By JEREMY JOHNSON
Staff writer
The Venango Area Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for the third annual Venango County Young Professional of the Year, according to Chamber director Susan Williams.

Nominees will be invited to attend the FLEX Presents event Friday, March 22, at the Commons at Franklin, where one nominee will be recognized as the Young Professional of the Year. The event is hosted by the Venango Chamber and by the Future Leaders and Entrepreneurs Exchange (FLEX) group.

The deadline for nominations is Wednesday.

Williams said the event has been a success in its first two years — drawing more than 100 in attendance both years — and said she expects the popularity of the event to spill over into this year.

“It calls for celebration,” Williams said. “It’s great to see all the young professionals in the community stepping up and participating in leadership roles. We see them as an asset to the community.”

Williams said the number of nominations doesn’t match the number of young professionals who deserve to be recognized, and said she’s urging community members, employers and even the children of young professionals to step forward with nominees.

“We have young professionals working in the community and walking among us every day without us realizing it,” Williams said.

For more information on the FLEX Presents event or to nominate a young professional, people can visit the Chamber’s website at http://www.venangochamber.com and click the “FLEX” tab, or email flex@venangochamber.org.