These young professionals are growing up

Published on Friday, January 01, 2010

BY GLENN RITT

If the Cape Cod Young Professionals were a startup, it would be popping the champagne. A mere concept only four years ago, the initiative has raced through adolescence to become a leading-edge, highly influential force.

At the same time, the South Shore Young Professionals is only in its second year and has quickly become equally vibrant.

These regional groups of young professionals have gained the attention and collaboration of chambers of commerce, private industry, town governments and even the governor’s office – each seeking the intellectual capital, economic vitality, buying power, political influence and professional talent embodied in the groups’ rapidly growing and diversified membership.

Consider the rapid-fire growth of these organizations:

• The CCYP has grown to more than 700 participants, with 250 now paying annual dues.
• The SSYP is growing at nearly twice the pace of the Cape Cod group and is investigating the implementation of a dues program.
• Both organizations have formally gained 501(c)3 nonprofit status.
• The CCYP can teach other businesses about transition and succession planning, as its two entrepreneurial founders, Michael Robinson and Gary Sheehan, have successfully transferred their top leadership posts to a second generation of directors.
• Both organizations have extended their vision far beyond networking to helping businesses and town governments recruit members for jobs and volunteer board and committee assignments.
• The CCYP conducted a seminal survey on economic, political, social and community trends and preferences among young professionals to help guide public policy aimed at retaining them on Cape Cod.
• The state government and the Office of Governor Deval Patrick have reached out to the organizations for counsel on economic issues critical to young families and workers – most recently in November at a forum on Cape Cod.

That initiative is aimed at making sure young people are attracted to Massachusetts; see it as a place to start companies, launch a career and build a home and family. Young professionals on the Cape and South Shore have joined hundreds of others across the state at similar events featuring Patrick as well as Secretaries Greg Bialecki and Suzanne Bump of the Executive Offices of Housing and Economic Development and Labor and Workforce Development. The CCYP continues to work with the Governor’s office for events in 2010 that will illuminate issues faced by young professionals across the commonwealth, and has exciting plans in place for more statewide collaboration.

We recently met with the four founders of both groups to assess where the organizations have come and where they are going. Gary Sheehan and Michael Robinson established the CCYP and Michael Sheehan and David Robinson founded the SSYP. The quartet is a story unto itself – two sets of brothers and all longtime friends, they also have been assuming leadership of their two family-owned businesses while founding and nurturing their young professionals groups.

Gary and Michael Sheehan are second-generation owners of Cape Medical Supply, while Michael and David Robinson are succeeding their father to direct the future of Rogers & Gray Insurance Agency, along with a non-family partner. And each company operates on both sides of the canal, leading a trend that will influence the regional economy.

Did the Cape Cod Young Professionals begin with a grand plan four years ago?

Gary Sheehan, co-founder: We never really had a grand strategy, just a big dream. We felt the region desperately needed a way to coalesce young people for both social and business support. We had only 15 people at our first event. At our most recent annual bash, we had nearly 500 attend. It has been a constant snowballing effect. We count 700 active participants, with 250 now paying annual dues.

Michael Robinson, co-founder: If we had an “aha” moment, it probably was when Governor Patrick’s office reached out to us to organize a meeting of young professionals. That made us realize we were viewed not only on the Cape, but across the state, as a legitimate organization and advocate that could be sustainable.

Given all that, we can’t lose focus on our primary role: to give young professionals a social connection for them to network, learn from each other and feel that they are part of a vital population with shared experiences and dreams.

The South Shore Young Professionals was established more recently. What is its status?

David Robinson, co-founder: We already have more than 500 members receiving our newsletter and attending our events. We expect to have 1,000 on our mailing list by the end of next year, and we are now beginning to implement a dues-paying membership.

Michael Sheehan, co-founder: We have been able to learn from the experiences of the Cape chapter, which has helped us grow at an accelerated pace. We moved very rapidly to establish a well-organized and empowered committee structure, with great leadership and focus. Launching our Web site was important as well. It is such a critical part of young professionals’ ability to communicate and network. We were very pleased, if not surprised, to find so many colleagues eager to assume responsibility for committee work. Our entire 2010 calendar of events already is in place.

How has the recession affected the CCYP and SSYP, especially with high unemployment for young people?

