2024 Cohort celebration Multi-cohort gathering at The Alchemist in White Bear Lake
“ When Ling Becker and I started talking about this, there was nothing like it out there. Now it has turned into one of the premiere programs for young professionals not only in the north metro, but we have participants coming from other parts of the Twin Cites as well,” said Nancy Hoglund, owner of Hoglund Coaching, LLC and NMYP program leader.
2024 small group training
“ We’ ve really created something that wasn’ t out there before,” said Liz Moscatelli, Executive Director of the VHEDC.
Several companies and non-profits have utilized the program to develop their employees. The 2025 cohort includes two new participating organizations- Anoka County and The Food Group. Stephanie Nwaudo from Anoka County was looking for a program like this.“ I researched programs, found NMYP and put it on my calendar to sign up for this year,” she said.
Ricardo Montanez Cerda with The Food Group was familiar with the program and excited to join this year’ s cohort.“ I want to learn more what leadership is, how to be a good leader and make a bigger impact,” he said.
The NMYP program is designed for people between the ages of 21 and 39. While some of the participants are early in their professional journey, many are already several years into their careers, own businesses, and serve in leadership roles.
Jack Livingston, 26, considers NMYP to have provided him with a great way to get connected to the community.“ One of my mentors at work— Ed Jambor, V. P. of Commercial Lending— recommended me for the program, and it has been a great experience,” he said.
Livingston moved to the Northeast Metro about two years ago to accept a position as a business lender at the White Bear Lake branch of Royal Credit Union. He was a member of the 2023 NMYP cohort.
“ Being new to this part of the metro I was looking for ways to get more connected. I definitely got what I was looking for, plus leadership development opportunities. Not just the one-on-one coaching with Nancy( Hoglund), but there were monthly sessions where everybody in the leadership cohort came together and there was a speaker, or activity of some kind,” said Livingston.
Among the activities he enjoyed most, hearing the stories of how business leaders in the Northeast Metro got where they are today, participating in team building exercises at the Lakeshore Players Theatre, volunteering in the community and attending regular happy hours with other members of the cohort.
Even though he has graduated from the program, Livingston stays connected to the group and serves annually as a guest speaker. The biggest takeaway for Jack,“ Get your name out there, and get to know more and more people. That is the best way to do business in the Northeast Metro,” said Livingston.
Area business leaders are also super excited about the benefits the program has brought to their organizations.
Julie Stanke, President of Fresh Paint Inc., stated,“ Nancy Hoglund has worked with the Fresh Paint team for several years through various leadership training initiatives. I was first introduced to the VHEDC Young Professionals group when Nancy invited one of our new team members, Mike Vowels, to join the 2020 Cohort.
“ At the time, Mike had been with us for just under a year, and it was incredible to watch his confidence grow throughout
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