies for building strong teams, check out Throwing Words.com. Learn More about the Young Professionals Network The Chamber’s Young Professionals Network provides events every other month that engage professionals ages 23 – 39 from member firms to help them become more competitive in the business arena, establish contacts, and grow personally through a variety of program topics.
Learn more here, or visit the YPN Facebook page here. By Cherith Andes Mangum Clairemont Communications On May 6, 2016, more than 100 young professionals banded together for the YPN Spring Service Day, an annual opportunity to invest in the future of the Raleigh through community service. Colleagues and friends from across the city spent their Friday morning coaching kids, packaging food, scrubbing floors and a plethora of other hands-on activities as an initiative to facilitate tangible change in Wake County. Our friendly faces appeared at the following nonprofit partner sites: • American Heart Association • First Tee of the Triangle • Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina • Junior League of Raleigh • Make-A-Wish Eastern NC • Salvation Army Center of Hope • Special Olympics NC • Stop Hunger Now • United Way of the Greater Triangle Behind the Scenes Wish you were there? So do we! Here are a few first-hand snapshots from our team leaders to provide a glimpse into our dynamic morning! “As a part of the Raleigh Chamber Young Professional Network Spring Service Day, a group of six of us volunteered with First Tea of the Triangle at Underwood Magnet Elementary School. We acted as "assistant coaches" to the First Tea of the Triangle coach, Bonnie, to teach two groups of elementary students golf techniques. The kids started off by learning about respect and how it related to their golf lesson. Then they did stations which were led by the volunteers, including putting, chipping and pitching. The kids were not only very excited and fun to work with, but they were also extremely attentive and quick to learn. The group of volunteers agreed that it was a morning well-spent giving back to the youth in our community and helping them learn about respect and the game of golf.” ~ Ashley Alexander, Adams, Howell Sizemore and Lenfestey, P.A. “Who knew mopping could be such an adventure … and such a meaningful experience? I joined 15 of my colleagues at the Salvation Army’s Center of Hope, a community shelter that offers everything from a soup kitchen and school lunches to lifestyle change and support programs. Fully caffeinated and thoroughly excited, we spent the morning cleaning the cafeteria, organizing the pantries, arranging the donation supply and scrubbing the nursery. I’m fairly sure that someone used the mop handle as a microphone at one juncture. It was truly a privilege to prepare the facility for families who need a safe, clean haven to grow and develop.” ~ Cherith Mangum, Clairemont Communications “Our YPN service team was at the Junior League of Raleigh’s Bargain Box thrift store. We had a blast going through its donations and organizing all of the clothes, shoes, and household items that the store could sell. Although we were there for three hours, there were still so many items for us to sort. We definitely felt like we were making a difference because the store needed help determining what was eligible to sell and what wasn’t. The people at the Junior League were extremely kind and very appreciative. Our mighty team of seven volunteers enjoyed working behind the scenes at the store and finding little treasures like Star Wars masks, designer shoes, and vintage dresses.” ~ Heather Robertson, Lenovo “I had the privilege to lead the initiative for the Special Olympics, one of my favorite nonprofit organizations with which I’ve volunteered several times in the past. For Spring Service Day, we organized the Special Olympics warehouse, sorted its event shirts, trophies, and tents, and also helped with filing and other activities as needed. One of the most rewarding aspects of the day was the genuine enthusiasm and gratitude the Special Olympics support staff demonstrated to the YPN team. Due to limited help, some of the organizational tasks would have taken the full-time staff a week to complete, but with the YPN team, they were able to do it in just a few hours.” ~ Darren Shrum, Green Resources “Eight YPN members help set up for the American Heart Associations’ Go Red For Women Luncheon at Prestonwood Country Club. We stuffed goodie bags for the guests, organized tables and prepped the room for the event. This is a big fundraiser for AHA to help raise awareness among women who battle heart disease and are at risk for strokes. We were glad to be able to help and look forward to partnerships in the future with AHA!” ~ Joe Mayer, Steelfab of Virginia “As part of the group who volunteered at Stop Hunger Now, I helped in its warehouse with a variety of tasks, including packing the boxes onto pallets to prepare more than 185,000 meals to be shipped around the world. We were also able to pack some meals, organize merchandise, and help get its used rice bags ready to be recycled. A fascinating and encouraging experience!” ~ Heather Hooper, Lung Cancer Initiative of North Carolina And now? Raleigh is a dynamic city experiencing vibrant growth, expansion and development. The Young Professional Network offers of plethora of tools for professional development as well as opportunities to give back, strengthen your network and invest in the future of Raleigh. We enthusiastically welcome you to join our network of young professionals and explore your next steps to develop your career! Learn More about the Young Professionals Network Visit www.raleighypn.org to learn more about the Young Professionals Network.
