Mission Statement
The Young Professional of Leavenworth County organization seeks to provide a minimal cost opportunity to assist individual and corporate members of the business and civic community prosper through Social Networking, Professional Development, and Community Outreach programs. We specifically aim to cater to those between the ages of 21 and 45, but welcome all “young minded” individuals who desire to support the tenets of the organization.
Vision and Plan
We recognize the incredible potential of our membership and we fervently strive to cultivate and foster the business and civic leaders of both today and tomorrow. Ultimately, we will create more productive and influential members of society. To meet this end, we have implemented a number of programs that are diverse in nature but work together to accomplish our greater goal.
Social Networking. We shall develop professional relationships and referral opportunities through social networking in the form of monthly after-hours events sponsored and hosted by individual and corporate members who educate the general membership as to their product and/or service.
Professional Development. We will provide regular educational luncheons and seminars geared toward understanding concepts and subject matter particular to a young professional demographic.
Recreational Opportunities. Work hard…play hard. Just as we strive to improve ourselves professionally and through responsible fiscal gain, we recognize the importance of developing personal relationships with our members and their families.
Community Outreach. Finally, we recognize the importance of improving and developing the community that we work and live in by volunteering to work with local charities, professional organizations, and civic leaders to improve Leavenworth County not only for ourselves, but also for our future.
History
As early as 2003 and 2004, a number of young professionals in the local area contemplated the idea of a Young Professionals organization as a much needed and desired entity. YPLC Member Shay Baker and community member Todd Thompson were some of the first to originally vocalized the idea but due to lack of support, it never matured.
In 2005, young professionals in the Atchison County area formed the YAPs (Young Atchison Professionals), and began networking and social events catered to young people. When Leavenworth area business men and women began participating in Young Atchison Professional events, the idea caught on. While discussing the Young Atchison Professional organization with some of its founding board members, a Leavenworth Community member, Aladdin Ashkar, decided to take up the reigns and form the Leavenworth County Young Professionals organization.
Aladdin Ashkar and then co-worker Phil Parsons at the time were both heavily involved in Leavenworth County Community events. At these events, they noticed that very few "young" people attended. Many of these organizations seemed to be run by the same "old" faces, and Aladdin and Phil wanted something new for the young professionals in Leavenworth County. They envisioned a place where young business people could come together, share ideas, and discuss community and county issues, careers, and personal lives.
In 2006, equipped with a format from Maria Miller, Atchison Chamber employee and YAP board member, and inspired by their personal observations, Current YPLC member Aladdin Ashkar and then co-worker, Phil Parsons, began the process of developing the YPLC organization. Aladdin and Phil knew that money could be a factor to some of the younger members of the community, so they decided to make the organization free to all who wished to join. Over the next couple of years, the distribution list grew to over 100 people, all with a dynamic background in their businesses, personalities, and thoughts.
Over time, Aladdin and Phil realized that it was just not practical for two men to continue to coordinate all that was involved for a growing group, and on January 1, 2009, YPLC revealed its very first Board of Directors complete with a Membership, Special Events, and Media/ Technology Committee. They instituted a $25.00 individual membership fee to generate a budget that would fully allow them to provide the services that they envisioned, and introduced a comprehensive website full of pertinent information as well as access to member benefits.