NEWBURYPORT — As one of the younger members of the Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce, Chris MacDonnell saw a need for others like him — professionals under 40 — to network with each other and learn how others cope with the challenges they all face as they launch budding careers, he said.
So MacDonnell, 38, joined with the Chamber of Commerce vice president of membership development, Patty St. John, to bring back a dormant Chamber of Commerce committee: a young professionals group. Evolution 25/40 was formed.
Now, as it finishes up its first year, the group boasts about 35 people at each of their events.
Geared towards professionals who live or work in Newburyport and are "25-ish" to "40-ish," the committee hosts occasional speakers — successful young business owners and community leaders willing to share the story of their career path — and allows for that demographic to interact.
"There's always a social component," MacDonnell said. "It's a great way for us to meet others."
With about six events a year, each offers participants a chance to network and mingle, as well as being an educational event.
On Wednesday, the group hosted local businessman Mark Richey, owner of Mark Richey Woodworking, who shared the story of how he began his career in the basement of his Malden apartment and grew it into a 130,000-square-foot facility with more than $17 million in annual sales.
The group is a Chamber subcommittee, much like others that are geared towards nonprofits or retailers, but every event is also open to non-Chamber members and guests, St. John said.
There are talks of more social events as well, as a way to let the young professionals socialize and build contacts, such as a kayaking trip during the summer.
"The Evolution group is evolving," St. John said. "We're growing this."
While geared towards young businesspeople, the group won't kick you out if you aren't exactly 25 to 40 years old, MacDonnell said with a laugh.
"We don't card people at the door," he said.
With the current state of the economy, networking and young professionals are needed now more than ever, MacDonnell and St. John said.
"Especially now, people need to get a leg up," St. John said.
For Joe Devlin, 39, of Newburyport, a business lawyer at Demakis Law Offices, which just opened a Newburyport office in February, the young professionals group was instantly appealing.
Other Chamber events and mixers draws an audience of "established" professionals, which can be "a little intimidating" for the under-40 crowd, Devlin said.
"Here, people are trying to learn things," he said.
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