Announcing our Young Professional Advocate of 2012

The New Castle County Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce our 2012 Young Professional Advocate award winner, Rachel McCulley!

Rachel has been with the NCCCC’s Young Professionals Network since its beginning, in May 2011, and filled the position of Secretary on our executive board for the 2011-2012 year. Rachel went above and beyond her role, creating an amazing Web site for our group, leading our marketing team in raising the YPN’s visibility, and attending almost every YPN event this year. She has truly elevated the organization to a new level. Rachel coordinates the Asperger’s Program at ServiceSource, a nonprofit offering support services for people with disabilities. Thanks for all your hard work, Rachel!

The YPN Takes Networking To New Heights

Thursday’s event at the Delaware Rock Gym simply “rocked” (yeah I said that)! Walking into the building and being surrounded by the unique odor of sweat and feet didn’t deter our amazing YPN’ers. No, they powered on and despite the unflattering harnesses, got strapped in and started stretching – don’t want to pull a hammy.

Our very own salsa king Juan Fuentes, stepped up to the wall first and scaled it like Spiderman. Needless to say when Emma Stone didn’t show up – we were all disappointed.

Despite there being some nerves in the beginning – all our YPN’ers stepped it up and scaled the different walls. We learned lots of fun things – most of them with funny names – I mean come on, ‘belay’! Ha! Our instructors of the evening, including the awesome Danielle, helped everyone achieve new heights (they keep on comin’).

 

All in all, rock climbing was totally off the wall (HA), and if you didn’t make it out last night definitely swing into the gym and take a look around. The awesome staff will show you around and if you’d like there are introductory classes to get you moving towards a pro!

-Sarah Kudlack

Events by Sarah Elizabeth

What’s in it for You

You may have heard by now (I hope) that we’re recruiting for the YPN. You might be saying to yourself “Sounds great! But what’s in it for me? Besides the superpowers and puppies* of course.”

First, there’s a pretty big difference in attending events and working to shape those events. Getting involved brings a whole new level of opportunities and benefits. I attend a lot of networking events, I love networking to make connections, but nothing beats working closely with your peers and forming those connections over projects you enjoy.

So let’s break it down.

 

What’s in it for you:

Forming relationships with people in your field

That team member in Professional Development, maybe they know of a job opening and have now worked with you to vouch for your work ethic. Maybe they can help you with another project you have. Connections in your field are wonderful to bounce ideas off of and swap advice.

Resume Gold

Looking to spruce up your resume? Your involvement with the YPN shows the world the go-getter you are. Broaden your skills, add to your portfolio, and increase your experience. It also never hurts to set yourself apart through volunteer work.

Having a Voice

You don’t just step into a role, you help shape it. While roles are specific to keep things going smooth, you get a chance to form how things are done. The YPN stays on it’s toes, and members are always welcome to offer new ideas and new ways of doing things. You can feel like a real part of things, rather than just carrying out tasks.

The Warm Fuzzies

Not to be all, “hard work is it’s own reward,” but there is something satisfying about being on a team you love, doing work you enjoy. I’m proud of what I contribute the YPN and enjoy being a part of an organization that’s out to help and support young people.

 

When I started with the YPN it was through a committee. Recruited for the marketing team, I dove in head first behind the scenes and got to know the network from the inside out. Right away I had the chance to contribute, offer my talents, and find my spot in the team. It’s rewarding, it’s fun, and it builds my portfolio while working with other ambitious young pro’s like myself.

As volunteer with the YPN, I strongly recommend emailing a committee, or emailing info@youngprosnc4.org and asking to sit in on a meeting. We have roles to cater to a wide range of talents, so send an email to check it out first hand!

*Puppies and superpowers not guaranteed

 

Rebecca Stansell is a Volunteer to the Marketing Committee, YPN-NC4 Board. She works as Marketing Director for FruitFlowers Delaware & South Jersey, and the recently launched women’s networking group N.E.W.

The YPN Wants You….Yes, YOU!

It’s time for nominations!

In case you missed it, the Young Professionals Network – New Castle County Chamber of Commerce is an organization focused on young professional’s needs, offering networking, professional dev – What’s that, you say? You already knew that, and you’re looking at our Web site right now?

