& AMBASSADORS Young Professionals

The Northeast Louisiana Young Professionals has evolved into more than a program to meet and greet, it has been an organization with purpose. NELAYP began in 2012 as a Monroe Chamber of Commerce program with a mission to provide a resource for young professionals through the state’s northeast region to form a network across industries, grow in professional development, and engage deeper in the communities they live.

The NELA Young Professionals Chairperson, Patience Talley, has led the group since the Fall of 2021 and is proud to lead the organization into its next decade of impacting lives.

“To think this organization has been inspiring and informing young professionals for 10 years is a testament to the value and need of it,” Talley said. “Many of us have climbed our career ladders through the information we’ve learned in these meetings and the relationships we’ve developed.”

Talley said many young professionals join the group in an entry-level position but have seen and can attest that Young Professionals is a catalyst to developing leaders in careers and in the community.

Co-Owner of Etheridge Pipeline & Conduit Caleb Etheridge said that the Young Professionals is a “monthly dose of what I need as a young entrepreneur.”

“The opportunity to feed off the group’s energy, hear other’s stories and collaborate with like-minded young business leaders keeps my fire stoked as I stay reminded that there are others like me, striving to make a difference in our community,” Etheridge said.

On the second Tuesday of each month, NELA Young Professionals meets to share a meal, discuss events around the community, and listen to a speaker who is able to reinforce the goals of the individual and the organization as a whole. The speakers and topics of discussion range from elected officials, to entrepreneurship, career development, understanding non-profit organizations in the community, and more.

Additionally, we would like to send a special thank you to all of our speakers in 2022: WrldNVision; Activate Your VSN, Vitus Shell; Louisianan of the Year – Art, Local non-profits; How to get plugged in – Volunteer, Dr. Wendi Tostenson; Making Workforce Development Work, Cassie Livingston and Laura Clark; Buiding & Sustaining Relationships in Business, Scott McDonald; Inside ULM Athletics, Dr. John Sutherlin; Regulations & Refer. The Politics of Marijuana, Dr. Angela Crumpton; Mastering Communication & Conflict Management, Liz Pyle, Branding Archetypes.

Ambassadors

Our Ambassadors are tremendous advocates for the Chamber and our community. Dedicated and enthusiastic, these community champions meet monthly to celebrate our chamber and to learn about the great things happening. They also are the force behind our ribbon cuttings and ground breakings. In January our Ambassadors delivered our “Inside the Chamber” magazine to our members and every December they pack food boxes at the Food Bank. A shout out to Bob D'Avignon, Scout Executive, Louisiana Purchase Council, for being chosen as Ambassador of the Year. Luncheon Speakers in 2022 included Dr. Wendi Tostenson (La. Delta Community College)-Workforce, Beverly Lewis-Healthcare (Ochsners LSU Monroe), Lamont Windom (Etheridge Pipeline & Conduit)Diversity , DJ Fortenberry (City of Monroe), Downtown Monroe, Jasmyne McConnell (Cajun Title), Small Business & Membership, Kirsten Gladen (Catholic Charities) , Nonprofits and our Ambassadors participated in the Governor's Lunch.