YPF – inventing and reinventing itself for 20 years and counting

Lori Kaye Lodes

Contributor

August 12, 2024

FOND DU LAC – What started as the brainchild of a few progressive-thinking individuals in Fond du Lac in 2004 – to create a young professionals group – has since evolved to be the 600-plus-member strong Young Professionals of Fond du Lac, a program of Envision Greater Fond du Lac.

In its first year, Anna Huck – event specialist with Envision – said Young Professionals of Fond du Lac (YPF) landed on a name, created a mission and vision, established bylaws and created a board of directors.

The group’s goal, Sadie Howell – president/CEO, of Envision Greater Fond du Lac said – was to create a peer group of young professionals (YPs) to connect socially and professionally in ways resonating with individuals ages 21 to 40. 

“These were individuals who said, ‘I’m new in my career, and I want to socially connect and learn,’” she said. “The traditional (Fond du Lac Area) Association of Commerce networking wasn’t (geared to them) – there was a gap. That’s where and how YPF started filling this gap, and how they have done so has changed a lot in the 20 years since.”

Though that is true – YPs have begun and ended memberships, corporate membership was added to the mix and volunteers comprising YPF committees have come and gone – Howell said YPF has remained true to its original premise.

This, she said, includes offering professional development, networking/mentorship and community engagement opportunities and positioning these benefits for the YPs and their employers.  

“Anna has done a great job of keeping YPF (true to) its core while pivoting to serve today’s YP generation,” she said.

In 2024, those who are ages 21 to 40, Howell said, include some members of Generation Z (defined as those born between 1997-2012) and Millennials (defined as those born between 1981-96).

“It’s a different world today of engaging YPs, especially those under 30, in what we call networking and professional development,” she said.

Huck said she has overseen the program for the past two years and is quick to emphasize she is just one of the many wheels keeping YPF turning.

Today’s YPF, she said, is comprised of 600-plus members (individual and corporate members, collectively), as well as an advisory council, four key, all-member-run committees – marketing, membership engagement, programming and events and annual events.

Huck said volunteer YPs ideate, plan events, work events, survey attendees and so much more – making YPF about and for members.

In 2023, she said that included hosting strategic planning sessions that led to a refreshed brand and a singular vision for the program – “to make the Greater Fond du Lac area a vibrant community for professionals, playing a leading role in cultivating young and/or new talent within our community, bettering our workplaces and Fond du Lac as a whole.”

“Volunteers agreed there was a need for one shared vision or goal to work toward so we aren’t trying to be everything to everyone but can still be flexible,” she said. “We are trying new things while also cutting back on dying trends and evaluating what’s happened in the last five to 10 years to optimize programming.”

The program’s three-pronged mission, Huck said, provides some boundaries to the YPs’ work but still offers maneuverability within that scope.

“Because YPF is volunteer-led, and the YPs are at the core of what it is, it can be anything they need it to be,” she said. “We lean on the mission, but the cool part is we can meet the needs of employees – they pave the way of the program so it’s relevant to them.”

Evolution is a constant

Despite its meager beginnings, Huck said YPF has sustained significant traction and growth over the years.

In 2008, she said that included adding Leaderfest, a new website and Casino Night – an event that continues to grow and evolve, now transforming into a key fundraiser for YPF’s programming.

Huck said 2009 brought the launch of Breakfast of Champions (initially named The CEO Breakfast).

By 2013, she said YPF was well established and made the decision to become more of a community partner – forming relationships with local colleges, nonprofits and community-based organizations.

This shift, Huck said, led to adjusted membership programs for students/interns, as well as the creation of corporate memberships.

That same year, she said, YPF established the Future 5 Awards, an event recognizing the outstanding things being done by young professionals across the county. 

Traditionally, Huck said that has entailed honoring five Future 5 Award recipients, from which the Young Professional of the Year Award recipient was selected.

She said the Advisory Council is currently re-evaluating this and voted to separate the awards so the Young Professional of the Year Award goes to a sixth YP.

In addition, Huck said the award will be celebrated and recognized at Envision’s Annual Meeting.

“We wanted to focus on and give kudos to the people who make the program go and get YPF in front of the 300-400 people in the room at the Annual Meeting who are potential supporters of this program,” she said. 

In 2015, Huck said YPF began observing YP Week, a program showcasing young professionals across the state.

