By Nancye Tuttle, ntuttle@lowellsun.com
Who: Young Professionals of Greater Lowell, a 350-member group of young professionals, 22-40. Activities: Regular mixers and networking socials, involvement with local nonprofit organizations, scholarship fund, annual speaker's night. Next up: Application deadline for scholarship for local high school seniors is April 17. A Boston Harbor networking cruise sets sail from Rowe's Wharf on Thursday, May 22. Check it out: Membership is open to other young professionals. Visit the Web site at www.ypgl.org for information.
L OWELL -- Chris Dick, Laine Tunnell, Mackenzie Ferguson and Hugh Fitzpatrick put their heads together, coming up with answers to questions like "What movies did Kevin Spacey win the Oscar for?" and "What six Massachusetts towns have women's names?"
The quartet, participating in a fervent round of Trivial Pursuit, joined more than 50 others at a Young Professionals of Greater Lowell networking event on a recent Thursday night at the Brewery Exchange.
Despite the game they played, the pursuits of these smart, high-spirited young men and women, all under 40, are anything but trivial.
Indeed, these are the next generation of movers and shakers in Greater Lowell. They're making their mark in business, education, culture and high tech. And they're using their clout to make Greater Lowell a better place to live and work, especially for other young professionals like themselves.
"Our purpose is twofold -- to network and exchange ideas and also to attract talented young professionals from outside the area and show them Greater Lowell is a great career destination," said YGPL co-founder Matt Fitzpatrick, 37, vice president in investment advisement at Enterprise Bank.
YPGL was created after the 2005 Lowell Plan Annual Breakfast, when two Lowell High seniors promised they'd return to Greater Lowell after college, if the community created an attractive, prosperous environment for young people seeking opportunities.
That challenge spurred Fitzpatrick and Amy Werner of Lowell Five Cent Savings Bank to form the group. Soon, Dick, marketing and business director for Trinity EMS, Pete Lally, assistant general manager of Lowell Memorial Auditorium, and several others got involved.
Today, membership has grown from a half dozen to 350, ages 22 to around 40, who network, socialize and work for the greater good.
"People tell us this is something they've needed. We've come up with events to make people feel proud of working in Greater Lowell," said Lally, 34.
"An important goal is to keep young people here and not moving outside of Massachusetts," said Dick, 35.
Networking is important, but community service is also key.
YPGL hosts an annual speakers event each fall, which raises money for a scholarship fund, which gives money to a graduating boy and girl in Greater Lowell who plans to return to work after college.
Jack Welch, former General Electric CEO, spoke in 2006. The 2007 event featured Bob Froehlich, vice chairman of DSW Scudder. Ed Zander, Motorola chairman and past chairman of Sun Microsystems, will speak on Sept. 10.
Each year, the group adopts a non-profit organization, offering support and volunteers. The first year, it was Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lowell. This year, it's Big Brother/Big Sister.
"We're ready to roll up our sleeves and help out. Most of our assistance is service, since young people don't always have the finances to write big checks. But we can give our time," said Fitzpatrick.
Connections made in the group are important, say members.
"The value is the networking and getting to know people around town with similar goals," said Tom Parrish, 28, executive director of Merrimack Repertory Theater.
"There aren't many opportunities for young people to meet other young people in Greater Lowell. This is a great opportunity to meet people our age and nurture the next generation to become involved," said Ginger Pearson, 28, vice president of marketing for Butler Bank.
Stonehedge Inn general manager Tay Bozkurt, 28, agrees.
"In our day and age, people don't connect, so an organization like this helps. The YPGL builds community and pulls everyone together. And it's not just an organization where people get together, have drinks and leave. The members and board are serious about helping and helping people connect. Only great things can come out of this," said Bozkurt.
"There are always free-flowing ideas, fun and good interaction," said Hugh Fitzpatrick, 37, principal in NE Title, a mortgage company.
The word is spreading about YPGL as well. Since its founding, other groups are in the works or being organized in Boston, Haverhill and Nashua -- and organizers have come to Lowell for advice.
It's exciting, to say the least, said Matt Fitzpatrick.
"We realized we were on to something. Young people want to be proud to be working in greater Lowell and now they are," he said.
This article appeared in the Lowell Sun on Sunday, April 6, 2008