Oh, OK. Well, then you’ll know that we are run by a team of young professional volunteers, and their terms are almost up! That’s right, we are about to hold elections for our 2012-2013 YPN-NC4 Board, and we’ll need to fill up those committees with members while we’re at it. But first, of course, we need some nominations. Not sure who we’re looking for?

The YPN needs:

• People who want to grow their network
• People who hate networking
• People who want a lot of responsibility
• People who want a liiiittle responsibility
• People who came to Festivus last year and therefore know exactly how great the YPN is
• People who haven’t gotten involved yet. We want your fresh ideas!
• People who own their own companies
• People who work for the Man
• People who have REGISTERED to become official YPN members
• People who have been waiting for another reason to join YPN.
• People who have SO MANY ideas in their heads
• People born under the signs of Aquarius, Taurus, Scorpio, and Capricorn
• People born under all the other signs
• People who have puppies they’ll let us play with

For the commitment-phobic (or already overcommitted):

We need committee members! Here’s how it works again: Executive board (that’s a couple people) leads the board (that’s about a dozen people), and the board is made up of committee chairs. They lead individual committees focused on different areas of YPN focus: specifically, Events, Membership, Marketing, and Professional Development. As a committee member, you will be responsible for a very well-defined set of duties (see the bottom two rows of this organizational chart to get a feel for the types of roles that are available), and you will most likely have a lower time commitment than our board members, which is great for anyone already balancing a hectic schedule, or looking to spend minimal work time on YPN activities.

You’ll still be a member of the all-volunteer team that makes the YPN magic happen, a status that confers, among other perks, insider knowledge on awesome opportunities in and around New Castle County, decision-making power in a community-focused organization operating where you live and work, the undying esteem of your friends and peers, and your choice of superpower.

For the unstoppable go-getter:

Become a board member. These fine fellows and ladies will be working closely together to shape the direction of the YPN-NC4, and we are in touch frequently. As a board member, you will be coming up with dreams, ideas, and yes, concrete plans for the future of the YPN, and figuring out how to improve our existing processes to make life easier for us and (more importantly) for our members. Most of our board member positions are in committee leadership, so we need excellent communicators, organizers, and problem solvers to take on these roles.

We meet once a month as a board, and your committee will be meeting once a month as well – so you’ll be taking on a moderate time commitment (a few hours each week, excluding any events you sign up for or coordinate) as a YPN board member.

Benefits to joining the board of the YPN-NC4: Not to scare you, but basically, we become family and you get pizza once a month. All disagreements are settled in the Octagon.

 

HOW you can get involved:

• Complete the Board Member Nomination Form. Nominate yourself or someone else for up to three positions.
• Email us at info@youngprosnc4.org. You can check out this organizational chart and select a committee position you’re interested in filling, or let us know which committee you’d like to serve on. If you’re feeling sleepy, just send us an email with the subject line “I want in.” We’ll know what it’s about.
• Catch us at a YPN event! Check our calendar at right for details. Anyone with a white YPN name tag and a smile is fair game for questions.
• Write on our Facebook wall. Share your favorite blog for young professionals, some interesting news about your organization, or your baby pictures.
• Tweet at us: @youngprosnc4. Creative hashtags are encouraged.

 

If you’re not sure about joining the YPN in a committee role, you can still:

• Share the nomination form on your Facebook page. You don’t want your friends to miss out on this opportunity, right?
• Talk to us about what you think the YPN should look like. We’re young and impressionable; we’ll listen.
• Get to an event! What are you waiting for, the calendar’s on the right!!!!

If you’re looking to make a difference and have some fun doing it, get on over to the nomination form and join a great team!

Attitude Problem or Asperger’s Syndrome?

Mr. know-it-all. The guy down the hall who doesn’t know that “small talk” is, well, “small.” The person whose desk is always in complete disarray. We’ve all encountered someone like this before in our lives. Many times, we are quick to judge someone who has a literal interpretation of information, who avoids eye contact and small talk, and who needs help prioritizing and organizing as someone who has an attitude problem. However, there may be an underlying diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome. Next time, before you get frustrated with the so-called “attitude” problem, look at the situation a different way to find the hidden strengths that you may have been missing all along.

