On June 5, the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber Young Professionals hosted the Chamber’s first pickleball networking event at Pickleball Kingdom in Hamilton. More than 50 people attended and the atmosphere was electric!

Experienced pickleballers and first-timers alike couldn’t wait to get out there and play, and we’ve already had several requests for another pickleball event. Thank you to our event sponsor, CBIZ Borden Perlman!

“I play pickleball, so I was very excited to see the Chamber jump on this,” said Allison Gorga, Director of Marketing, at Withum and a previous committee member of the Chamber’s Young Professionals. “Anyone can play, and it was a great way to get people engaged. These events help young people get comfortable networking in a friendly atmosphere.”

What Is the Chamber’s Young Professionals Program?

The pickleball event is just the latest example of the energy and innovative ideas that the Young Professionals bring to the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber and the region’s business community. This diverse group creates opportunities for young professionals to build their networks, gain knowledge, and get involved with the Chamber.

Young Professionals host four events per year, including three networking events and the half-day Young Professionals Summit, as well as volunteer days to support nonprofit Chamber members. Save the dates for the next Young Professionals networking event on Thursday, September 11 and the Summit on November 21. Details coming soon!

“A young person just starting out in their career or joining a new company might not have much of a network,” said Chris Borden, Vice President and Risk Advisor at CBIZ and Co-Chair of the Chamber’s Young Professionals. “Young Professionals connects like-minded professionals at similar stages in their careers. It also acts as a steppingstone to learn networking skills and gain the confidence to get involved with other Chamber programs.”

To support Young Professionals, more experienced Chamber members visit meetings and events and offer to mentor their younger colleagues. This creates tremendous opportunities to connect with influential leaders, enhance professional development efforts, and maximize the value of Chamber membership.

Building Knowledge, Comfort, and Confidence

For a young professional trying to build a network, sitting next to the CEO of a large corporation at a luncheon or conference while the speaker is discussing a complex topic can be intimidating. Playing 18 holes at a golf outing can be intimidating, especially if you don’t play regularly.

Young Professionals events are designed to eliminate any feelings of pressure, allowing people to have fun, make connections, learn, and grow. In addition to Pickleball Kingdom, Young Professionals events have been held at venues like Killarney’s Publick House, Arm & Hammer Park (home of the Trenton Thunder), Iron Peak Sports & Events, and Sky Zone.

At the same time, Young Professionals members also gain valuable skills and experience that will benefit them throughout their career.

“You’re sitting with a committee, you’re learning structure, and you’re seeing the proper way for a meeting to function,” Allison said. “You get used to operating in a professional atmosphere, within the committee and with the general Chamber, and you see great ideas come to life.”

“It takes networking relationships to the next level,” Chris said. “You can say, ‘I sat on a board with them. I served on a committee with them.’ You have more interactions and touch points with different people through the Chamber than you would meet by attending networking events. These are valuable experiences.”

Get Involved with Young Professionals!

You can always attend a Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber event and speak with a staff member or ambassador about Young Professionals. You can also contact Amy Rosica, Program Manager for the Chamber, who can answer your questions, introduce you to a member of the Young Professionals group, and invite you to an event or meeting.

Remember to save the dates for the next Young Professionals networking event on Thursday, September 11 and the Young Professionals Summit on November 21!