Attracting and Retaining Young Professionals

Mission: To create a platform for our members to build relationships, develop professionally, become politically and philanthropically active, and contribute to the economic development and high quality living of our community.

Vision: Sarasota is experiencing a renaissance … The energy, enthusiasm and talent of the Young Professionals Group stands out as our most encouraging asset in developing our city's future. YPG is the voice of Young Professionals in Sarasota County.

Mission ~ Vision

YPG includes some of Sarasota's most powerful movers and shakers that are trendsetting social seekers, career motivated, and philanthropically inspired.  Encompassing a wide cross-section of careers and industries, YPG produces events and opportunities that benefit Sarasota's icons and up-and-coming leaders in Real Estate, Insurance, Banking, Law, Education, Tourism, Medical/Healthcare, Finance, and Marketing.

Overview

Committees

Events, Government Issues, Finance, Communications, Membership, Leadership, Technology, Volunteer

Networking: Access to the most powerful, successful Young Professionals in Sarasota

Recognition: Get recognized publicly for your involvement and excellence in YPG’s Leadership Circle

Development: Enhance your career at a variety of guest speaker events and career development opportunities

Philanthropy: Numerous opportunities to enhance the community and work with the leading non-profits in Sarasota

Membership Benefits

After Hours Networking

Food & Wine Evenings

Government Issues Luncheons

Sport & Recreation Activities

Monthly Volunteer Opportunities

Keynote Speaker Luncheons

Annual Conference

Annual Kick-Off Party

And much more …

Events

After Hours Networking

Food & Wine Evenings

Government Issues Luncheons

Sport & Recreation Activities

Monthly Volunteer Opportunities

Keynote Speaker Luncheons

Annual Conference

Annual Kick-Off Party

And much more …

Events

After Hours Networking

Food & Wine Evenings

Government Issues Luncheons

Sport & Recreation Activities

Monthly Volunteer Opportunities

Keynote Speaker Luncheons

Annual Conference

Annual Kick-Off Party

And much more …

Events

The Breakdown:

Young Professionals

(ages 20-44) make up 24% of Sarasota’s total Population!

* According to the American Community Survey

What is Keeping Young Professionals in Sarasota?

Amy Tuck Farrington: “Early educational programs here are excellent, as we are expecting the birth of our first child, this is important to us. Jobs are not keeping us here.”

Valarie Wadsworth: “I am here for the beauty, culture, food and the arts. Tampa doesn’t have the beauty or charm of Sarasota.”

Sam Davidson: “I feel like I have no competition, and can move up in a company a lot quicker. Our local young professionals are our own competition. In a larger city, it would have taken 5 – 7 years to move up the corporate ladder.”

Alison Gutek: “ I grew up here, my family is here and its’ warm. I represent the boomerangs, we come back, but there has to be jobs to make it worthwhile.”

Neal Alfano: “ I am a graduate of Ringling College, and I know I am of a small minority that stayed after graduation. I networked and stayed. But, I do feel like the odd ball out from my fellow graduates.”

Between 2008 – 2010, YPG lost over 400 members.

More than 200 of these members left Sarasota to find

work in other cities, like Charlotte, Atlanta and

Orlando.

Why are they leaving?

#1 Answer: Lack of JOBS

The question is now,

How to Attract and How To Retain the Young Professional

Demographic?

1. More jobs

2. Higher Salaries for Young Professionals

3. Better marketing internally, among the local businesses that there are organizations like the YPG that will keep them engaged in the community

4. Better marketing externally, must market Sarasota as a Young Professional city, not just as an aging or vacation destination

5. The local vendors need to adapt and serve the young professional population

6. A Live Music Venue without a noise ordinance issue

Sample Advertisements to Retain Local Young Professionals

Sample Advertisements to Attract Young Professionals to Sarasota

Other Ways to Attract Young Professionals

1. Brand Sarasota as the Entrepreneurial City. Instead of solely focusing on attracting a specific industry, lets create our own. We can find the next Dell!• Work with the Film Commission to create a reality show

called “Enterprise Nation,” a nationwide search for start up companies, and find the best one that should have its start and roots in Sarasota

• An Entrepreneur Festival and/or Competition, again, goal being to have the best idea begin their company in Sarasota

• Goal: to educate, promote and inform people from across the country that we have excellent economic incentives while creating an entirely new outlook on our area.

2. Job Fair Representation: Have an Outreach Development Officer go to the larger College job fairs or Career Fairs in other Young Professional Markets (Austin, Charlotte, Atlanta), and try to attract a few Young Professionals at a time to work for Sarasota companies.

3. Post Jobs on State University Jobsites: Outreach needs to be improved upon with the state colleges and universities outside of Sarasota. Jobs in Sarasota need to be posted on the Jobsites for Florida State University, University of Florida, University of Miami, etc.

4. Student Entrepreneurial Program: Local colleges, like USF, New College and Ringling should have entrepreneurial incubator funding for college seniors to work on entrepreneurial start ups, as an alternative to the standard internships. With all of the empty store front on the North Trail, space shouldn’t be an issue.

5. Welcome Back Weekend: Geared towards alumni of Sarasota’s higher education that have gone elsewhere to start their careers. Invite them back to remind them of Sarasota’s beauty, amenities, lifestyle, and growing economy.

6. City-wide Homecoming Parade for All Local Universities: Create a downtown parade and other weekend events to draw back alumni for a weekend and show the local students that Sarasota appreciates and supports them.

Short-term (low cost, small commitment)

What does Sarasota offer now that can attract YPs to the area, and how do we market those items to them? 

How do we maximize the exposure of everything we do have right now?

Next Steps

Long-term (high cost, large commitment)

What changes/additions does Sarasota need to make in the next 3-5 years to get to the next level?

Can we market ourselves as the next Austin if we get a live music venue? 

Elise Lipoff, YPG Chair | elipoff@willissmith.com | 941.366.3116

Follow us on : www.facebook/sarasotaYPG