Members Sworn Into Overton Chamber’s New Young Professional Program

The new Chamber Young Professional Program represents the future of Overton County.

That is according to Highlands Economic Development’s Stephen Crook, one of the speakers at Thursday’s Annual Chamber Meeting. Young members were sworn in at the end of Thursday’s meeting as were new members of the Chamber Board of Directors.

“For small communities across America, getting older is a challenge,” Crook said. “Losing that intellectual talent is a challenge. Each of you can probably point to a young professional that you would have liked to seen stay in this community that found opportunities else where.”

Crook said Overton County is one step ahead of many other communities by launching the program to get young people involved.

“You as a leadership group of the chamber of commerce have acknowledged the need to place an emphasis on opening up your table and listening to other voices,” Crook said. “You sought out the opportunity to get those young, talented individuals promoted and on the forefront of challenges and issues, and you’re putting your weight behind them.”

Crook said the program will provide young talent the opportunity to network, develop and seek jobs to keep them in the community. Crook said the young professionals and other chamber members now need to work together to bring the community forward.

“You need to come with challenges, but you need to come with solutions,” Crook said. “You need to come with ideas, but you need to come with more than one. You need to make sure you are putting your weight behind this organization. Holding them accountable with the goals that you set, but also, reinforcing them and reminding them that you are behind them.”