Networking in a niche

Scattered around the star bar at LoDo's Martini Bar at the Marquette Towers, Cape Girardeau's up-and-coming professionals chatted over drinks and hors d'oeurves like co-workers chatting around the water cooler.

The conversations flowed from sports to politics to the latest television shows, as well as some introductions and a few explanations about work projects and tactics.

Many of the people gathered for the Chamber Young Professionals networking event were newcomers, though the group has been meeting for a few months.

The Chamber Young Professionals is an arm of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce that is designed to involve those under 40 in the chamber and its activities.

"We're a work in progress," said Cheryl Klueppel, a CYP steering committee member and one of the group's founding members.

But it's a work that seems to be progressing nicely. About 45 people attended the first event of 2005 in mid-February. Other events are planned every other month -- the next in April.

Klueppel said many of the people who attended the first gathering were first-timers.

Jenae Kirkwood, a recruitment officer with William Woods University, likes the young professionals group because of its networking function.

"It's networking but not intimidating," she said. "It's not like you go to an event and don't know who to talk to." Kirkwood highlighted one of the key objectives for the organization: attracting younger members to the Chamber.

That's exactly why Robert Guard enjoys coming -- to meet other people in similar positions to his role at Jade Manufacturing.

"I work in manufacturing and there's no way I'd meet people from the hospitals or university," he said. But through the Chamber Young Professionals, he has, and "it's always good to broaden your horizons. Just because we're not 45 or 50 and established in our jobs doesn't mean we can't get involved," Guard said.

"Everyone of us will be leaders in Cape eventually," Guard said. The Chamber Young Professionals helps people "have an initial pulse on the community and try to accomplish something."

The group has been a good networking tool for Alex Ozburn of Saint Francis Medical Center. "It's a great crowd and a diverse crowd with all types of industries," he said.

"There's a lot of empowerment to see what we can accomplish and the goals we've set. It's good to be part of a group that wants to accomplish something."

For more information about the Chamber Young Professionals, call 335-3312.