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Young leaders connect

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Earon Brown
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Members of the Young Professionals of Sumter met with members of the Shaw Air Force Base Company Grade Officers Council at the home of Maj. Gen. Lawrence L. Wells, 9th Air Force commander, June 14.

The event provided young leaders in both the local Sumter and Shaw community the opportunity to meet in a relaxed environment, said the members of the YPS. The social was valuable for networking and also allowed future leaders of the Air Force to establish long-lasting ties with the future leaders of the local community.

"The importance (here) is that we are building relationships," said Wells. "In the future, the young professionals downtown are going to learn to be mayors and senators. They're going to be people who own businesses. Our company grade officers are going to be generals and commanders, and eventually they'll come back together. So, the relationships we're building tonight, I believe, are going to be life-long relationships. "

The YPS is a nonprofit organization whose members are under the age of 45, and come from a wide range of backgrounds and professions.

"The YPS provides a casual atmosphere that allows up-and-coming leaders the opportunity to make new contacts, develop friendships and build connections within their community," said Suzie Kearney, president of the YPS. The organization's primary focus is children in the community. They organize drives for items such as school supplies, pajamas, coats and books, and donate them to local schools, Boys & Girls Clubs and Crosswell Children's Home.

"The people downtown make a huge difference through the churches, the schools and the education system," Wells said. "We tend to focus on the military. We tend to focus on the Base. The downtown folks tend to focus on their businesses, and what's going on politically and economically. And, I think every now and again it's good to forget about that and just get together as friends."

In attendance were board members from the YPS. Prior to dinner, those present were treated to a military working dog and bomb disposal demonstration by the 20th Security Forces Squadron and 20th Civil Engineer Squadron. After the display, guests were able to speak and dine with the Airmen.

"It was interesting to get to know a lot of people from Shaw and learning a little bit more about their careers," said Lisa Baxter, a senior sales manager for the Hilton Americas and secretary of the YPS board. "We're very similar in some areas and different in some. It's very different getting to experience what you guys do on a day-to-day basis and seeing what the military can offer everybody."

"Having that communication between civilians and those who serve in the military is so important in the community," said Jeffrey Thibideau, a physical therapist at Tuomey Rehabilitation Clinic and member of the YPS board. "We have a mutual respect for what everybody does, and it's great to see that intertwine."

The event lasted into the evening, ending after 9 p.m.

"The chance to get together for younger folks is not something we typically do," Wells said. "We tend to meet at a higher level all of the time because we (senior leaders) are used to interacting. Socially, I think it was a huge night."