NEWBERG, Ore. — The Young Professionals of Chehalem Valley, a networking organization dedicated to amplifying the work and participation of young professionals in the area, is unveiling a new partnership with the Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce and a renewed mission.
The group formerly known as Young Professionals of Yamhill Valley—also called Young Pros—was founded by Newberg’s Kristen Stoller and McMinnville’s Ossie Bladine. The organization doesn’t have a strict age range or specific qualifications, but President Daniel Roberts said members typically range from recent graduates to those in their early 40s.
“If you identify yourself as a young professional, you’re welcome to come,” Roberts said. “There are some people who are just over 40, but they’ve just started their business and need help navigating new challenges. If someone is entrepreneurial and wants to join, no matter their age, we want them to be part of it.”
Young Pros grew significantly in its early years, eventually operating the Tunes on Tuesday concert series. The group went on hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, which halted much of its momentum and led to a near disbanding.
In 2022, Roberts discovered the group was still technically active and saw its potential for helping business owners build community. He began hosting monthly meetups around town to gauge interest.
“That first meeting, I think three people showed up,” he said. “But with each meeting, more and more people came as word got out.”
In 2024, the organization reestablished its board after being unofficial for the past four years. Roberts said the goal was to create a more formal structure and introduce memberships to help cover operational expenses. To support that, he leveraged his position as an ambassador for the Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce and proposed membership tiers.
Scott Parker, the chamber’s executive director, said the partnership developed organically. Young Pros board members would meet at the chamber office, and Parker would check in to offer support.
“Most chambers I’ve been affiliated with have a ‘young pros’-type program as part of their offerings,” he said. “It just made sense to reestablish that partnership.”
Parker noted that chambers of commerce across the country are seeing aging and retiring membership bases without a strong cohort of young professionals to step in.
“Chambers need to get younger and more nimble,” Parker said. “The Young Pros program is a no-brainer in my opinion. We want the same things: a strong business community and local networking opportunities—things that create a strong community overall. It’s going to be a strong partnership.”
The partnership aims to emphasize the value of professional development and networking as a bridge across generations.
“I think there is an element of mentorship, but also reverse mentorship,” Parker said. “We have a lot of members who are more than willing to share their experiences and advice, but I think it would be interesting to see how Young Pros members support them with their knowledge of social media, AI—other technologies like that.”
Roberts said young entrepreneurs or business owners often feel isolated, especially when working solo. Young Pros, he said, offers a space for shared experience and connection.
“There’s an African proverb that I always think about when I’m talking about networking groups,” he said. “‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’”
The organization introduced three membership tiers: free, low-budget, and combo. The free tier includes basic participation in meetings. The low-budget membership is $50 per year, while the combo membership—which includes both Young Pros and chamber access—is $250 annually. Potential members must attend at least four meetings to qualify for membership.
As part of the transition, the group also rebranded with a new logo and color scheme designed by Marisa Aiken, the organization’s website and newsletter manager and owner of FLEX SEO.
Young Pros is hosting a rebrand launch party today, May 13, at the chamber office from 5:30 to 7 p.m. According to the event description, the evening will follow a traditional Young Pros meeting format, with networking opportunities and a presentation of the group’s new structure and branding.
Learn more at the Young Pros website or on Instagram.
