Apple Valley Chamber Launches Young Professionals Group

The Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce has launched a new group for young professionals ages of 21 to 35, with the intent to help up-and-coming community leaders grow their businesses and professional connections.

The group, called NEXT Leaders, is made up of entrepreneurs and professionals "dedicated to building strong relationships with other business people in the Apple Valley area," according to a press release from the Chamber.

Members include insurance agency owners, contractors, banking representatives, home-based business owners and sales employees at local businesses, and the group always will be looking to add new members.

“Our Board of Directors and Ambassadors have been getting younger and younger," Chamber President Ed Kearney said in the release. "The Chamber felt there needed to be a non-traditional subset of the Chamber where these future leaders can be creative."

NEXT Leaders plans to hold at least one event each month about topics such as social networking and business education, or host keynote speakers.

The next event will be a social mixer at the from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 25. The mixer is a casual event open to anyone interested, and it will afford group members and potential members the opportunity to mingle and introduce one another to their businesses.

If you are interested in participating in NEXT Leaders young professionals group or learning more about the group, please contact the Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce at 952-432-8422. If you have specific questions about upcoming NEXT Leader events, contact Nick Martinez at 952-240-6914 or Laura Briggs at 952-322-3300.

The group is "a great opportunity for young people in the area to receive the support they need to get their businesses off the ground," according to the press release. "It is also a boon for the community, which stands to benefit from the creativity of these dynamic young minds."

Editor's note: Editor Allison Wickler is a member of the NEXT Leaders group.