Momentum Aroostook, MMG Insurance, and the University of Maine at Presque Isle are pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the seventh annual Young Professionals Institute, running this year on Tuesdays from March 4 to April 29. The online nomination/application form is available at www.umpi.edu/ypi. The nomination deadline is Monday, Dec. 16.
The Institute provides the area’s young professionals with a one-of-a-kind professional development opportunity—an 8-week 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. Along the way, participants visit local businesses and organizations to complete on-site assignments and hear presentations by embedded guests from the public and private sectors. The Institute culminates in a showcase presentation before area business and community leaders and past YPI graduates.
“Professional development is one of our primary focus areas, so we are excited to once again be a part of the Young Professionals Institute,” Kari Wells-Puckett, Momentum Aroostook steering committee chair, said. “Over the last six years of YPI, we have helped to provide people who are young in their careers with some excellent professional development opportunities. This year is no exception and we look forward to getting a new group of participants on board and an exciting schedule of classes underway.”
The theme of this year’s Institute is Excelling in Times of Change, which will focus on the skills employers are looking for in prospective employees and candidates for advancement—including innovation, organization, communication, team work, problem analysis, and prioritization. Participants will work together to tackle new assignments each week focused on these skills areas.
During the short course, participants will 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 popular component incorporated again this year is an exchange event that will take participants to The Aroostook Medical Center and Cary Medical Center for an extended session on April 8.
“We are so pleased to see YPI enter its seventh year,” said Carolyn Dorsey, UMPI coordinator for the Institute. “The rapidly changing nature of our complex organizations makes this year’s theme, ‘Excelling in Times of Change,’ extremely timely and valuable. The YPI model is a tremendous example of how educators, representatives from the public and private sector, and area residents are collaborating to provide affordable, local professional development opportunities. We are looking forward to another action-packed Institute that will enhance and showcase the talents of area emerging leaders.”
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, Aroostook County Action Program/Healthy Aroostook, The Aroostook Medical Center, Barresi Financial, 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, Maine Centers for Women, Work and Community, McCain Foods, MMG Insurance, NorState Federal Credit Union, Northern Maine Community College, Northern Prosthetics, Rathbun Lumber Company, Ryan’s Heart, S.W. Collins, United Insurance, University of Maine at Presque Isle, and WAGM-TV.
“MMG is pleased to continue its association with YPI again in 2014,” said Matt McHatten, MMG Chief Operating Officer. “We see the program as an important initiative to provide area Young Professionals an opportunity to develop new skills while expanding their peer networks. Both are vital in continuing to retain young professionals in the County and prepare them for future opportunity.”
There are only 14 seats available for YPI 7. Professionals interested in taking the course must submit their name for nomination or have their business employer nominate them. The nomination deadline is Monday, Dec. 16. Selections will be announced Monday, Jan. 27. A $200 registration fee, paid by course participants or their business sponsors, is due by Monday, Feb. 24.
This year’s YPI sessions will be held on March 4, 11, 18 and 25, and April 1, 8, 15, and 29. Most sessions will be held on Tuesdays from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Alumni Room of UMPI’s Campus Center. However, class time will be expanded from 2:30-6 p.m. on April 8 and from 4-7 p.m. on April 29.
For more information about the short course, which is not being offered for academic credit, please visit www.umpi.edu/ypi or contact Linda McLaughlin in UMPI’s College of Professional Programs at 207-768-9740 or e-mail linda.mclaughlin1@maine.edu.
