The OYP - Organization of Young Professionals was launched as a division of the BCCEC on May 26, 2011. From left to right are committee members, Ethan Quant, Shannelle Johnson, Valentino Munroe, chairman, Michelle Patterson, division chair, BCCEC, Franon Wilson, director, BCCEC, Rionda Godet and Keshelle Kerr. Photo: Azaleta Ishmael-Newry.

Nassau, Bahamas - Recently on May 26, 2011, the OYP – Organization of Young Professionals, a division of the BCCEC, was launched to approximately 150 young professionals and other guests at the corporate office of Bahamas First and NUA Insurance, two of the sponsors for the launch event.

“The idea of an Organization of Young Professionals, supported by the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC) is a new concept,” said chairman of the OYP, Valentino Munroe. “Some of us, for some time, have thought that The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce has not always kept pace with the changing business community in The Bahamas and this is no longer the case.” Munroe was referring to the revamping and merger of the Chamber and BECon earlier this year and the inclusion of the OYP as one of its divisions.

The BCCEC has established 10 divisions to address the important areas in the business and community sectors as well as in trade and commerce, such as the OYP or the Small Medium Enterprise division. The vision of the OYP is: “To give voice and be an example for young professionals in promoting social and economic awareness and change.” The idea is to have discussions in an environment that facilitates meaningful dialogue in corporate, educational, environmental and social issues and to provide young entrepreneurs with much needed support to become successful in business.

By focusing on Young Professionals, the BCCEC can tap into the benefits they bring to the table such as their mindset and their skillset. Young professionals will also help grow the membership of the BCCEC and they can obtain the benefits of being a Chamber member.

Membership in the OYP is open to young professionals ages 18 to 41 who meet at least one of the following requirements:  Have demonstrated a commitment to personal development through work experience, academics and skill training; is an entrepreneur, or has been employed for 2 to 3 consecutive years. Employers are encouraged to sponsor their workers’ membership fee. Some of the membership benefits include: A business to business expo; educational and global seminars; opportunities to serve on the BCCEC board or executive committees; discounted business insurance; BCCEC Pension Plan, mentorship and a discount program with local businesses.

Bahamas First General Insurance and NUA Insurance sponsored the Launch of the OYP. Executives of The Bahamas OYP Committee, BCCEC, Bahamas First and NUA Insurance at the OYP Launch in May 2011. Front Row, seated from left to right are: Paula Adderley, Chandrice Ferguson, Jacquelyn Gardiner-Smith, Deborah McKinney and Valarie Darville. Standing is Richard Darville. Standing from left to right are: Mark Taylor, Stanford Charlton, Pauline Ward, Glen Ritchie, Warren Rolle, Richard Uriasz, Ethan Quant, Michelle Patterson, Kishelle Kerr, Shannelle Johnson, Rionda Godet, Franon Wilson, Valentino Munroe and Khaalis Rolle. Photo: Azaleta Ishmael-Newry.

Some of the goals of the Organization of Young Professionals include the establishment of a resource center to provide opportunities for information sharing, mentoring, networking, support services for new and existing members and businesses and to create opportunities and accessibility for its members to business leaders and other resources not normally available.

Chamber chairman, Khaalis Rolle believes that “We must collectively come together and be a part of the process and change. As a country we tend to not do things collectively but with the OYP, we must do so. By putting ourselves forward, we will benefit from it.”

Rolle thanked BCCEC board member, Michelle Patterson who was instrumental in making the OYP a reality. Mrs. Patterson is an experienced, strategic, human resource professional with a long-serving career in hospitality and banking and she is also the BCCEC’s division chair of the OYP. Committee members also comprise of Franon Wilson, a director on the board of the BCCEC. The other OYP committee members are Valentino Munroe, Chairman, Rionda Godet, a Lawyer, and entrepreneurs, Ethan Quant, Shanelle Johnson and Keshelle Kerr.

Bahamas First General Insurance and NUA Insurance Agency are two companies who chose to align themselves with the OYP because they share some of the same core values and initiatives and, they recognize the importance of contributing to the development of young professionals.

An entrepreneur in his mid-twenties who attended the OYP rollout was satisfied with what he had learned.  He also mentioned that he had a product that he was launching welcomed input from the Organization of Young Professionals.

For more information on the OYP, please visit www.thebahamaschamber.com/oyp or call 242-322-2145 or send an E-mail to oyp@thebahamaschamber.com