My name is Melinda McNutt and I am excited and honored to serve as President of the Cleveland Professional Twenty Thirty Club during its 20th anniversary year. First and foremost, I want to assure you that the newly appointed Board of Directors and myself take our responsibilities seriously. Upon accepting our new roles, we have committed to not only being good stewards of the Club, but to amplify the good work of our members and -- most importantly -- to ensure the organization is set up for success as we move into the next twenty years and beyond.
When I moved to Cleveland five years ago, I was eager to get involved in the community and meet new people. I waited a few years before getting involved with the Club, but when I did, I regretted not doing so sooner. The first event I attended was a Cavs game. We had the privilege of holding the flag during the National Anthem. As someone still new to Cleveland, I thought this was a unique opportunity that most Clevelander’s don’t get a chance to experience. In 2019, I was named a Top 25 Under 35 Young Professional during the 13th annual Movers and Shakers Awards Ceremony. The Club hosted a professional and well-executed event -- one that I was proud my boss and colleagues attended at the time. Did you know we have awarded 350 young professionals to date with this prominent award? Check out our 2021 class of winners.
When I attended my first Around Town (hosted the first Thursday of every month at a new or unique local venue), I immediately began connecting with people who have become my closest friends nearly three years later.
Be sure to sign-up for our first Around Town of 2021 on Thursday, July 7 at Good Night John Boy, the new 1970s-themed nightclub in the Flats East Bank (formerly Magnolia).
What I love most about The Club is that, regardless of the event, you will always see familiar faces. In that respect, it truly is a club. As someone new to Cleveland, this was what I needed most. Years later, I have dozens of friends because of this organization, have had countless memorable experiences with the Cleveland young professional community, and I cannot wait for what’s to come under our new leadership.
Did you know that The Club is 100% volunteer driven? We work hard to plan and execute over 100 events a year for roughly 3,000 professional and social members. Our event attendees range from 21-45 years of age and come from all walks of life -- and we make sure to host events on both weeknights and weekends for all schedules. Fifty percent of our members are new to Cleveland, so we are the perfect group if you’re looking for new friends and new experiences.
To all of our current members (both old and new), I challenge you to reach out to me with your feedback and insight on how we can help serve you better at president@cleveland2030.org
It’s important to me to continue to foster this community where young professionals can fall in love with their city and establish or deepen their roots here in Cleveland. Why? Our city’s future depends on the leadership of our generation. By 2025, millennials and Gen Z will make up 80% of the workforce. For this reason, groups like ours have a critical role, which is why we offer programming that aligns with four key areas of leadership development: Philanthropy, Networking, Education, and Social.
I encourage you to register for (or renew) your annual professional membership so you don’t miss out on the countless opportunities we offer throughout the year.
Please consider forwarding this email to your colleagues and friends so they can be in the know!
We are greater than the sum of our individual parts, and I know together we can create a thriving, well-connected, and supportive young professional community. Thank you for reading this. I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event.
Sincerely,
Melinda McNutt
