More than a network: Young Professionals of Wabash County

This story was created in partnership with Visit Wabash County.
When young professionals are preparing to enter the workforce, they’re often looking for a place where they can live, work, and plant roots for good. If you ask Wabash residents and community leaders, Wabash County is just that place. 

Jana Thibos, 29, is originally from the neighboring Miami County. After attending Manchester University and working at Honeywell Arts and Entertainment and the Wabash County YMCA, she fell in love with Wabash County. Now, in her professional roles, she gets to help showcase what makes this community great for living, working, playing, and planting roots for young people.

As the investor services and event project manager at Grow Wabash County, the countywide nonprofit chamber of commerce and economic development group, Thibos focuses on the investor and member side of things, working closely with over 230 members — both individuals and organizations.

She’s also the chair of the board for the Young Professionals of Wabash County, which operates under Grow Wabash County. The young professionals group meets at least twice a month, encouraging individuals aged 19-40 to become more involved in their communities and engage in professional development, as well as volunteer work. 

Thibos says that “small town living” is one of the benefits of Wabash versus a larger city like Chicago or Indianapolis. It’s the accessibility and trustworthiness of next-door neighbors who are always eager and willing to help or provide assistance. Whether it’s the Young Professionals of Wabash County group rallying on a weekend to help a fellow member move or paint their new house, the group is both social, supportive, and dependable. 

Young Professionals of Wabash County meet at the Market Street Grill for a networking lunch.As Wabash County looks to address its population decline due to an aging demographic, networking groups encouraging and uplifting young professionals and the next generation of the workforce are crucial. Although Young Professionals of Wabash County members eventually grow or phase out of the group, Thibos says it’s all part of the cycle. It constantly evolves, but the mission remains the same — fostering connections and opportunities to grow and flourish in Wabash County. 

The member-driven organization does not currently require annual dues, and many of its events are free. They’re also typically kid-friendly, so members don’t have to find a babysitter, working around busy family schedules. 

Partnering with local organizations and leaders, Young Professionals of Wabash County hosts events such as a Lunch and Learn series, Brunch and Ballots events, blood drives, and river cleanups. 

A Lunch & Learn with Jennifer Meyer, where Young Professionals learned about home loans and purchasing a home.“We’ve also worked with a plethora of other non-profit organizations in Wabash County and outside of Wabash County — whether that be education, philanthropic, or social. Those are the three main pillars we focus on,” Thibos explains. 

Not only do these types of events help young professionals early in their careers explore their community and feel more invested in it, but they can also have a positive impact on their community, too. Just because a person is young and new to an area does not mean they can’t have a stake in their surroundings.

“We want to be an organization that actually makes an impact and has a purpose,” Thibos adds.

Kristen Petruniw is the executive director of Bash Bags, formerly known as Blessings in a Backpack, an organization that provides nutritional meals for food-insecure students in Wabash County every weekend during the school year. Young Professionals of Wabash County is just one of the many volunteering partners that donate their time to this cause each year.

“They come once a month, and during that time, they’ll go through the line, pack all the bags that get sorted out for the schools and delivered to the students,” she says. “We provide eight to nine items each weekend: two hot meals, two breakfast items, some snacks, and a fruit every weekend.”

Young Professionals volunteer to pack Bash Bags.
Petruniw came to Wabash from Indianapolis and appreciates organizations like Young Professionals of Wabash County for enabling people to make friends, meet potential employers or colleagues, and become a part of their community. 

“I think this young professionals group is good because it shows you many different ways to be involved, so you can find your niche or what you’re most passionate about,” she says. “We’re thankful to them for volunteering. They have a great group of people that help, and we appreciate that.”

As the experience manager at Visit Wabash County, part of Stephanie Rogers' job is to connect people to the community and to places, events, and activities they can enjoy in Wabash County. 

Rogers reached out to Young Professionals of Wabash County through her role with the Liking for Biking, a free health and wellness program that encourages residents to get outside, socialize with other riders and ride a bicycle for an hour each week. Together, the organizations hosted a social bike ride to Lagro, using rental bikes from a nearby outdoor outfitter.

“Young professionals could rent a bike from Alley Cat Outfitters, and ride the Wabash River Trail right to the heart of Lagro, which is about 7.5 miles, and then stop at a restaurant along the river trail, called the 950 Speakeasy, enjoy dinner, and then ride back,” Rogers explains.

A group photo from Wabash River Trail Ride.Just because the word professional is in the name of the group, doesn’t mean the Young Professionals of Wabash County is all about work, and no play. They recognize the importance of a healthy work-life balance, as well as showcasing some of Wabash County’s great assets — recreation and natural resources. 
 
“It’s proven when people have access to health and wellness options, they are healthier and happier,” Rogers says. “We know that just being outside can help reduce burnout. Most people’s jobs are inside, so having an excuse or reason to be outside with purpose helps with that as well. It’s kind of socializing with purpose, moving your body and getting active.”

Although it is a high priority for many young professionals entering the workforce, Rogers says the cost of living isn’t the only factor they’re looking at when choosing their first career or next home.

“They’re also considering what their day-to-day life is going to look like in this community,” she says. “We want to paint this picture where Wabash County is an attractive option, and we do have a lot of ways to connect with each other. We’re not a huge city like Indianapolis, where you could get lost in a bigger city.”

Rogers moved from Indianapolis to Wabash County eight years ago, commuting an hour to and from work. She quickly realized how valuable that time was. It was the right move for her, and it’s a great next step for many other professionals, too, she says.

“I got two hours back simply by living in our community,” she says. “If you want to get connected and start building relationships, it’s easier in our community because we’re close-knit. You can see the ripple effects here in Wabash when you start getting connected and climbing that ladder. It’s just more visible and easier access here.”

To learn more about Young Professionals of Wabash County, follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

This story was created in partnership with Visit Wabash County.

Read more articles by Sarah Spohn.

Sarah Spohn is a Michigan native, but every day finds a new interesting person, place, or thing in towns all over the Midwest. She received her degrees in journalism and professional communications and provides coverage for various publications locally, regionally, and nationally — writing stories on small businesses, arts and culture, nonprofits, and community.
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