SWEETWATER COUNTY – On Tuesday, Governor Matt Mead met with the board and a few other members of YAP, the Young and Professional group of Sweetwater County. The private event was hosted at Coyote Creek Steakhouse.
During the meeting, members of YAP briefed the Governor on the group’s mission, vision, and their community activities over the past two years.
Board member and one of the YAP founders, Gary Collins (Memorial Hospital), explained that YAP was created as a way for young professionals to make connections, network, help out in the community and grow professionally. YAP membership is open to individuals ages 21 to 39 and is in partnership with the Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce.
With the Wyoming Grown Program making headlines recently it was quickly brought up that the two programs could be mutually beneficial.
The Wyoming Grown Program focuses on reversing the drain of talented Wyomingites who leave the state to advance their careers. Collins pointed out, “You can use Wyoming Grown to bring these professionals back to the area and with YAP we can network them in hopes that they’ll stay longer, raise their families and grow roots back into the community.”
The average age in Sweetwater County is 31.5 years.
Industry and employers have reported that retaining young workers they recruit is a challenge because many are from outside the area and often don’t feel a sense of community, have trouble making local connections or just dislike the harsh Wyoming weather.
During the discussion YAP members and the Governor agreed that while the Wyoming Grown Program is key to recruiting qualified employees the YAP program is a great way to help keep newly recruited workers.
Mead said that the impact that the two programs can have makes them vital for the economy.
Mead offered to help spread the YAP concept statewide. He suggested that the Sweetwater County YAP begin the process by contacting Chambers of Commerce and other organizations across the state that could help form new YAP style groups. He spoke highly of the civic duties that YAP has contributed over the last few years and mentioned that he’d be happy to host them at the Governor’s Mansion if they can figure out how to get other communities in Wyoming involved.
YAP Board and members present were: Kris Clark, Ken Fortuna, Amanda Stearns, Johno Green, Gary Collins, Cody Pierpoint, Tyler Flom, Alexie Pitsch, Barbara Connell, Becky Gressette, Ben Johnson and Jessica Troemner
