Momentum Aroostook, MMG Insurance and the University of Maine at Presque Isle are pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the fifth annual Young Professionals Institute, running this year on Tuesdays from March 6 to April 24. Nomination forms are available at www.umpi.edu/ypi. The nomination deadline is Monday, Feb. 13.
The Institute provides the area’s young professionals with a one-of-a-kind leadership opportunity – a professional development short course designed specifically for emerging leaders looking to refine the skills that will bring them long-term success in their careers. Participants hone their professional skills through hands-on activities, on-the-spot public speaking assignments, and business simulation exercises.
“One of Momentum Aroostook’s primary focus areas is professional development, so we are excited to once again be a part of the Young Professionals Institute,” Scott Violette, Momentum Aroostook steering committee chair, said. “Over the last four years of YPI, we have gained insights that have allowed us to add something new to the program every year and this year is no different. Once again, we will have another great course full of activities for our participants. The Steering Committee looks forward to starting the nomination process, getting the participants on board, and starting the classes.”
This year’s institute will focus on six skills employers are looking for in prospective employees and candidates for advancement – innovation, team work, communication, decision-making, information processing, and prioritization. Participants will work together as a project management team to tackle new assignments each week focused on one of these skills areas. During four classes, participants will head to area businesses and organizations throughout Aroostook County – including MMG Insurance in Presque Isle and Katahdin Trust Company in Houlton – to participate in on-site business simulation exercises.
Participants will learn innovation engineering techniques that help them to generate ideas in new ways, take part in role-playing scenarios that refine their abilities to pitch proposals and deliver presentations, conduct mock interviews that give them experience in working with the media, and network with local officials and statewide leaders. A special component of the Institute this year is a half-day Exchange event that starts at The Aroostook Medical Center and ends at Cary Medical Center. The event will provide participants with the opportunity to network with area young professionals, and give a short presentation on what they’ve learned to business leaders from throughout the region.
“We are so pleased to see the Young Professionals Institute enter its fifth year of providing leadership development opportunities to our region’s emerging leaders, and are looking forward to offering those selected for this year’s Institute an action-packed course,” UMPI President Don Zillman said. “Our overarching goal is to further connect and strengthen one of the County’s greatest assets – its young professional community.”
The Institute will be facilitated by University officials, members of Momentum Aroostook, several local business and community leaders, and the graduates of past Young Professionals Institutes. Previous sponsors of YPI participants include Acadia Health Education Coalition, ACE Rent-A-Car, The Aroostook Medical Center, Cary Medical Center, The County Federal Credit Union, DFAS-Limestone, Dunleavy Law Offices, F.A. Peabody Co., Farm Credit of Maine, Katahdin Trust Company, K-Pel Industrial Services, Inc., Loring Job Corps Center, Northern Prosthetics, Maine Centers for Women, Work and Community, MMG Insurance, Ryan’s Heart, United Insurance, University of Maine at Presque Isle, and WAGM-TV.
“MMG is looking forward to its involvement in YPI 5 both in terms of our corporate support and the participation of several of our young professionals,” said Matt McHatten, MMG Chief Operating Officer. “We continue to be highly supportive of YPI’s experience-based learning curriculum and its ability to positively influence the County’s future leaders. The new component of business simulation exercises combined with the continued themes ranging from project management to public speaking will definitely take the YPI experience to another level.”
There are only 12 seats available for YPI 5. Young professionals interested in taking the course must submit their name for nomination or have their business employer nominate them. The nomination deadline is Monday, Feb. 13. Selections will be announced Monday, Feb. 20. A $150 registration fee, paid by course participants or their business sponsors, is due by Monday, March 5.
This year’s YPI sessions will be held on March 6, 13, 20 and 27, and April 3, 10, 17, and 24. Most sessions will be held on Tuesdays from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Alumni Room of UMPI’s Campus Center. However, times will differ during three Tuesday sessions. On March 27, the class will travel to Houlton; class time will be 3:30-6:30 p.m. On April 10, the class will take part in the half-day Exchange event; class time will be 12:45-6:30 p.m. On April 24, the class will host its final presentation; class time will be 4-7 p.m.
For more information about the short course, which is not being offered for academic credit, contact Linda McLaughlin in UMPI’s College of Professional Programs at 207-768-9740 or e-mail linda.mclaughlin1@maine.edu.
