Group for young professionals to hold first gathering Thursday

PORT ANGELES — Young professionals are invited to network, mingle and socialize at the first gathering Thursday for those 21 through 45 years old who live on the North Olympic Peninsula.

The Peninsula Young Professionals Network is an informal group that plans to meet once a month, Linty Hopie, a member of the planning committee, said.

The event will run from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Wine on the Waterfront inside The Landing mall, 115 E. Railroad Ave.

Attendees will purchase their own food and drink.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Hopie and Brian Kuh, a commercial loan officer at First Federal, conceived of the idea many months ago, she said.

Since then, the two of them have gathered other professionals to develop the idea further.

“I really saw a huge need for this sort of thing when I first moved here a year and a half ago,” Hopie said.

“We don’t have a lot of young professionals like places like Seattle, and there is a need for those who come into town to have a place to plug in and start to build their network.

“There is also a need for those who are already here to meet with the people who are coming in.

“And it is difficult for people to meet their peers who are in other industries, so we wanted to give that opportunity.”

So far, a planning committee of about 35 people have met twice to develop a mission statement.

Hopie said the group is also developing a Facebook page so that networking can continue even when there is not a meeting. The page is available at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=113275834814&ref=ts.

She emphasized that the group is open to anyone in the age group or who is “young at heart.”

“This is definitely of regional interest,” she said.

“We have had people who will come from Port Townsend and people who will come from Forks,” she said.

Meetings will alternate between Sequim and Port Angeles.

“Eventually we will consider Port Townsend and Forks as well, but for now that is where we are starting,” she said.

The group is informal, and there are no required meetings or dues, she said.

“This is a totally guilt-free group,” she said.

After some time, she said, the group might consider having speakers or partnering with other business and service organizations for events, but the primarily purpose is to help young professionals grow their network.

“We’re not a nonprofit, and we’re not out there to do all these fundraisers of our own or anything,” she said.

“We just want to have a place for young people to meet and socialize.”

For more information, visit the site’s Facebook page or contact Hopie via e-mail at lintyh@pcadmin.ctc.edu.

__________

Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Fred Rix of Port Angeles, right, looks over floral arrangements with Ann O’Neill, an employee of Angel Crest Gardens of Port Angeles at a temporary stand at First and Race streets in Port Angeles on Valentine’s Day. Rix said he wanted roses for his wife, Wendy Rix, for their 55th wedding anniversary. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Valentine’s roses

Fred Rix of Port Angeles, right, looks over floral arrangements with Ann… Continue reading

Port Angeles-owned Lancashire Heeler “Ki” poses with handler and co-owner Chelsy Pendleton of Utah with their ribbon. Ki placed as Best of Opposite Sex at the 149th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
PA dog places at famous show

Lancashire Heeler wins ribbon at Westminster

x
Nominations open for Community Service awards

Forms due March 25; event scheduled for May 1

Poplars to be removed in spring

Boat Yard expansion part of larger project

Jeffco Aquatic Coalition launches pool survey

Results intended to inform design process

Voters approving all Peninsula school measures

Sequim bond passing with required supermajority

A snow-covered Mount Angeles is seen from Black Diamond Road a few miles south of Port Angeles. While the Peninsula has seen temperatures below freezing this week, a warming trend is expected by this weekend with highs reaching the upper 40s and overnight lows in the 30s. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Winter snowscape

A snow-covered Mount Angeles is seen from Black Diamond Road a few… Continue reading

JoAnn declares bankruptcy; Port Angeles store to close

The Joann fabrics and crafts store in Port Angeles… Continue reading

Cheri Sanford of Port Angeles, right, hands a piece of metal debris to her grandson, Damien Millet, 9, after it was located with a metal detector and dug from the sand at Hollywood Beach in Port Angeles on Wednesday. They were combing the beach in search of whatever hidden treasures they could find. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Beach combing

Cheri Sanford of Port Angeles, right, hands a piece of metal debris… Continue reading

Six Peninsula school measures passing

Sequim voters approve bond, levy