Young Professionals Network of Miami Hosts 2nd Annual Business of Politics workshop

Press Release | by the Young Professionals Network (YPN) of Miami

It’s an occasion that comes around once every four years. Not only is it a race for the presidency, but a business opportunity. South Florida’s Young Professional Network (YPN) of Miami, an Initiative of the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce, the Urban League of Broward County Young Professionals Network (YPN Broward) and partners will hold the 2nd Annual Business of Politics workshop. This one will not only motivate, but also educate our young professionals about the political process, the candidates, and the campaign issues, particularly as they relate to their own lives.

Last year’s Business of Politics workshop was hosted at Cozen O'Connor and included panelists: Cedric McMinn, Bradley Gerber, Todd Michaels, Crystal Connor, and moderator Christopher Norwood. The goal this year, is to develop a better understanding of the culture, policy formulation and public attitudes of nationally and globally important issues in the United States.

The workshop will be held at Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton 2525 Ponce de Leon, 9th Floor Miami, Florida 33134; on Thursday, October 25th, 2012 from 6:30-9:00pm and will be delivered in two parts to include an education forum on the electoral process and voting education. The discussion topics will feature the Electoral Process and Voting Rights, Foreign Policy, Jobs & the Economy: Putting America Back to Work and Urban Policy. Facilitated by Marlon A. Hill, Attorney at Law of delancyhill, P.A and Cedric McMinn, Executive Director of Miami-Dade Democratic Party, the workshop will feature a dynamic group of political and business leaders who will motivate and deliver programming to young professionals of South Florida.

Panelists of the Workshop include:

• Mikki Canton, Esq., International lawyer, Civic engagement advocate 
• Luis Andre Gazitua, Government Affairs Lawyer, Maverick PAC, Miami Regional Chair 
• Jorge Arrizurieta, Foreign Policy/International Trade Consultant 
• Daniella Levine, Director, Catalyst Miami, Civic engagement Advocate 
• Bill Diggs, President , Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce 
• Obama Voter Protection Department Representative 

Under the Professional Development Committee, YPN Miami has built a series of continuing education workshops and trainings this year that have increased the membership leading the members to become the future leaders in South Florida.

The year started in February with the Tax Education workshop in conjunction with The Accounting & Tax Company and co-sponsor Fellowes Inc. and the Identity Theft Resource Center. The Dimensions of Diversity workshop followed in March with Barbara Cheives of Converge & Associates Consulting. Right after, YPN Miami along with Author Gerald Grant Jr. and the FIU Black Alumni Chapter hosted the Credit and Wealth Management workshop in April. Then, our own Executive Board member, C. Payne of Regal Spri Creative Group, presented an energetic Social Media seminar in May. The best was yet to come, in July, when YPN Miami made history with the Entrepreneurship series, with 100 plus attendees for Part I and concluding with a Shark Tank style at Part II. Lastly, we are continuing with the 2nd Annual Business of Politics and the year-end Annual Holiday Gala hosted by the Chamber. Additionally, there have been a number of community service projects and the development of the Mentoring Program throughout the year.

About Young Professionals Network (YPN) of Miami:

The Young Professionals Network of Miami (YPN), an Initiative of the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce was created in late 2007 as a fledging addition to the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce (MDCC) to address an ever present problem here in South Florida- the retention of young black professionals. While the MDC is targeted to business owners and mid to senior level executives, the YPN was created to mentor and develop South Florida’s diverse young professionals between the ages of 25-40. Our membership base is comprised of a variety of professionals from entrepreneurs to corporate executives, educators/scholars, artists, attorneys, engineers, and doctors between the ages of 25-40 years old from all over the South Florida region.

About Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce:

The Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1974 by a group of Black businessmen out of a need for a strong organization that could objectively advocate the needs of a growing Black business community. Our mission is to provide a world of business opportunities and bring the business community together to exchange goods and services and to promote interaction and communication mutually beneficial to all businesses involved. In its thirty-plus years, the Chamber has been led by three presidents. Inaugural president David Fincher served from 1974 to 1984 followed by Dorothy Baker, who presided for twenty years, from 1984 through 2004. Current Chief Executive Bill Diggs took the helm in 2005 and already has increased Chamber membership to over 400 members. Each day, Diggs and his staff work diligently to plan strategic marketing and effective business developments for the 21st century.

For further information about this educational workshop and RSVP, email info@ypnmiami.com