By Joey McWilliams
If you consider yourself to be a professional, or just professional, there is a local group that might be just right for you.
The Durant Young Professionals has a meeting upcoming and those who fall into that (or those) categories are invited.
The DYP will next meet on Thursday, Apr. 12, at Bubba’s Brewhouse at 9125 U.S. Highway 70 west of Durant.
This year’s DYP president, Sierra Kovash, said people who consider themselves professional in any way can come and that she is hoping for a lot of people to turn out.
“We rotate between just straight networking and fun events to more professional development events,” Kovash said. “That was kind of the theme I wanted to work with this year, my presidential year, because I think that helps with membership. It keeps everybody going – they don’t get bored. They don’t just think it’s a waste of their time because as professionals, we want to continue to develop ourselves.”
She said this event is a fun one.
“It is a Throwback Thursday event and it has a dress code. That means that there is a budget of $15 for your whole outfit – top to bottom. Your outfit must be new to you. So we would encourage you to shop at Chamber-owned businesses – likely Goodwill. We’re going to have a competition for best-dressed and worst-dressed. And I have scoped it out and know that you can get shirt, pants and shoes at Goodwill for $15.”
The stated mission of the group is to attract and retain young talent in the Durant while also establishing Durant’s next generation of business and community leaders.
“Our demographic is from 20- to 40-year-olds, but we welcome anybody who is wanting to come or is young at heart,” Kovash said. “This is a group is for people who want to engage and have reached that next step in their lives. They want to engage with peers who are moving and shaking and who are doing good things. People who want to better themselves and engage and volunteer and learn more about life.
“Especially for new people in the community, it’s a good way for them to get to know people their age and a lot of times learn something along the way.
“Really, anybody can come. If you consider yourself a professional of any manner. I’m a realtor, we have bankers – and a banker can be a bank teller or a loan officer – we have plumbers… If you work a trade or if you have a job, and if your job entails being your own boss – that is what that means.”
More information about the group can be found on its Facebook page – search for Durant Young Professionals – and at durantchamber.org. The meetings take place every second Thursday of the month at different locations.