Many people with Asperger’s syndrome are extremely logical & analytical as well as creative thinkers. Struggling with reaching your target numbers? Someone with AS could give you the fresh perspective you need. People with AS are also routine & repetition oriented and are often excellent with accuracy. Need help crunching data while you go out and develop contacts and relationships? Someone with AS could do just that.  Struggle with turnover and employees who aren’t focused on the job? People with AS are often very loyal to their employers & don’t waste time socializing on the job.

The value that employees with AS bring to the workplace can help nearly any business tremendously. The accuracy and logical thinking that people with AS provide can assist with anything from behind-the-scenes analytics to detail-oriented production to categorizing and organizing materials to much more. There are simple solutions that any workplace can provide to ensure that an employee with AS is successful, productive, and a team player. Services such as Employment Solutions from ServiceSource provide customized on-the-job training and coaching to make your workplace work for your employees. For example, providing concrete and concise feedback and checklists, being specific and direct, and providing a mentor to guide an employee with AS will go a long way in the long-term success of your employee. But don’t worry, ServiceSource will help you figure out what will work for you and your workplace.

Interested in learning more about how to recruit from the disability community, diversify your workplace, and market your business to the disability community? ServiceSource is celebrating World Autism Awareness Day on April 2 with a catered lunch from The Food Bank of Delaware, tours of our state of the art ISO & CARF accredited training center, a presentation on ways corporations can become involved with our organization, and door prizes. Contact Rachel McCulley at rachel.mcculley@servicesource.org for more information.

Rachel McCulley is the Program Coordinator for Employment Solutions for Adults with Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorders at ServiceSource. For over 50 years, ServiceSource has been working with local businesses helping them to fulfill their workforce needs.

Top 5 Things To Do During A Slow Period In Your Business

by kyle mcmahon

Every business will have it’s slow periods. For some, it may be cyclical, such as every Winter. For others, it might be as you’re first building your business. The question is how do you deal with the slow times? While climbing in bed and questioning your very existence in life may seem palatable, is that really the best use of your time and resources? Don’t answer that. Instead check out some ideas that I’ve used in the slower times in my photography business, elyk studios.

1. Work on your website. While many people may cringe at the thought of working on your website, it literally is the best representative image that customers, and potential customers, see of you online. Whether they’ve been directed by advertising, or found your business through searching, many potential customers will visit your webpage. Does it accurately represent your business today? Are the images current? Was the last update the day you set up your page? Make sure that your website has all of the information your customers need to know about your services / products and how to reach you to ask questions or hire you. Make sure you have links to your social media pages as well. Which brings us to…

2. Work on your social media presence. There is absolutely NO excuse for your business not to have, at the bare minimum, a Facebook and a Twitter account. It is free advertising. It is another portal to your website and another potential area for clients to learn about what you offer. The smartest businesses utilize these to their very full potential, and the pay off is amazing. I admit that in the first few months of my business, I opened my business Facebook page (which you can visit here), uploaded some images and then left it alone. I wondered why nobody was “LIKING” my page. I wondered where the activity on my page was. It then hit me, I needed to create the activity. I’ve since promised myself that at least twice a week I will upload a new image or post a relevant status update that my customers may find interesting. I don’t want to bore them. I want them to have an open relationship with me, where they are free to comment on my work, ask questions and give feedback. It also helps me immensely as I learn what the most popular images and shoots are & I often times find that it can be ones I thought were the most boring. I make sure not to just “sell” to my customers on my social media pages. I want them to engage and have as much fun with it as I do.