By Heather Robertson Inside Sales Representative State & Local Government, Pacific Northwest Lenovo What does volunteerism mean and how can we, as young professionals, give back to our community in impactful ways? At March 24’s Chamber Young Professionals Network event, three generous guests offered insight on this important topic. Find Your Purpose Allison Warren-Barbour from United Way of the Greater Triangle, an organized dedicated to transforming and improving the local community, presented a venn diagram during the warm-up activity. The diagram asked attendees to list a few items that we are great at, we love, we get paid to do, and what we think the world needs. For Allison, making people happy and connecting people was her purpose. She used the venn diagram to show how she could become great at making people happy, how she could learn to love management, and how she could connect people around the world. Through her work at the United Way, she was able to give back to the community, get others involved, and work toward her purpose. Being involved in work that hits your venn diagram core is more energizing, meaningful, and in the long run will make you happier. Don't Just Show Up Will Barfield from Frankel Staffing Partners, who has been involved with the Chamber and community for decades, shared three steps he has learned over his years of volunteering in Raleigh.
Getting engaged is the next step—and that means more than just showing up to an event for the free food and nice atmosphere—it means getting actively involved. Will joined a task force and the annual Chamber Campaign, where he was exposed to people who could help him grow his network and become a role model in the community. But, most importantly, Will didn’t just find a great organization and become involved—he meant it. When he volunteers, Will gives his all and is dedicated to the mission. When one becomes truly committed to an organization, you get so much more than friendships and skills, you get satisfaction and the feeling you’ve made a difference in the community. The Work/Play Blur is OK As a 20-something moving to North Carolina, Cailin Williams from Bank of America knew she had to get involved to meet people and build success here, so she joined the Chamber. It was important for her that she show up, engage, and change her attitude about joining organizations. She discovered that organizations want young people’s ideas and energy. She was nervous at first about blending work and play, but realized that this blur was happiness. Cailin was able to find a mix of giving back and having fun! In addition to being a highly active and involved young professional, Cailin created a YPN inside Bank of America and encouraged us to do the same. Learn More about YPN We walked away thinking about our own purpose in life and how we can use our talents, energy, and time to get involved with local nonprofits to grow professionally and personally.
The Chamber’s Young Professionals Network provides events every other month that engage professionals ages 23 – 39 from member firms to help them become more competitive in the business arena, establish contacts, and grow personally through a variety of program topics. Learn more here, or visit the YPN Facebook page here. By Ashley P. Holmes Marketing Task Force, Young Professionals Network Associate, Vandeventer Black LLP If you had a chance to speak to your younger self as you were just starting out in the professional world, what would you say? What advice would you give? Chamber CEO Tim Giuliani considered this hypothetical last week in a talk before the Chamber’s Young Professionals Network. YPN—or #RaleighYPN, as it’s known on social media—is one of the Chamber’s most successful groups, and it enjoys a large and active membership. A benefit of YPN membership is free attendance at the group’s “Learning from Leaders” forums, which are educational panels held every other month to provide YPN members opportunities to learn from and engage with accomplished business professionals. At the Jan. 21 installment of the Learning from Leaders series, Giuliani presented “7 Lessons For My Younger Self,” in which the he discussed lessons he had learned from his experiences as a young professional. Giuliani’s seven lessons are: #1: You can change the world #2: Perseverance and passion: the difference between good and great leaders #3: Get ahead to stay on top #4: Focus on the important, not always the urgent #5: Choose your mentors wisely #6: The whole cloth approach to professional development #7: Great leaders learn from failures In his talk, Giuliani emphasized that the best leaders are those who operate with healthy amounts of passion and perseverance. Noting that they already had the opportunity to lead in their communities, Giuliani advised YPN members to seek out and observe excellent leaders rather than rely on academic definitions of leadership. Giuliani stressed the importance of finding balance early in one’s career, as we generally face increasing responsibilities in our professional and personal lives as we age and the young professional who has already established healthy habits and routines can typically handle this uptick in responsibilities better than the young professional who never takes the time to establish work-life balance. Giuliani—who took over the reins of the Raleigh Chamber at the age of 33—also urged YPN members to remember that, even though they are young, competence is an effective weapon to counter the negative “millennial” stereotypes older workers might hold against younger professionals. Giuliani made several book recommendations during his presentation as well, including “21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership” by John Maxwell and “The Fifth Discipline” by Peter Senge. The reception to Giuliani’s presentation was extremely positive among YPN members, as evidenced by the discussion on Twitter during the presentation and the fact that #RaleighYPN trended on Twitter during Giuliani’s speech. The full text of Giuliani’s speech can be found here. Visit YPN’s Facebook page to learn more about the group. TL;DR |
AuthorGreater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Archives
July 2024
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