Search Results for: FLEX

Building FLEX Through Strategic Marketing and Collaboration


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By Devin Zagar, President of FLEX

As the president of FLEX, I’m excited to share that we’ve been hard at work developing a marketing plan to grow our organization and better connect with young professionals across Venango County. This initiative is still in progress, but we’ve already begun laying the groundwork to ensure that FLEX continues to reach young professionals in our community.

Each month, our leadership team has been coming together for a marketing strategy meeting. These meetings have been a great opportunity for us to brainstorm ideas and figure out the best ways to reach more young professionals in our community. We’re focusing on creating messaging that resonates with our audience, helping them see the value of FLEX and the support network we provide.

One of the key components of our marketing plan has been conducting a SWOT analysis—evaluating our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. By doing this, we’ve gained a clearer understanding of where FLEX stands in the community and identified areas for growth. This insight has been invaluable in shaping our approach to reach new members and expand our presence.

We’re also working on developing buyer personas—basically, profiles of the types of young professionals we want to attract. These personas will guide us as we craft messages and programs that speak directly to the needs and goals of different members. Whether someone is in a skilled trade or a more traditional office job, we want FLEX to be a place where they can find value and community. 

A big part of our mission is helping people see themselves as professionals, regardless of their job or career path. Many young people, especially those in trades or non-traditional fields, may not always see themselves fitting the typical ‘professional’ mold, but we’re working to change that. FLEX is for anyone who is driven and looking to grow, and we’re striving to create messaging that reflects that inclusivity.

We’re still in the process of building this marketing plan, and there’s plenty of work ahead. But already, these strategy meetings have proven to be incredibly effective at bringing our leadership team and members together. The collaboration has been inspiring, and it’s clear that with a solid plan in place, FLEX will continue to grow and support even more young professionals in the future.

As we move forward, we’re excited to share more about how this plan develops and how we can involve even more people in FLEX. If you’re interested in being a part of this process or learning more about what we’re working on, we’d love to hear from you. There’s a lot of potential here, and we’re eager to see how this strategy will help us take FLEX to the next level.

This article was published in the Future Leaders & Entrepreneurs Exchange’s (FLEX) November 2024 edition of the FLEX Your Ideas (FYI) Newsletter.

Leading with FLEX by Rachel O’Neil


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Are you looking for a way to become more involved in FLEX and are interested in leadership positions?

Now is a great time to reach out and learn more about the 2025 opportunities!

For myself, it’s been an honor to serve on the Events and Fundraising Committee over the past nine years and a wonderful learning and growth experience. Planning events that represent the needs and interests of young professionals is fun and fulfilling, especially when you see individuals interacting and connecting with one another, who may have never met otherwise. FLEX events are planned within a supportive environment and the opportunity to meet and connect with local young professionals who share the same passion for learning, development, and enjoying the Venango area.

If you’re wondering what it means to lead the Events and Fundraising committee, here is an overview: The committee meets monthly and plans the upcoming events, some subcommittees, such as FLEX Presents and Bike & Brew will meet weekly leading up to the large event. And the chair of the E&F committee will meet monthly with other leadership to report on the status of their committee. Other responsibility that are shared by the committee includes, planning events for groups of 5 to 120 people, contacting vendors to reserve locations, food, music, developing the event within a budget and contacting sponsors by engaging with local business, inviting fellow young professionals to attend, and involving other young professions to help plan or help set up/clean up or work the event.

I couldn’t recommend this leadership role enough!

For me it has had a very personal impact. It taught me skills such as: organization, attention to details, preparing and following a budget, communication, inside and outside your team, negotiating skills, and the chance to build and nurture strong relationships.

These skills and connections have benefited me, from my career in accounting, planning my wedding, to starting my own business. And above all that the connection with other young professionals has led to lifelong friendships and personal and professional opportunities that have made it possible for me to thrive here in Venango area!

I feel very strongly that if you are choosing to live somewhere, it is your responsibility to invest in the area and people there, to help those around you flourish and what better vehicle than FLEX, whose sole mission is to support young professionals and advocate for the sustainability of our home here in the Venango region!

This article was published in the Future Leaders & Entrepreneurs Exchange’s (FLEX) October 2024 edition of the FLEX Your Ideas (FYI) Newsletter.

Get Ready for the 2024 FLEX Annual Meeting!


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It’s that time of year again! The FLEX Annual Meeting is just around the corner, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring everyone together to celebrate our successes and map out what’s next. This year’s meeting promises to be both productive and fun, and it’s an event you won’t want to miss!

Join us on Thursday, November 21, at 5:30 p.m. at 237 Seneca Street, the old Karma Coffee building in Oil City. Just like in years past, we’re keeping the evening casual but engaging, with plenty of time for networking over hors d’oeuvres and drinks.

We’ll kick off the evening with a presentation by FLEX leadership, reviewing the highlights and milestones of 2024. From our signature events to professional development opportunities, it’s been a year of growth and collaboration, and we’re excited to celebrate those accomplishments.

We’ll also give into some exciting plans for 2025, covering everything from upcoming events to new initiatives aimed at supporting young professionals. In addition, we’ll be electing new committee chairs and officers who will help lead FLEX into the future.

One of the highlights of the evening will be our FLEX Member Highlight Awards, where we’ll take time to recognize outstanding members for their contributions, leadership, and dedication to making FLEX an incredible community for young professionals. Whether they’ve spearheaded an initiative, mentored others, or made a lasting impact, these individuals deserve to be celebrated.

We’ve prepared an exciting trivia game with questions that will test your knowledge on a range of topics. Whether you’re a trivia master or just love a challenge, there are prizes up for grabs, so bring your A-game and get ready for some friendly competition!

And that’s not all! Need a fresh professional headshot? We’ve got you covered! Attendees can take advantage of a complimentary headshot session—perfect for updating your LinkedIn profile, adding a polished touch to your resume, or simply refreshing your personal brand.

Whether you’re a FLEX member or a young professional looking to get involved, this is your chance to meet like-minded individuals and contribute to a thriving community.

Be sure to RSVP by emailing flex@venangochamber.org or register online.

We can’t wait to see you there!

This article was published in the Future Leaders & Entrepreneurs Exchange’s (FLEX) October 2024 edition of the FLEX Your Ideas (FYI) Newsletter.