3. Get involved. For the entire month of January, I pouted around feeling sorry for myself that business had slowed down. My first year has certainly been a learning experience, and I am still a fresh faced Freshman in the High School of Business. I knew that for photographers, there were going to be slow periods, particularly after the Holidays. It wasn’t until I read something on my business Twitter feed (@ElykStudios) about giving back to the community. I thought, that doesn’t apply to me, I don’t have the money to donate to my favorite causes right now. Then it hit me – I have a valuable talent that could be extraordinarily beneficial to a charity which costs me nothing but my time and talent. I’ve since begun reaching out to a few local charities that I’d like to donate some time and resources to. I can’t promise them a set number of hours per month, but I want to give what I can. While someone else may be more established and in a better position to give a big fancy check, I can give them my services, which saves them some much needed cash flow. Not only does this make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside for helping others in need, it helps the charity and is a great networking tool as well.

4. Reach out to existing customers. Another great way to use time during a slow period is to reach out to prior customers. Make sure your product / service is still keeping them happy. See how they’re doing. A great example that I love is to send a coupon for their next visit / use of your product. These are customers who have already used you. They know who you are, they know how you work. Hopefully, you’ve done an amazing job with them already and they’d like an occasional hello or a “Come work with me again” coupon. It’s a great way to break the ice and reconnect and rewards them for already having been a customer. A win / win.

5. Reach out to new customers. Isn’t this what we all strive to do? Some businesses spends thousands and thousands of dollars in advertising with little results. While advertising should most definitely a part of your marketing mix, actually reaching out directly to new customers should be just as important. When I say reaching out, I literally mean, introducing yourself to new customers. Again, I don’t believe in a “hard sell”. It comes off as uninterested in the customers needs. Sometimes, customers might not need your product that day, but maybe one day they will. So I like to directly contact people I think may be interested in my services and literally say “hello”. I’ve done it through e-mail, social media & in person. I introduce myself and tell them a bit about what I do. I give them a coupon off of their first shoot and let them know I’m here if they need my services. I find this far more appropriate then shouting the facts at them and asking to book today. With my business, and many service businesses, sometimes, there’s just not that need at that moment. I want to open the relationship so I am there, and we already have a relationship, when they do need me.
There are many more things one can do during a slow period in business, but these are the first five I would work on first and most ferociously. It may seem all too tempting to hop in bed and watch a Jersey Shore marathon, but the truth is, that’s not helping your business (unless you specialize in alcohol, birth control or tanning beds). Fight that funk and get out there and be the best young business person you can be. The future of your business depends on you…

Kyle McMahon is the owner of .elyk studios, a Delaware based photographer specializing in family portraits, modeling portfolios, school pictures, souvenir photography, events, maternity, engagements and beauty pageants. For more information please visit www.ElykStudios.com , “LIKE” .elyk studios on Facebook or follow on Twitter. www.ElykStudios.com (302) 722-6479 kyle@elykstudios.com

Networking for Dummies

By Aimee Tetreault

Recently, I had the opportunity to give a talk to the General Managers of the Dave Magrogan Group about the benefits of networking and why it’s important in career success. While my presentation ultimately resulted in me quoting a lot of Dale Carnegie and telling a dirty joke, I pray my message resonated with at least a few of them.

Everyone has their own communication style, but one thing is universal. We are all born natural extroverts. If you fancy yourself the more shy and quiet type, think back on whatever happened in your life that made you recoil socially. Its human nature to want to develop human connections, so harness that to grow professional relationships with any and everyone you meet. While we all want to grow relationships with others, we’re not all inherently good at networking. It’s a learned skill and in truth, anyone can do it.

In the meantime, here are a few pointers.

Well…10 actually, in no particular order.

1. Buy and READ “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie. It was written in 1936 and is STILL the #1 best selling networking book in the world. Clearly, he did something right. Read it, highlight it, learn it and live it.

2. Do Your Research. Find local networking groups via Twitter, Facebook, Meetup.org, etc. Figure out what connects all these people together. Are they all small local business owners? Do they all have a mutual love for scrapbooking? Know what you’re getting in to before you get in to it.

3. Ask a Question and Really Listen to the Answer. Asking questions is the easiest way to join a conversation. However, the real clincher is to listen to the speaker like you’re actually interested. Besides, people love to talk about themselves, and who knows? You might actually learn something!

4. Smile. I’m serious. It’s disarming and chances are good the other person is equally uncomfortable. Let’s the person know they’re in a good place with good people.

