Keeping Future Leaders in Iowa

By: Claire Kellett, Anchor/Reporter

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By Claire Kellett

Story Created: Nov 3, 2006 at 9:29 PM CST

Story Updated: Nov 3, 2006 at 10:18 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS - It's happy hour with a twist, alcohol, appetizers, and a lot of strategizing. Hundreds of young professionals from across Iowa are working to recruit more of their own.

“We're not a place like Austin, Denver, Boston, or Chicago that's on most young professionals radar screens," says RJ Holmes of YP Iowa.

Appropriately, the group is called Young Professionals of Iowa or YP Iowa. Its members live in various cities and they have different jobs, but they relate on many levels.

“They're at a certain point in their life, post-college and pre-family. They’re happy with their career and happy with family, but want a little something else," says Quinn Pettifer of YP Iowa.

They want things like more friends, more ways to get involved, and more networking opportunities. It's what members say leads to less young people leaving Iowa.

“We have a lot of examples of people in our group who thought about leaving but because they have this connection with friends that are same age and are involved in same efforts, they've decided to stay. Also, the next city might not have a group like this," says Virginia Anderson of YP Iowa.

The group's goal is retention of young people, and another is attraction.

“Our population is getting older. We’re seeing a lot of out-migration of young people, and we’re not getting as many people back into the state and that creates a big gap," says Holmes.

Working to narrow that gap also provides social perks.

“Personally I'm from a rural community. I live on a farm, and its fun for me to get out and meet people in Eastern Iowa, let alone the rest of the state," says Adam Mangold of YP Iowa.

Members say there are many benefits to talking business while drinking beer.

The 3rd YP Iowa Conference drew members from as far away as Sioux City, Des Moines, Dubuque and Davenport.

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