Young Professionals

The Young Professionals of the Chippewa Valley is a personal and professional development program of the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Chippewa Falls Chamber of Commerce. Our organization encourages young leaders in our community to engage socially, swap ideas and strategies, and share common interests. Members of YP have many opportunities to grow personally and professionally through the many activities and events held throughout the year. The Young Professionals of the Chippewa Valley began to make a strong impact in September of 2003 and continues to do so today!

Join Us! Follow This Link To Our YP Membership Application

Membership

Membership in the Young Professionals of the Chippewa Valley (YPCV) is open to anyone between the ages of 21 and 41. Membership is discounted for professionals that work for a business or organization that is a member of the Eau Claire or Chippewa Falls Chamber of Commerce. We have members from all different professions including: accountants, bankers, event planners, financial representatives, teachers, students, chiropractors, real estate agents, university professionals & many more.

Annual Membership Cost

$25.00 (full-time student over the age of 21, please include copy of student ID with application, if you pay the student rate you will be listed as a student, not under your business)
$50.00 (Employer is a member of the Eau Claire Chamber or Chippewa Falls Chamber)
$105.00 (Employer is not a member of the Eau Claire Chamber or Chippewa Falls Chamber)

Members will be invoiced for renewal a year from their individual start date.

Become a Member

Follow the join button at the top of this webpage to officially become a Young Professionals Member!
If you have additional questions - please contact Kaitlyn Molis.

Mission & Values

Events

View YP Events Here!

YPCV holds one to three events each month. There are NO meetings, only events! You are not required to attend a certain number of events. The freedom is there for you to choose events that appeal to you the most.

Once you become a member of YPCV, you will receive weekly emails from the Chamber notifying you of events & opportunities.

In a rotation, each event falls under one of three categories:

Professional Development

Beer with a Boss Series
Commercial Construction Tours
Educational Sessions

Community Involvement

Phoenix Park Clean Ups
Sponsor a Family Holiday Shopping Night
Event Volunteering

Networking

Morning Mingles
Happy Hours
YP Mentorship Program

Signature YP Events

Bean Bag Tournament
Caddie Shack Scramble
Extravaganza

What Participants Will Gain

Strong Networks
YPCV members have multiple chances throughout the year to connect with peers, community leaders, and local businesses through events, volunteer projects, and happy hours—building valuable relationships that support both your career and personal growth.

Ongoing Professional Development
YPCV members can attend workshops, speaker panels, and educational series events throughout the year. Whether you’re climbing the ladder or exploring new paths, YPCV helps you sharpen your skills and grow with purpose.

Meaningful Community Involvement
YPCV members have multiple opportunities to make an impact locally through volunteering with service projects and community events. YPCV helps you become a more active, informed, and engaged member of the Chippewa Valley.

Valuable Mentorship
New and current members can learn from those who’ve been there through the YP Mentorship Program. By being paired with a more established YP member, you can tap into the experience of a member who is ready to share guidance, insights, and encouragement as you navigate your career journey.

Increased Connection & Belonging
From casual gatherings to group outings, YPCV events make it easy to meet new people and feel connected —especially if you're new to the area or looking to expand your circle. The YPCV program can help you get plugged into the community and call it home.

What Employers Will Gain

Expanded Professional Network for Your Business
Employee involvement builds new connections with local leaders, businesses, and organizations—helping your company stay plugged into the community and uncover new partnerships or opportunities.

Continuous Skill Development
Employees participate in workshops and leadership programs that enhance communication, teamwork, project management, and problem-solving—bringing stronger skills back to your workplace.

Strengthened Community Presence
Through volunteerism and engagement, your business gains visibility and reputation as an invested community partner. It’s a great way to show your commitment to the region.

Enhanced Leadership Pipeline
Involvement in YP builds confidence and leadership capabilities in rising talent, helping you develop future managers and decision-makers from within your own organization.

Increased Employee Retention & Satisfaction
YP helps individuals feel connected, supported, and valued—especially younger professionals looking for purpose and growth. That leads to stronger loyalty and reduced turnover.

Young Professionals Board

The Young Professionals of the Chippewa Valley board members attend bi-monthly meetings and a minimum of six events each year. They are very dedicated volunteers who are committed to the success of Young Professionals.

The board will only accept one person from each business in an effort to keep the YP leadership diverse. Preference will be given to Chamber members, but a non-Chamber member/YPCV member will be considered. The board reviews applications in the fall of each year and fills open positions based on a calendar year schedule. No more than 24 individuals will serve on the board. The YPCV Director and Chippewa Falls Chamber Liason are represented on the board as well.

The following are considered when selecting new members: time in Young Professionals, how active they are in the group, company, job, reason they want to be on the board, and what they will bring to the organization's leadership.

YP Board Members 2025

Jacob Bauer, Security Financial Bank
Josh Beaudette, Oakwood Bank
Hannah Connor, Chippewa Valley Technical College
Hannah Cowan, Trust Point
Brendan Dooley, Midwest Select Insurance Group
Addie Erdmann, Eau Claire Community Humane Association
Jason Faanes, Wipfli LLP
Mike Farrow, Northwestern Bank
Lindsay Fedie, Bauman Associates
Brad Hansen, The Phoenix Taproom & Kitchen
Isabella Hong,
Tristan Holtman, Chippewa Valley Real Estate
Morgan Jaeger, Union Home Mortgage
Dustin Johnston, Northwestern Mutual
Max Kaiser, Banbury Place / Cigan Properties
Cory Knutson, Huebsch Services
Thomas Ramsey, Ayres Associates
Courtney Ricci, Royal Credit Union
Kyle Standen, Wendel
Zac Scherr, Superior Choice Credit Union
Jen Sonnentag, Market & Johnson
Taylor Wilkins, Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association
Blake Wilson, Century 21

Young Professionals Committees

Any YP Member is welcome to join one of our committees - please contact Kaitlyn Molis if interested in getting involved further. All committee chairs are members of the YP Board & report back all committee outcomes.

YP PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Chair: Kyle Standen, Wendel

Purpose: Through educational opportunities, this committee will enhance the growth, both professionally and personally for our YP membership.

Goals:

Create innovative ideas to enhance professional development
Education & Diversity of offerings
Event affordability / accessibility (time & location offerings)
Be accountable to the YP Professional Development budget

YP EXTRAVAGANZA COMMITTEE

Co-Chairs: Hannah Cowan, Trust Point & Jen Sonnentag, Market & Johnson

Mission: Provide feedback & generate ideas for the YP Annual Meeting to make the event a success.

Goals: Execute YP Extravaganza typically in December (door prizes, sponsors, setup, take down, awards) & help event to be successful.

YP TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE

Chair: Jason Faanes, Wipfli

Mission: Executing both the YP Bean Bag Tournament (February) & YP Golf Outing (June)

Goals: Assist in executing major YP competitive events / tournaments (door prizes, sponsors, setup, take down) & help both events to be successful.