5. Get Their Business Card & Give Them Yours. This helps you remember who they are later. Write little notes on the back like “cool hat” or “talked about the Phillies” if that helps. Take the cards home and look them all up on Social Media.

6. Be Sincere. Everyone hates a pushy networker. Don’t just be there to hand out cards, talk shop and eat the free food. Be genuinely interested in meeting new people, learning more about them and developing those relationships for the future.

7. Say the Person’s Name. It’s been said that hearing your own name is the sweetest sound one can hear. Besides, it helps you remember. Don’t be the guy who doesn’t remember.

8. Follow Up. This one is a biggie. If you promised to send them an article you discussed, do it. If you saw something that reminded you of them, send it their way. Always do what you can to maintain that connection. It’s more work to rebuild a lost connection than to maintain a current one. Plus, it’s way more awkward.

9. Limit The Booze. This should go without saying, but no one likes the drunky at the networking event. It’s sort of pathetic and sends a poor message of who you are, what you do, and who you’re representing. Limit the drinks to two, MAX. One if you’re less than 115lbs.

10. Never Under Estimate the Power of a Good Joke. Seriously. Learn 1 or 2, practice them, and always have them ready. I prefer to have one dirty and one clean. If the conversation lulls, pull out the big guns. Not only did you break the tension, but now you’re the funny guy. It’s Win Win.

Remember, the energy you put out in the world is what you’ll receive. Keep that in mind the next time you walk through the door of a networking event. Be authentic, share your knowledge and help other people feel good about themselves. If you can do that, you can make networking truly worthwhile.

Happy Chatting!

Learning to Listen

By Becca Stansell

Confession time, I dominate conversations. If one were to count the great loves in my life, one of them would be hearing myself speak. While great as it may be that I find myself fascinating, it can be a conversational hindrance.  Dominating a conversation keeps you from listening and from learning about the other person. You don’t have to be a gabber like myself to have a listening problem, nervousness can keep you from sincere interaction as well. But why learn to listen?

People love to talk about themselves. Once I read that if you talk 50% of the time meeting someone, they think you’re rude. While it may or may not be an overstatement, I’ve found time and time again that allowing someone to share what they have makes them feel good.  That positivity becomes associated with your meeting, and with you. Some of the most beneficial meetings I’ve had I’ve barely talked, but walked away with great advice or new contacts.

Listening does not always come naturally, and I know for me it does not. If you are nervous, thinking about your to do list, or planning dinner in your head you’re not actively listening.  Before you go into a meeting or event, try these few things:

ñ     Remind yourself everyone has something to offer. They do - The more you learn about other fields, and other people, the more you have to offer as well in conversation. It also helps better position yourself to be a resource for them by learning what’s important to them.

ñ     Go relaxed - If you’ve had a crazy day or too much on your mind, assess if you really need to attend that event tonight, or if you’re better off coming prepared to the next. If you have a meeting, take 15      minutes before to relax, breathe, grab a coffee, or take a short walk.

ñ     Take the pressure off - If you’re nervous about talking about yourself, focus on them. Prepare a few questions to ask, and think about what you want to learn from them.

ñ     Mind your body language- Nod in agreement, relax your posture,  try not to fidget, and most of all-smile.

There is nothing wrong with being the life of the party or having a lot to say. Letting your personality show is important, just be mindful of the situation. Conversation is a give and take,  keep in mind giving the other person their share of speaking through active listening or asking questions. So go forth, reach out to people, listen to them, and make great connections!

Wine Tasting for the Uncultured

by Josh Shaver

If you’ve never been to Deerfield Fine Wines and you are even the least bit curious about wine, go.  I am such a sucker for a place with a story and this place has it.  The owner hails from Chicago, IL and his wife’s job re-location has brought the family to Delaware (a place where he says, you cannot name your child Vito).  They have weekly tastings on Fridays at 5pm, as well as other special events, so I suggest you make the time to attend ( http://www.deerfieldwines.com/ ).

