NOVEMBER 2007                                                   a monthly e-newsletter of the Young Professionals Network

YP PROFILES

Brad Toothaker

Brad is a member of YPN and was recognized this past year as being one of the Michiana Forty Under 40 - a regional award celebrating the accomplishments of 40 young professionals under the age of 40.


Employer:
CB Richard Ellis / Bradley

Job Title:
President, CEO & Managing Dir.

Hometown:
South Bend

Hobbies/Interests:
Brad enjoys water skiing in the summer and snow skiing in the winter. He and his wife, Katie, have two kids - a son, Wyatt and a daughter, Stella.

Something most people don't know about Brad:
He lived on the island of Guam (3,300 miles west of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean) for a couple of years before moving back home to Indiana.

Career Highlight:
Coming home to work in the family real estate business, becoming a CB Richard Ellis partner and merging with the Stone Group.

Advice to fellow YPs:
Be a continuous student of our greater region and everything it has to offer, both personally and professionally. Business opportunities and real life experiences abound, from Chicago, to Lake Michigan, to Warsaw, all combining to create a really bight future.

What's Your Management Style?
Coach or Referee?

Many young professionals are challenged in their roles as managers.  November's Lunch 'N Learn focused on developing a proactive approach to management and highlighted the differences between the management styles of coach and referee. Presenting was Kim Mock, senior manager of career development in Crowe Chizek's People Services Division. Here are some helpful take-aways from the session.

Employees like feedback, and setting the stage early for open communication and direct feedback is key in positive career development, according to Kim.  Kim describes the "referee" as quick to blow the whistle and yell foul on employees who have made an error, typically in the presence of others. The proactive coach is more participatory in approach.

Kim pointed out the following steps a manager in a coaching role would take to redirect behavior of an employee:

1. Describe the behavior you want to redirect.

2. Listen to the individual’s reaction.

3. Clarify your expectations and explain the negative effects of the behavior.

4. Help the individual acknowledge a problem exists and take responsibility.

5. Develop an action plan with a timeline for follow-up.

6. Thank the individual.

Put Your Money To Work!

As little kids, our savings account consisted of a few pennies and dimes in a piggy bank on our dresser. As adults, putting our savings in a piggy bank won't get us too far in life. We need to put our money to work.

This month, Citi Smith Barney representatives presented Investing 101, an overview of financial investment options available in today's market. If you are just getting started, Citi Smith Barney representatives recommend mutual funds as a great way to begin investing. A mutual fund is a professionally-managed form of collective investments that pools money from many investors and invests it in stocks, bonds, short-term money market instruments and/or other securities. You can choose from mutual funds offered by banks, financial planners and even online investment sites.

If you're already experienced in the world of investing, you need to make sure you're ASKING QUESTIONS. What are your primary investment goals? Have your investment goals changed in the last 12 months? Do you have a comprehensive financial plan? Could you potentially reduce "risk" and still meet your goals? It is important to ask these questions because it is much better to find out EARLY that you need to make a change in your investment strategy than to approach retirement and learn you haven't saved enough.

YPN thanks Citi Smith Barney for sponsoring this informative program.

VOLUNTEER NEEDS
The Diabetes Association of St. Joseph County is seeking volunteers for its Bad Pants Open golf tournament committee. The event is set for May 5, 2008 at the South Bend Country Club and planning is now underway! The committee works on every aspect of this annual fundraiser, including overall event planning, sponsorship and marketing. If you would like to get involved, please e-mail Anita Selesky at aniselesky@sbcglobal.net or call Mary Heck at 574.247.6047.



COMMUNITY CORNER
Young Professionals Against Poverty (YPAP) is a group of 25 to 40-year-olds engaging in the community by supporting The Center for the Homeless in South Bend. Members of YPAP volunteer at the Center, develop fundraising events such as the annual Corn Hole Tournament and also find some time for socializing within their group. Through fundraising, volunteering and networking opportunities, YPAP is developing future philanthropic leaders in this community! For more information about this group, e-mail Matt Money.  
 

SPECIAL DISCOUNT FOR YPs
Get in the holiday spirit with the South Bend Symphony Orchestra's Home for the Holidays concert on December 2. YPs receive a 25% discount on tickets. MORE
 

EVENTS

Tuesday, November 27
YPN Forum With Congressman
Joe Donnelly

5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
The Chamber Briefing Center
401 E. Colfax Ave., Suite 310
South Bend

Here's your opportunity to participate in an informal discussion hosted by Congressman Joe Donnelly to provide input on federal issues impacting this area. Congressman Donnelly is seeking your insight and feedback on issues important to young professionals in his district. The forum is complimentary. Light snacks will be provided. Registration is mandatory and seating is limited. To reserve a seat, e-mail events@sjchamber.org or call Erin Heldstab at 574.234.0051, ext 274.

CHAMBER EVENTS

'BASS EVENTS
 

Presenting Sponsors

Supporting Sponsors