In 2022, YPF added another mentor-mentee offering to the mix – the Young Leaders Breakfast, which Huck said connects high school students to young professionals at an event where they can ask advice, receive mentorship and gain insights on career paths. 

The program’s ability to flex to its members’ needs, Huck said, is one of the things she’s proudest of.

“The ability of the program to withstand change has been cool,” she said. “We’ve made adjustments to programming to stay relevant, and that’s been confirmed in a recent marketing campaign we called ‘Alumni July.’ Many of our former members highlighted their journey with YPF and how they used it as a stepping stone – how much they love and support the program because it has stayed current with the times.”

Fast forward to 2024, and Huck said one of the many exciting changes to YPF is its move under Envision Greater Fond du Lac’s foundation.

Events are the gateway

Huck said there are several fun ideas in the pipeline for YPF, as well as enhancements to some existing events.

One event that got some updates, she said, was The Amazing Race event, which  mirrors the show of the same name.

After taking a dip in participation in 2022, YPF took 2023 to reimagine it – and Huck said it paid off.

“We went from struggling to get attendance and people not understanding the selling point in 2022 to a sold-out event in 2024,” she said. “We focused on it as a ‘come and have fun’ event versus positioning it as just about team building, talent retention and getting YPs to practice their communication skills.”

Modifications, Huck said, included changing it from The Amazing Race to The Amazing Race Fond du Lac hosted by YPF to create more of a community feel.

“Some people are in it to win it, whereas others simply want to have fun, stopping along the way for the experience,” she said. “It’s a great example of living our mission as people have an opportunity to network, meet new people and explore our downtown. Now we’re looking to grow it and make it more successful in the future.”

Huck said YPF also offers professional development opportunities quarterly on topics ranging from courageous conversations (navigating tough talks); diversity, equity and inclusion; how to serve on a nonprofit board and building self-confidence.

Its networking/mentorship opportunities, she said, include Monday Mixers – a monthly event held at a local bar/restaurant offering a casual, low-barrier way for prospects to meet existing members and get their foot in the door.

“What’s cool about that is we build in some of our missions with these,” she said. “For example, in September, we’re doing it in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters (of Fond du Lac County), meeting some of the Littles, having pizza and hanging out,” she said.

Huck said the organization will do something similar in October at the American Legion, at which they will encourage attendees to bring an item on the Legion’s wish list to donate.

“We find ways to make that community impact, even at more relaxed events,” she said. “YPs want to be doing things in the community – that’s a priority for our YPs right now.”  

Mentorship, Huck said, can be intentional or happen more organically.

It can occur when the engagement committee reaches out to new members to invite them to a Monday Mixer – or, it can happen in a more formal sense at the Breakfast of Champions, at which C-suite leaders and YPs have conversations over breakfast. 

That program, Huck said, is one being reimagined.

“We’re asking how we can capitalize on the amazing concept and make sure it’s relevant – maybe with a panel, speed networking or other individualized opportunities that make it fresh and meaningful,” she said. 

Howell said it’s fascinating to see YPs – and their needs – evolve.

“They are just as smart and engaged but in different ways,” she said. “Chambers need to respect that and not do what we’ve always done. That’s a big focus of Anna’s, and she is seeing it as an exciting conundrum.”

YP perspectives

Envision’s president/CEO was a part of YPF and said she credits it with helping her to advance in her career. 

“I credit my connections through YPF with a lot of how I got to where I am today,” Howell said. “The beauty of YPF is that it’s what young professionals make it.”

David Neumann, purchasing specialist at RB Royal Industries, Inc., said he sought out a YPF membership around the time he eased into his new role, figuring it to be a great way to network and build rapport within the community.

Neumann said though his introduction in early 2020 wasn’t a smooth one – due to having to plan, cancel and replan YPF week – he persevered and spread his wings in other ways and since 2021, serving as the YPF marketing committee chair.

“It’s been great to discover I like this stuff,” he said. “Jumping into the marketing role has given me the ability to believe in myself and my abilities. If you had told me when I joined that I would be council chair in three years, I wouldn’t have believed it.”

Neumann said he also served as chair of the Advisory Council in 2023 and currently sits on the council as a member.

Reflecting on the past four years, the self-professed introvert said he has significantly grown his network personally and professionally.

“Through YPF, I’ve learned there are quite a few people in this area like me – great people with the same vision for the future of Fond du Lac I have,” he said.

