Summit challenges young professionals to grow

From left, Adam Veile, 34, of Comminique; Ashley Varner, 33, of Central Missouri Community Action; and Michael Lewis, 28, of Columbia College, listen to a presentation during the 2014 Missouri Young Professional Summit.
From left, Adam Veile, 34, of Comminique; Ashley Varner, 33, of Central Missouri Community Action; and Michael Lewis, 28, of Columbia College, listen to a presentation during the 2014 Missouri Young Professional Summit.

Dozens of youthful representatives of Jefferson City's business community gathered at the Canterbury Hill Winery for the third annual Missouri Young Professional's Summit on Monday morning.

Pastries, coffee and ice tea were served to the "YPs" in a room with a view while they listened to guest speakers talk about topics from entrepreneurship to religious freedoms, and even Tai Chi.

"Today is really about challenging our members to take the next level in their careers, in their personal lives, and to achieve balance as they progress in their career," said Jason Cecil, professional development chair for the Young Professionals. "Our monthly meetings are a little more informational, just to pique their interest and get them thinking. This is different, this is really to help them transform themselves into the leaders of tomorrow."

The attendees also received a warm lunch between the eight scheduled speakers. One of those speakers was Clyde Lear, founder and former owner of Learfield Communications Inc. His segment was titled "Build a team; Grow the Company; and Have Fun." At one point, that was his company's mission statement, he said.

"This is really an interesting event," Lear said. "I spoke with them two or three years ago (at a monthly meeting). I am excited to be here, and it is encouraging for me to see all the bright young people in our community that are in business."

Lear also spoke about failure, or more so failures. Entrepreneurs and people in the business community have many failures, or at least Lear had many before he became as successful as he is today, he said. He continued to explain that failure is discouraging, but not a reason to give up.

"Yes, I failed a lot," Lear said. "The stories of failure are tons of fun to talk about after they're over. Generally, business is tough and people fail, and I have spent lots of time counseling men and women who have not succeeded in business, who have failed. ... They tend to see themselves as failures, and they aren't."

He also spoke about the three largest contributors to who he is - his education, his early career in sales and his spirituality. These factors were weaved into the narrative of Lear's journey from college, to the creation of his business, to selling it, and eventually retiring.

"I love it," said Laura Sigwerth, certified health coach and business owner, about the summit. "I think it is great for us to come together ... I feel like just having this community together is going to be awesome for the Young Professionals. If you want to be inspired by the awesome leaders of Jefferson City and help yourself along with your business this is definitely something to be at next year."

Sigwerth said she was attending to soak up all the knowledge and inspiration that she could from the advice offered by business leaders. The information could possibly help her business life and her personal life, she said.

"Our organization is about the betterment of Jefferson City, and that is what we are here working on today," Cecil said. "We believe the investment of young professionals in our community will lead to a better community in the years going forward, and to develop them and to develop the workforce that our community needs, and to have a place for them to go so that they stay in our community, they build our community, and they improve our community."

The YPs are a part of the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce. They hold their open monthly meetings on the first Thursday of every month at the winery. Anyone interested in joining them can attend a meeting or contact the chamber. For more information, visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/JCMOYP.