Meet the Class of 2019!
ABILENE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
ABOUT ABILENE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
CONNECT
Make personal and professional connections with other like-minded Young Professionals.
DEVELOP
Help develop your Abilene community to be a better place to live, work and play.
GROW
Optimize your job growth by obtaining key skills and knowledge needed to advance your career.
AYP is led by young professionals to attract, retain and engage other young professionals. We are a program of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce dedicated to helping establish a young professional community in the Big Country.
Questions? Visit our FAQ page.
PROGRAMS
ABICHAT
A quarterly luncheon that focuses on forced networking and professional development. Spaces are limited and available to members and nonmembers.
GET ON BOARD
A program that helps match highly motivated AYP members with open board positions throughout the Big Country.
AYP LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
A half-day leadership event that happens once a year to help you grow professionally and personally.
CAMPUS CONNECT
A program geared toward retaining college students to the Abilene area by showing them what it’s like to live, work and play in the Big Country.
20UNDER 40
Individually, they carry impressive records. Together, they demonstrate the promising future of the Big Country.
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OUR SPONSORS
Silver Sponsors
Taylor Electric Cooperative, Inc. | Abilene Christian University | Reed Beverage - Abilene
Lawrence Hall - Abilene | Perkins Insurance | Key Appraisal Group | McMahon Surovik Suttle, P.C.
If you're interested in sponsoring Abilene Young Professionals, please contact Laurin at laurin@abilenechamber.com or at 325-677-7241.
AYP HISTORY
2013
In 2013, a Task Force was formed under Chamber leadership Gary Grubbs (ABI/Advantage Media) to create a Steering Committee to help attract, retain and engage young professionals in the Abilene community.
2014
AYP hosts a launch party at Frontier Texas! that reaches over 400 young professionals in the Big Country. A website is developed and social media channels are in place.
Chair: Chris Evatt, First Financial Bank
2015
AYP begins hosting monthly networking events and gathering members. AYP reaches 200 members.
Chair: Chris Evatt, First Financial Bank
2016
AYP launches a nonprofit initiative called Get on Board and a workforce initiative called Campus Connect.
Chair: Alex Russell, Oddly Natural
2017
AYP reaches 500 members. A community art initiative called Key City Keys is formed and AYP places its first piano downtown Abilene.
2018
AYP plans and executes its inaugural AYP Leadership Summit and hosts a Non-profit Fair.
Chair: Marshall Morris, First Financial Bank
2020
AYP begins offering the community quarterly luncheons and executes its second Leadership Summit with over 300 young professionals in attendance.
Chair: Megan Dobbs, Community Foundation of Abilene
UPCOMING EVENTS
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OUR SPONSORS
Silver Sponsors
Taylor Electric Cooperative, Inc. | Abilene Christian University | Reed Beverage - Abilene
Lawrence Hall - Abilene | Perkins Insurance | Key Appraisal Group | McMahon Surovik Suttle, P.C.
If you're interested in sponsoring Abilene Young Professionals, please contact Laurin at laurin@abilenechamber.com or at 325-677-7241.
AYP HISTORY
2013
In 2013, a Task Force was formed under Chamber leadership Gary Grubbs (ABI/Advantage Media) to create a Steering Committee to help attract, retain and engage young professionals in the Abilene community.
2014
AYP hosts a launch party at Frontier Texas! that reaches over 400 young professionals in the Big Country. A website is developed and social media channels are in place.
Chair: Chris Evatt, First Financial Bank
2015
AYP begins hosting monthly networking events and gathering members. AYP reaches 200 members.
Chair: Chris Evatt, First Financial Bank
2016
AYP launches a nonprofit initiative called Get on Board and a workforce initiative called Campus Connect.
Chair: Alex Russell, Oddly Natural
2017
AYP reaches 500 members. A community art initiative called Key City Keys is formed and AYP places its first piano downtown Abilene.
2018
AYP plans and executes its inaugural AYP Leadership Summit and hosts a Non-profit Fair.
Chair: Marshall Morris, First Financial Bank
2020
AYP begins offering the community quarterly luncheons and executes its second Leadership Summit with over 300 young professionals in attendance.
Chair: Megan Dobbs, Community Foundation of Abilene
UPCOMING EVENTS
OUR SPONSORS
Silver Sponsors
Taylor Electric Cooperative, Inc. | Abilene Christian University | Reed Beverage - Abilene
Lawrence Hall - Abilene | Perkins Insurance | Key Appraisal Group | McMahon Surovik Suttle, P.C.
If you're interested in sponsoring Abilene Young Professionals, please contact Laurin at laurin@abilenechamber.com or at 325-677-7241.
AYP HISTORY
2013
In 2013, a Task Force was formed under Chamber leadership Gary Grubbs (ABI/Advantage Media) to create a Steering Committee to help attract, retain and engage young professionals in the Abilene community.
2014
AYP hosts a launch party at Frontier Texas! that reaches over 400 young professionals in the Big Country. A website is developed and social media channels are in place.
Chair: Chris Evatt, First Financial Bank
2015
AYP begins hosting monthly networking events and gathering members. AYP reaches 200 members.
Chair: Chris Evatt, First Financial Bank
2016
AYP launches a nonprofit initiative called Get on Board and a workforce initiative called Campus Connect.
Chair: Alex Russell, Oddly Natural
2017
AYP reaches 500 members. A community art initiative called Key City Keys is formed and AYP places its first piano downtown Abilene.
2018
AYP plans and executes its inaugural AYP Leadership Summit and hosts a Non-profit Fair.
Chair: Marshall Morris, First Financial Bank
2020
AYP begins offering the community quarterly luncheons and executes its second Leadership Summit with over 300 young professionals in attendance.
Chair: Megan Dobbs, Community Foundation of Abilene
UPCOMING EVENTS
GET IN TOUCH
We'd love to hear from you!
We'd love to hear from you!
325-677-7241
174 Cypress St. Ste. 200
Abilene, Texas 79601
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