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| | About Us | | |
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| | The catalyst for the formation of Young Professionals of Greater Lowell was the 2005 Lowell Plan Annual Breakfast. Beth Regan and Jen Kinkade, two Lowell High School seniors, issued a challenge to the crowd comprised of business and community leaders. They remarked that after college, they would strive to return to Greater Lowell to pursue their professional careers if the business community would continue its effort to create an attractive and prosperous environment for young people seeking opportunity. This challenge launched YPGL.
The mission of Young Professionals of Greater Lowell is two fold:
- First - to position Greater Lowell as an alluring career destination-alternative to Boston or Rt. 128; targeting not only area natives, but also showcasing Lowell to potential new business leaders from outside the region.
- Second – to provide a networking forum for existing young people working in Greater Lowell in the areas of business, education, non-profits as well as government.
The Young Professionals of Greater Lowell adopts a nonprofit every calendar year and also gives two annual scholarships to assist in the post-secondary education of students who graduate from the Greater Lowell Area Schools.
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| | Nonprofit Organizations We Work With | | |
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| | The Young Professionals of Greater Lowell adopts a nonprofit every calendar year. We support our Nonprofit of the Year by volunteering at the organization, sponsoring and attending major events and providing support as fit. Girls Inc. (http://www.girlsinclowell.org/)
All of us at Girls Inc. were thrilled when the Young Professionals chose us as their charity organization for 2009. They were a great asset and infused our special events with enormous enthusiasm. Their members helped with mailings, soliciting auction items for our Holiday Party, recruiting new attendees, and raising funds for a sponsorship of our 16th Celebration of Today’s Woman. We miss them but are ever grateful for the new relationships we formed and for the positive visibility they gave us.
Merrimack Valley Food Bank (http://www.mvfb.org/)
We at the Merrimack Valley Food Bank are pleased to partner with the YPGL. The group is led by a talented group of community members who truly care about people from all walks of life in our region. In 2010 the Food Bank was the proud beneficiary of YPGL activities and donations of food, event sponsorships and was able to establish valuable relationships with its members and the businesses they represent. The YPGL provides professional and social enrichment, while helping our neighbors. – Amy Pessia, Merrimack Valley Food Bank Executive Director
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Lowell (http://www.bbbslowell.org/)
We were lucky enough to have the Young Professionals of Greater Lowell choose Big Brothers Big Sisters as their charity of the year. The group was wonderful! They brought a lot of great energy to our events, and helped with our two largest fundraisers of the year. Members helped get auction items and sold tickets to our Comedy Night. For our golf event, they created fabulous snack bags for golfers and even helped things run smoothly the day of the event. We are thankful for all their hard work and the connections we made as a result of YPGL. – Abby Tourville, Big Brothers Big Sisters Program Director
Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lowell (http://www.lbgc.org/) | | |
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| | Board of Directors | | |
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| | The Young Professionals of Greater Lowell is comprised of many successful professionals who have roots in the Lowell area. Their hard work, ambition, and commitment to the younger professionals of the Lowell area is evident on a daily basis. Here are the Executive Committee members: | | |
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| |  | | Jamie O'Hearn Jamie is a lifelong resident of Lowell who serves as a Financial Consultant for Enterprise Bank. Jamie is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts: Amherst where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. Outside of YPGL, Jamie serves as Treasurer for the Center City Committee, volunteers on various non-profit projects and enjoys tennis, golf and skiing. |
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| |  | | Danielle Bergeron Danielle Bergeron is the President and CEO of the Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce and a lifelong Lowell resident. Danielle received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Westfield State College and a Master of Arts in Community Social Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She also serves on the boards of the Merrimack Valley Food Bank as their Secretary, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Lowell and the Salvation Army as their Public Relations Committee Chair. You can listen to Danielle on her radio show "Business Lunch" on 980 WCAP every Thursday from Noon-1pm. |
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| |  | | Craig MacKenzie Craig is currently the Senior Vice President of Financial Systems for The Lowell Five Cent Savings Bank. Craig is originally from Chelmsford and currently resides in Lowell. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Syracuse University, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Craig also serves on the Board of Directors and Finance Committee for The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lowell. |
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| |  | | Heather Makrez Heather is a lifelong Lowell resident and is the Associate Director of Alumni Relations at UMass Lowell. She oversees a great community of alumni at events, in the community and through social networks. Her academic and professional background has a focus on the importance of international education. Heather received her Bachelor’s in History and her Master’s degree in Regional Economic and Social Development at UMass Lowell. She is actively involved in local politics and community non-profits.
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| | | | Michael McAuliffe Michael lives in Billerica and currently holds the position of Revenue Cycle Assistant at Lowell General Hospital. He is responsible for helping manage projects throughout the Revenue Cycle as well as generating and distributing financial reports. Michael is a graduate of Suffolk University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Outside of the YPGL, his favorite hobby is golf. |
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| | | | Kevin Zipps Kevin Zipps is the Consumer Loan Manager at Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union. He is currently working toward a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Banking and Finance concentration at the New England College of Business and Finance. He also serves on the board of the A.M.S.I. Foundation. Kevin also volunteers as a Big Brother through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Lowell. In his spare time he plays golf poorly and is an assistant coach for the 13U New England Nor’easters baseball team.
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| | | | Bryan Shanley Bryan Shanley is Executive Vice President at Pridestar EMS. Bryan is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. He received his MBA from Franklin Pierce University. Bryan sits on the Board of Director for the March of Dimes and is active in numerous other charitable and non profit-organizations. He resides in Lowell. |
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| | | | Shawn Cote Shawn is Manager of Corporate Partnerships for Lowell General Hospital where he combines business relationships with community involvement and health. A native of Auburn, Maine, he holds a BS in Sports Marketing from Thomas College. He’s an Army National Guard veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003-2005). Shawn came to Lowell in 2006 as Manager of Corporate Partnerships for the Lowell Devils hockey organization. He joined Lowell General in 2010. He enjoys playing pick-up hockey, snowboarding and golfing. |
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