Neumann said it also introduced him to other nonprofit opportunities he plans to pursue further – be it his membership in the Evening Optimists or opportunities with Big Brothers Big Sisters or the Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac. 

Rhiannon Diederichs, with REALTOR®, First Weber Realtors®, just marked her third year with YPF.

She said she joined when she moved brokerages to expand her network and meet new people her age.

Diederichs said she jumped in wholeheartedly, agreeing to be on the programming and events committee, ultimately serving as the chair for a year before returning to a committee member. 

She said YPF broadened her network and expanded her horizons – no small feat for the lifelong “Fond du Lacian” who only left the area to attend college. 

“It’s been great,” she said. “I’ve met a lot of cool people, learned a lot about the community I’ve lived in my whole life and met people who work at some of the core companies in Fond du Lac.”

Larissa Clinard, director of fleet and logistics at Ahern, said she benefited from Ahern’s corporate YPF membership.

Clinard said it is an easy exercise in alignment with one of Ahern’s values and beliefs in people and community.

The Northern Wisconsin native said YPF helped introduce her to the Fond du Lac community 17 years ago and, in a way, to what she was capable of.

YPF’s professional development offerings and her role on several committees, Clinard said, gave her the “swings at leadership” she needed to grow in her career at Ahern.

“I think one of the reasons I was comfortable asking to take more on (at work) and having them trusting me came down to working on things outside through YPF,” she said. “It made me more well-rounded and understanding of our community and people.”

Business perspective

Bob Benzinger, senior vice president of retail banking at National Exchange Bank & Trust, said YPF has been an attractive complement to many businesses’ internal programming while also opening a door to engaging with more of their peers, learning more about their community, gaining leadership experience and discovering ways they can give back.

“They have great professional development, so it’s investing in the development of our team through a third-party resource,” he said. “YPF is one of those resources.”

Benzinger said he’s uncovered what many YPs have pursued themselves – early-career opportunities to learn and exercise leadership skills by serving on or leading a committee.

YPF, he said, also aligns with many of the bank’s goals of serving the communities it supports by educating YPs about nonprofit and volunteer needs in the Greater Fond du Lac community.

Benzinger said about half the employees in the bank’s 32 customer-facing locations are within an hour and a half of Fond du Lac and hold memberships with communities’ chambers of commerce.

“Our leadership understands it feels good to give back, and we want to allow our team to give back,” he said. “YPF aligns well with its parent organization (Envision Greater Fond du Lac) in doing a ton for the community and allowing others to have that sense of fulfillment through more than just their work. It’s been a great conduit to other community organizations.”

The bigger picture

Though YPF provides a multitude of benefits to every YP it serves, Howell said its focus is on making a business- and community-wide impact in a world in which talent attraction and retention is top of mind for all businesses – Fond du Lac area employers included.

She said YPF has been a pillar for Envision as part of its strategic plan to attract and retain talent.

“We have to attract talent to live and work here to maintain the population and grow a bit,” she said. “We want working-age people to move into our county. We have to be attractive so young people and young families want to come and live here.”

Fond du Lac meets key criteria YPs seek, Howell said – including being safe, low cost of living, great recreation, having an excellent K-12 school system and access to quality health care.

Howell said telling its story about how it does so is something the organization only recently began to do with zest.

She said that’s taken a few forms, including an Educational Campaign to reintroduce Envision and its work to the Fond du Lac area community and a talent attraction campaign at FDLWorks.com. 

“We know Fond du Lac County isn’t for everybody, but we can appeal to those it is for and then engage them (through YPF),” she said. “The more connected someone is in the community, the more likely they are to stay – and the more likely they are to give back and volunteer and make the community a great place.”

Howell said the beauty of working for an entity like Envision is that it’s a reflection of what the community needs.

For YPs, she said, that’s reflected in what YPF offers at any given time.

Howell said she anticipates the focus in the next 20 years is appealing to more young people to move into the county to live, work and play.

“We can firmly say we have the employers where people want to work, and we are also the community you want to live in,” she said. “We can meet the needs of businesses and meet the needs of their YPs.”

Huck said YPF is well-positioned to welcome the next wave of leaders “with what we’re doing 20 years into our program to keep it relevant and alive.”

“We have volunteers who want to see this program grow more, and they will make it happen,” she said.