Group of Lewis County’s Young Professionals Continues to Grow

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Almost ten years ago, the Young Professionals Lewis County (YPLC) organization formed with the intention of helping people find community and networking opportunities, through their monthly meetings.

YPLC is a growing nonprofit organization that started in 2010, hosting a diverse group of people and businesses. There are no qualifications for coming to an event and no dress code, as they want people to feel comfortable while meeting new people. President Trevor Elliott and vice president Amanda Hubbert Smith said they want to encourage people to come to their monthly meetings and experience a laid-back networking environment, even if someone doesn’t have any networking experience. Each month their meetings bring 35 to 50 people together, but they are always encouraged when they see new faces.

“It’s really not a lot of pressure, it’s not a formal meeting,” Hubbert Smith said. “It’s very come as you are. It’s organic networking.” 

Elliott is a senior advisor at HUB Northwest Insurance and Hubbert Smith is a controller for Tires Inc. Both Elliott and Hubbert Smith joined YPLC when they moved back to the area after college looking for a way to get involved in the community and meet new people. Over the past five years, they have run board meetings and worked to find connections for those interested in YPLC. In the past, they have also done college networking events for students who might not know what work opportunities there are in Lewis County.

“It’s really good to be wired into what’s happening in Lewis County,” Hubbert Smith said. “That’s what makes our community so great is all the people that care so much and the generations before us that have cared so much.” 

Normally the age range of professionals at the monthly meetings are between college-aged students and people in their early 40s, but older community members have also come to meetings, and the youngest attendee they have had was 16 years old. While YPLC doesn’t have official members, they currently have more than 300 contacts on their email list. While the group’s name says “young professionals,” many different types of people and industries are represented, Elliott said.

At each meeting, the first hour is designated for socializing and networking. During the second hour, a guest speaker makes a presentation, followed by food and prizes for those who attend. Some of the past guest speakers have been Executive Director of the Lewis Economic Development Council Matt Matayoshi and Sen. John Braun R-Centralia. 



“We like to give an opportunity for young professionals who maybe wouldn’t have that opportunity to meet a (county) commissioner or maybe wouldn’t feel comfortable in a more formal setting, so we bring someone like the commissioners to them,” Hubbert Smith said. 

In 2017, Elliot and Hubbert Smith were honored with a leadership award from the Economic Development Council for working with attraction and retention of young professionals in Lewis County. When Elliott became president, the organization really started to grow, Hubbert Smith said. Social media has also helped the organization grow, allowing YPLC to advertise their events and highlight the people who attend their meetings. Once a month, the group posts a member spotlight on social media for two young professionals to highlight their accomplishments, hobbies and why they attend monthly meetings. 

“Sometimes they say the appetizers are great or the prizes are great, but a lot of time it’s a sense of community and a connection with other young professionals in the area,” Elliott said.

In the next few weeks, the organization plans to launch a partnership for businesses and organizations in Lewis County who want to partner with the attraction and retention piece of YPLC. Next month, the organization will do a co-networking event with Thurston County young professionals so that their members can meet people outside the area.

“For young professionals it’s an opportunity to feel like you’re connected somewhere, whether it’s for work or it’s for friends or you’re trying to get involved in the community,” Elliott said. 

The monthly meetings for Young Professionals Lewis County are the second Wednesday of every month. For more information, visit the Young Professionals Lewis County Facebook page, Instagram account or their website, www.youngprofessionalslewiscounty.com.