I don’t know about you, but I absolutely hate not knowing something.  I have a sort of phobia about it, so walking into this tasting; it was a little nerve-racking to know that some wine snobs may be there.  Come to find out, wine snobs don’t know what they are talking about because everyone has a different taste.  The sauvignon blanc may taste terrible to me, but it may be your absolute favorite; and that’s ok!  If you like drinking white wine with steak, who cares, and whoever made it a rule to pair it with a red?  Wine is all about how you like it with your food.  The first step in “wine pairings” is to drink whatever your palate likes, and who cares if the waiter looks at you funny?  I think we are all too apprehensive about ordering wines with certain foods and it is nonsense.

You grow up hearing that you learn something every day; lucky for me that I learned two “somethings” in one day.  Not only was it valuable to me to learn that pairings are not important, but we learned how to truly taste wine (I am going to spare you the details of me trying to explain it in words, and just point you to the photos page).  You look like a total idiot, but the wine definitely tastes better; and it is in this way that you really taste more alcohol.  WIN!

The Value of Time

by Stephanie Barnes

Up at 5am, getting myself and the children ready,  breakfast, school drop off, work by 9am, meetings, conference calls, lunch at desk, phone calls, return emails, school pick up, home by 6pm, dinner, homework,  family time, bed preparations, stories, more computer work , setting up for next day, and finally I am ready to begin the next day….did I forget anything?  Oh, yeah, SLEEP!!

We are in overdrive every day!  Our days are jam packed full of activities and deadlines.   Do you ever wonder what you can do to manage everything? Here are some suggestions which have been successful for me:

 Calendar:   First set up a google calendar for the month and then sync everything.  Then create yourself a task list and use it!  I have access to my calendar at all times with different electronic components, I can print copies, post them, color coordinate by activities, etc.

  Here are a few other tips that have helped me open up a few extra hours a day :

Grocery Shopping On-Line! - Now my situation may be a little different from some of our YPN’ers in the sense that I have three kids and the thought of stepping into a grocery store is worse than walking into a volcano filled with hot lava!   I would have to wait until they would go to sleep travel 10 miles to save $20 and end up spending $40 more and  at 11:00pm no less!  Crazy right?  So now, at 11pm…I hop onto the computer, go to my favorites, log into  “my store” and purchase my groceries for the week.  The savings come in many ways…

-not having to pack a cart of groceries and turn around and unload a cart of groceries

-no impulse buying

-I can literally put my order in the computer in less than 20

-I do not have to spend 1 to 2 hours dealing with the processes of grocery shopping which

means more time to do what I want to do

Pre-making Meals! – This is a great way to give you your time back and socialize at the same time.  I know everyone can benefit from this.  I am not a fan of eating out 7 days a week, or any other number of days for that matter, unless it’s being paid for by someone else! I am also not a fan of thumbing through tons of cook books to figure out  meals for the week .   I want to eat healthy, delicious meals with a variety.  I have gone through cook book after cook book of easy recipes.  Fast and healthy solutions are found in every magazine and book, but the bottom line is this is a pain in the ….well you know…

A friend of mine who has 4 kids (and another on the way) is the queen of “how can I do this faster and cheaper”.   I love her!  She introduced me to this gourmet studio kitchen with meal prep stations complete with recipes, fresh ingredients, spices, and measuring cups and spoons!  You select the meals that you want to prepare from a list that they provide, you prepare all of the food at the studio (in a 2 hour time frame), put them in baggies and wrap them up with the recipe card telling you how you’ll prepare it , take these lovely little meals  home to your freezer.  *****AHHHHHHHHH (in an angelic choir sound).   Hello – my meals are made for the MONTH!!!! Now I still have to cook them and serve them ( I do not have a maid-or au pair) but the fact that I go into my freezer and pull these lovely little meals out on Sunday night for the week is the best thing in the world.  I don’t have to think about what  to cook at 5pm as I’m driving home and opt for some unhealthy choice for the family.  The saving…..

-most of these meals cook in less than 20 minutes …more time to play airhockey with my son

-costs about $5 per person…. depending on the quantity

-2 hours spent to prepare food for a month!!!!!!

-oh and did since all the cutting,chopping and measuring are done at the studio ….no mess in your home!