David Robinson: We actually see the economy helping us grow. More young professionals are reaching out to us for support and to network. Companies that are still recruiting also gravitate to us to identify not only qualified candidates, but ones who exhibit great motivation.

Gary Sheehan: Young people are inherently optimistic. Even during these last 18 months, when you come to our events, you feel a tremendous sense of optimism, even in the face of adversity. The glass is always half full, not half empty.

In supporting the Cape & Plymouth Business 40 under 40 Awards, what are the attributes you hope to see among the winners?

Gary Sheehan: Not only success and growth in their business careers, but leadership and integrity, plus their commitment to their communities and families. How are they affecting the future of Cape Cod and Plymouth County?

As the CCYP heads into its fifth year, what are the most satisfying accomplishments?

Gary Sheehan: It probably begins with turning over the leadership of the CCYP to a new executive committee, including its chairman and vice chairman, Erin Madden of Cape Cod Broadcasting and Moira Noonan-Kerry of the Lower Cape Community Development Corporation. The key to a successful organization is maturing from the entrepreneurial stage to the managerial stage. Michael and I hope we are accomplishing that. It also highlights the importance of succession and transition planning for any entity.

Michael Robinson: Lynn Mason-Small from Mid-Cape Home Centers, Gary and I have made up the executive committee. The organization would not be anywhere near where it is today if it wasn’t for the hundreds of hours that Lynn put into CCYP. As an executive committee we knew that the most important thing we could do was to perpetuate the organization. Erin Madden and Moria Noonan-Kerry have been instrumental to our current success. I have no doubt that, under their leadership, they will take this organization to the next level.

What are the strongest business reasons for young professionals to join your organizations and for companies to sponsor and affiliate with you?

Gary Sheehan: We are a resource clearinghouse for young people and for those seeking young professionals. This applies not only to businesses recruiting but also to town governments seeking new blood on their boards and committees. The town of Yarmouth, for example, has placed six of our members on committees by just reaching out to us. That is a role we very much want to play for the best interests of our regional economy and communities. We want to be the No. 1 place for that kind of connection.

Over the last two years, we have signed memoranda of understanding with organizations such as the Cape Cod Human Resources Association, Cape Cod Technology Council and Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce. We are very anxious to see how we can collaborate with organizations across the region to have a positive impact; we have a long ways to go in this regard but are off to a good start.

Michael Robinson: Rogers & Gray has successfully and frequently recruited from among the CCYP and SSYP members. We have hired four members, and they all have proven very successful. They are contributing new ideas and approaches to our operations and expect them to be with us for years to come. We know other companies are doing the same.

Besides social and business networking, what are other benefits of membership?

David Robinson: The SSYP is beginning to provide our members with real economic value, such as discount cards at local businesses. We are continuing to create membership benefits for them that have an economic value. It’s also a way to get other companies and restaurants to affiliate with us, so we can drive business their direction.

What are some of the biggest lessons and greatest hopes for your organizations?

Gary Sheehan: We have learned that you don’t have to own it to be successful. We are growing so fast because we are partnering with private companies and more established organizations, especially the chambers. In some parts of the country, chambers may have a young professionals group within it. Here, we are able to collaborate with any and all of the chambers. In our current economy, whether you are a private company or nonprofit, collaboration is critical.

Looking ahead, both the CCYP and SSYP have helped to illuminate issues critical not just our generation, but to the future welfare of every resident. The most apparent issue is retaining young professionals and their families. But the issue goes much deeper – the often structural and historic reasons young people can’t afford to live on Cape Cod – restrictive zoning and regulations that work against affordable housing, for example. That’s why we have developed programs to educate our members as to the importance of Town Meeting, discussed what decisions are made there and even organized ways to help encourage attendance and make the process less intimidating.

How important has social media been to your success?

David Robinson: Social media has had a very strong influence in the growth of our group. Both the SSYP and CCYP utilize Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn on a regular basis. These sites provide us with a very efficient way to keep in close contact with our membership. Because each person gravitates to a particular social media tool, we try to use as many of them as possible.

Michael Robinson: At the same time, it would be an overstatement that young professionals live on their computers. We consistently get at least 100 people to any event. They cherish the opportunity to personally connect. It is by far the best way to develop relationships. Electronic and digital communication solidifies those relationships. ■


Published in Cape & Plymouth Business January 2010