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Published May 14, 2008 08:39 pm - At 22 years old, Whitney Warren said walking into a room filled with seasoned professionals can be more than a little intimidating. Young professionals consider transitions to leadership roles By Melissa Dunson
mdunson@joplinglobe.com At 22 years old, Whitney Warren said walking into a room filled with seasoned professionals can be more than a little intimidating. Warren communicates for a living as the communications director for Atlas Risk Management in Joplin, but she said making that conversational leap with business people of another generation can seem difficult. “Coming into something like this can bring in a little bit of fear,” Warren said Wednesday at the Holiday Inn during the formation meeting for the Joplin area’s Young Professionals’ Network. Warren was among more than 120 local professionals, many younger than 35, who came together to discuss what young professionals in the Joplin area need, and how to move them into the leadership positions of the future. High-profile local business leaders like Gary Duncan, president and chief executive officer of Freeman Health System; Nancy Good, owner of The Title Place; and Dan Stanley, longtime local financial adviser, spoke to the group about the urgency of identifying and developing the leaders of tomorrow today. “I know we all have less time on our hands now, but I still believe it’s important for a community to have leadership, and too many leaders aren’t born,” Good said. “There are some leaders that still need to be developed.” Stanley said it is the young generation’s responsibility to identify changing trends and propose solutions to problems. He cited issues he thinks need to be addressed in Joplin, including homelessness, water quality, childhood wellness, education and a performing arts center. During roundtable discussions, those attending the meeting identified several areas that need to be part of the group’s battle cry: community involvement, business networks, professional development, social activity and political awareness. Many of the discussion topics centered around organizing information and events in ways that are familiar to a younger generation, such as e-mail networking, events that don’t take evening time away from families, and more education on civic organizations. “I know that we have to make time for these things, and during the day is a good time for us,” said Carey Prater, 35, director of social services at Spring River Christian Village in Joplin. “I’m less likely to do something in the evening because if I go home, it’s all over. I can’t turn right back around and leave again with my kids crying because I haven’t been home.” Lisa Olds, 29, an account executive for Amedisys Home Health in Joplin, said network events need to help pull young professionals out of their shells by grouping them with more seasoned business people. “Otherwise, when I go to chamber events, I just end up talking to the same people,” Olds said. Kim Lester, operations director for the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, said the Young Professionals’ Network committee will take the discussion notes and surveys from Wednesday’s event, compile them, and create a vision and mission for the new group. Lester said the group will plan another event for this summer. 
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