Chamber Forms Group for Young Professionals
A new committee of the Tracy Chamber of Commerce aims to help the next generation of professionals become leaders in Tracy.
Young Professionals of Tracy will debut Friday with a launch event at 5:30 p.m. The free gathering at The Grant Bar & Lounge, 2706 Pavillion Parkway, is open to the public to learn about the new group for people ages 21 to 39.
Dan Arriola, 25, a Tracy resident who has a law firm in Stockton, is the founder and chairman.
“My ultimate goal is to bring a sense of community for that demographic,” he said. “I want to expose the city of Tracy to this new blooming generation.”
Arriola graduated from West High School in 2007 and spent seven years in Los Angeles for college and law school at University of Southern California. There, he encountered many organizations that helped and mentored young professionals.
When he returned to Tracy to begin his law career in the valley, he found no similar groups here.
Arriola attended City Council meetings and heard city leaders talking about Tracy’s future, but when he looked at who was participating in the process, “I didn’t see many people my age,” he said.
In August, he approached the Tracy Chamber of Commerce to start the group, he said, and received unanimous support.
“This is a city that is perfect for it,” Arriola said. “Tracy is such a unique city, a gateway to the Bay Area. (It’s a) great way to make your voice heard in the community.”
Young Professionals of Tracy will operate as a committee under the auspices of the Tracy Chamber of Commerce, he said. It is open to professionals 21 to 39 years old — especially the generation known as millennials¬, which he defined as people born in the early 1980s to late 1990s.
Matt Higa, 21, a web designer and marketing consultant who graduated from Tracy High School in 2011, is the committee’s vice chairman.
Their vision is to create a space for young business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals to network, socialize and learn about resources available from the chamber, the city of Tracy and their peers.
Arriola said that the group would meet monthly and feature speakers on topics from business proficiency to marketing and using social media for business. Professional development activities are also planned.
“It will provide a platform so other young professionals can enhance their skills,” Arriola said.
Participation in Young Professionals of Tracy is free to Tracy Chamber of Commerce members. Arriola said that newcomers who want to join the new group are eligible for discounted chamber dues of $100 for their first year. For more information, contact the Tracy Chamber of Commerce at www.tracychamber.org or 835-2131.
Contact Glenn Moore at gmoore@tracypress.com or 830-4252.
