Welcome to the first edition of the Young Professionals newsletter

At the Central Penn Business Journal, we recognized this group, ranging from early 20s to 40 in age, are coming into their own and blazing a trail to the workplace of the future. What does that workplace of the future look like?

It looks like community engagement, during the work day, after it, on the weekend and in times of national crisis, Kim Maiolo of the Red Cross writes.

It looks like servant leadership, which Suzanne Patackis is making a priority during her term as board president of Harrisburg Young Professionals.

It looks physically different than in the past, with tattoos and jeans and open-floor-plan offices.

As we took stock of our evolving readership at the Business Journal and noticed the increased role Young Professionals play, we observed a few trends that helped bring this newsletter to fruition. 

Our career levels don’t define us

While the Young Professionals newsletter will include stories relevant to – you guessed it – young professionals, it’s for everyone, from entry-level to CEO to those who have retired. 

The so-called “silver tsunami” is upon us. Baby boomer executives are thinking succession plans, while their successors are contemplating more collaborative enterprises and more equitable stakes. As young professionals challenge traditional workplace structure and take ownership of their companies, the Business Journal’s coverage of this demographic will serve as a guide to harnessing that fresh energy.

We’re more than just our professions

The Business Journal prides itself on its dedicated longtime coverage to some of Central Pennsylvania’s core industries, like construction and real estate, manufacturing and transportation, banking and finance and health care.

At the same time, though, local business professionals define themselves and connect with each other over more than just their fields. The Young Professionals newsletter was based on the overwhelming success of our monthly Women in Leadership newsletter, which launched two years ago to connect women in business in the midstate. The shared experiences, camaraderie and common ideologies that inform Women in Leadership will undoubtedly carry over to the Young Professionals newsletter.

We’re telling stories differently

If there’s one thing that defines this generation of young professionals, it’s our interconnectedness with digital technology. We take in so much information on a daily basis on the internet, by reading news, listening to podcasts, looking at photos, watching videos and using apps.

As the Young Professionals newsletter evolves, we hope to incorporate new storytelling methods to share news and connect readers with their communities. Be sure to check out and submit to Crowdsourced, a photo gallery at the bottom of the newsletter featuring young professionals out and about in the community. 

In that spirit, if you have an idea for a story or for a new way to tell a story, I’m all ears. Email me at [email protected].