Celebrating a Successful Summer and Looking Ahead to YP Week 2025
(This column from Chamber President & CEO Jason Ball appears in the September 2025 edition of Strictly Business Magazine)
The summer of 2025 has been a season of significant progress for Lincoln’s business community and the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce. Together, we have strengthened partnerships, celebrated successes and advanced our mission of enhancing the economic vitality of Lincoln.
Over the past few months, the Lincoln Chamber proudly partnered with the Greater Topeka Partnership to host Lincoln’s first City Swap. This exchange between communities built on the success of last year’s inaugural intercity visit to Boise and further sparked new ideas between two growing communities. We also hosted Nebraska’s Federal Congressional Delegation at our annual Federal Legislative Summit, offering Chamber members and local leaders the unique opportunity to hear directly from elected officials. With a focus on talent development and retention, the summer MyTern program united more interns than ever before, connecting them with resources and experiences that showcase why Lincoln is such a great place to build a career. And, to top it off, the Chamber’s BusinessLNK podcast received national recognition with an award for communications excellence from the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.
As we step into the fall season, our attention is now on one of our favorite annual traditions: YP Week, hosted by the Lincoln Young Professionals Group (YPG), a program of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce. Taking place October 6–10, YP Week unites hundreds of young professionals for a dynamic lineup of events designed to connect, educate and inspire the dynamic young professionals of Lincoln’s business community.
YP Week 2025 will kick off on October 6 with a luncheon featuring keynote speaker Sarah Collins of Collins Collective, known for her engaging approach to discovering strengths to transform teams. Throughout the rest of the week, attendees will have the opportunity to connect in both large and small group settings, engage in meaningful discussions and participate in volunteer activities that support the Lincoln community.
One of the highlights of the week, the Young Lincoln Leader Awards (YLLAs), will take place on October 9. Now in its sixth year, the YLLAs recognize seven outstanding individuals and organizations who are making a positive impact in our community. Awards will be presented in the following categories: Young Professional of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Diversity and Inclusion Excellence, Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Next Generation Workplace, Young Nonprofit Professional of the Year and Emerging Leader of the Year. To learn more about the Young Lincoln Leader Awards, visit lincolnypg.com/about-YLLA.
Lincoln’s young professionals form a vibrant and growing network, and YP Week is just one way we celebrate and strengthen it. I applaud the members of the Lincoln Young Professionals Group Leadership Council, chaired this year by Courtney Strayer of Bryan Health, for their commitment to creating exceptional programming for Lincoln’s young professionals. With a variety of networking and educational events throughout the year, YPG serves as a powerful platform for building relationships, developing skills and shaping the future of Lincoln’s business community.
To learn more about YP Week 2025, or our year-round programming, visit lincolnypg.com or reach out to our YPG program director, Mia Wilken, at mwilken@lcoc.com.