Young execs find strength in numbers

NEW HAVEN — The "brain drain" — a consistent loss of young Connecticut residents to other states — has long been cited as a major impediment to the area’s economic growth.

The husband and wife team of Olaf and Shana Schneider offered a possible solution when they gathered more than 100 young professionals at the Quinnipiack Club downtown Wednesday night.

The group, called The New Haven Young Professionals Association, seeks to bring together young professionals from across the business community to take a first step in forging stronger connections to the area.

"It just really helps to meet more people," said Swadhi Sreenivasan, 30, of East Haven, who works at Yale University.

She and others at the event said it is often difficult for young workers to make social and professional connections.

Nathan Melsted, an instructional designer in New Haven for four years, said the event was helpful in making connections, and others pointed out a lack of such organizations.

"There aren’t a lot of outlets in the area," said Shane Coverdale, 31, of Hamden, a research associate at the Institute for Diabetes Discovery in Branford.

That’s exactly what Olaf Schneider said he realized a year ago, while walking the streets of New Haven.

"There are so many young people," he recalled thinking. "They can’t all be students."

Schneider is a Yale graduate, class of 2001, now working as director of N-Tech Systems Inc., a local technology consulting firm. His wife, Shana, works for the Yale University Office of New Haven and State Affairs.

Schneider said he realized many of the people he saw downtown were like him — "young professionals with the same concerns and the same problems."

Wednesday’s event, sponsored by the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce, served as the group’s kickoff, and featured guest speaker Michele Macauda, president and CEO of SBC East.

She urged those in attendance to develop ties with each other and offered some advice on leadership and setting professional goals.

Tony Rescigno, president of the chamber, also offered the group a helping hand. "We want to help deliver what you think you need from us," he said.

So far, the group has gotten off to a good start, the Schneiders said.

"It has to start with the opportunity for people to get to know each other," Olaf Schneider said.

The group plans to hold an informal happy hour each month, as well as speaker events.

Go to the group’s Web site, www.young-pros.com, for information.

Contact Damian J. Troise at 789-5685 or dtroise@nhregister.com.

Young Pros Speaker Event - Press Coverage

Young execs find strength in numbers

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