The Young Professionals Comox Valley (YPCV) networking group will throw a membership kickoff event on Tuesday.
YPCV is designed to promote social interaction and assist in professional development for business professionals, employees and entrepreneurs under 40 years of age in the Comox Valley — something organizers saw a need for here.
"I think there's a need for young professionals to connect and grow for future business needs in the Comox Valley," said Joe Renooy, YPCV organizer. "Right now, there are some existing networking groups but sometimes they can be a bit intimidating to enter, and this is a good starting point for a lot of people in the Valley to meet people and progress with their careers."
The event will be in the main level of the Crown Isle Resort Centre, starting at 6:30 p.m., and beverages and appetizers will be served.
It will feature a networking session, followed by some YPCV committee presentations. Don Sharp, director of business operations and marketing at Mount Washington Alpine Resort, will be the keynote speaker for the evening.
YPCV had its first event in November, which close to 80 people attended. Since then, it's held bi-weekly TGIF events, which an average of 40 people attend each time, according to Renooy.
Now, YPCV wants people to officially become members of the group, which YPCV organizing committee member Richard Dobbs said will allow the organization to grow.
"This will be the event that really gets things rolling for us," said Dobbs. "We are really excited about the events that we are going to be putting on over the next year, and the ways that we will be helping our community. Solidifying a membership and funding base will help us achieve our goals."
A membership costs $150 per year, and members will receive perks like discounts on future YPCV events and benefits from local businesses.
Renooy said the group is not limited to 'business people' and that YPCV wants to expand the definition of the word 'professional' to include careers like teachers or contractors.
For more information, visit YPCV's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/YPComoxValley. or e-mail membership@YPComoxvalley.com.