Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – RISE Springfield is the young professionals networking group of The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, and they are here to help younger professionals in Springfield stay in their hometown to work.

“RISE Springfield is really important,” said Ryan McCrady, CEO, Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance, on the WTAX Morning Newswatch. “A big part of economic development that people don’t usually realize is us helping employers attract and retain talent. We know that when they’re trying to attract talent to their organization, the community or that 3rd place, right? 
Home, work,… what’s your 3rd place? It’s important. So, organizations like RISE Springfield, help support young professionals that come to work at our businesses and our community, help them get acclimated in the community and develop those strong personal bonds. 
And so, RISE Springfield’s an important part of helping economic development.”

Anna Marriott, Marketing Chair for RISE Springfield, explains how she got involved and how it feels starting fresh.

“Starting a career as a young professional is kind of a weird time for everybody. 
Meeting new people, you’re having to reconnect with your city if you’ve moved back from college or if you’re new to the area and RISE is one of those resources that just kind of helps you get started and they’re always there for you as you’re going through the program and as you’re attending events and that’s exactly how I got started with RISE and was just attending an event”

Reed Carlson, RISE member, also explains how it feels and how he got started with RISE.

“I think it’s just…a really good networking opportunity. It’s a lot of intentional networking,” said Carlson. “It can be a little bit scary if you’re going and you’re starting a workplace — you want to go meet people, get involved, but going to these different events, you might not know everyone. The people here at RISE, it’s that younger group. 
You might recognize them. So, it just makes it a lot easier to go and talk to people and just build those networks and just build those relationships.”