YPAL Achievements

2010-2011

  • YPAL concluded its Green Initiative with the Platinum LEED Certification of its Habitat for Humanity home located on Clay Street. The Green Initiative also saw YPAL contribute over 3,000 volunteer hours to the community through the Olmsted Parks Conservatory, Habitat for Humanity and Commonwealth Computer Recycling.
  • YPAL’s newly formed Membership Committee to lead retention efforts, actively assess member needs and improve member benefits. One such benefit was a University of Louisville MBA full-time scholarship.
  • YPAL established a Finance Committee, which aided in the creation of the quarterly CFO Series and a six-month budget process for all committees.
  • The Community Outreach Committee planned various volunteer opportunities for YPAL members geared towards engaging them with the community, including the Salvation Army Angel Tree and the Special Olympics.
  • The Professional Development Committee partnered with a variety of community organizations to host events, including a “Financial Pitfalls” seminar with Philip Cook, “5 Things a Networking Professional Needs to Know” with Micheal Strickland, a how-to “Entrepreneurship” seminar for YPs looking to start their own company, “Whiteboarding the Next Business Idea” with the University of Louisville College of Business.
  • The Recruitment Committee revamped YPAL 101s to improve the level of information available and increased access to the directors attracting new members as well as current members wanting to learn more about the organization. They also hosted a first-ever Singles Mixer with over 70 attendees present.
  • The Technology Committee planned various events, including an E-Recycling Event that diverted nearly 2500 lbs of e-scrap from landfills.
  • The Diversity Committee sponsored several events focused on the culturally diverse city that is Louisville, including a young professionals’ party with GLIP, which saw over 300 attendees.
  • The Public Issues Committee planned various events, including the Young Professionals Day at the Capitol with record attendance and participation from young professional groups in the state, a Mayoral Debate and the first-ever Metro Council Meet and Greet.

2009-2010

  • YPAL hired its first part-time employee to help oversee administrative and membership duties for the organization.
  • Mayor Jerry Abramson declared March 10, 2009 as "YPAL 10th Anniversary Day" in Louisville, in honor of our 10 Year Anniversary Milestone.
  • Ten YPAL members were named to Business First's annual 40 under 40 list.
  • YPAL developed new partnerships with leading Louisville organizations allowing committees to plan quality programs with recognized speakers for our members. New partnerships included the Louisville Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and Northwestern Mutual.
  • YPAL kicked off its Green Initiative aimed at educating its members on environmentally friendly ways to live, work, and play. The Green Initiative was created in response to the 2009 membership survey, which identified green issues as most important to the area's young professionals.
  • As part of the Green Initiative's capstone project, the organization built the city's first LEED Certified Habitat for Humanity home. The project was totally planned, funded and built by YPAL's members and sponsors. The organization broke ground in early May and handed the keys over to the new homeowner mid-October. The house is located on Clay Street.

2008-2009

  • Celebrated YPAL's 10th Anniversary with a yearlong Food Drive to benefit Kentucky Harvest and Dare to Care. Additionally, a 10th Anniversary logo was created to mark the milestone and street banners were designed and located on Main Street between 3rd and 9th Streets.
  • Developed a value proposition to better represent YPAL's objective in serving young professionals in the Louisville community.
  • Hosted a variety of events geared towards professional development including a three-part entrepreneurial series in association with the University of Louisville's Entrepreneurial MBA Program, Diversity Dinner series, Diversity in the Age of Obama and Leadership Lunch series including a discussion on advocacy.
  • Planned various opportunities for YPAL members to engage in community outreach including the Salvation Army Angel Tree, Smoketown Cleanup, Special Olympics and two successful Community Connection events. 
  • Designed a YPAL brochure to distribute at YPAL 101 and other events highlighting the mission of YPAL and ways for new members to get involved in the organization. 
  • Revamped the YPAL advocacy procedures and initiated successful advocacy campaigns in support of the Center City Development downtown and an increase in the state's cigarette tax.

2007-2008

  • Developed a new YPAL logo that is more representative of our mission, and more attractive to our demographic.
  • Developed a new website that provides more functionality to members, streamlines tasks for board members and is more visually attractive.
  • Began utilizing new mediums to reach out to current and prospective members including a Velocity YPAL Blog, a LinkedIn page, MySpace Page.
  • Increased publicity for the organization by featuring member profiles in Velocity, Business First, Today’s Woman, etc.
  • Polled our membership and decided to advocate for Expanded Gaming as a new source of revenue for the Commonwealth.
  • Partnered with the Junior League of Louisville to promote awareness for Blessings in a Backpack, a program that provides food to school-age children on the weekends.
  • Worked with YPs from Northern Kentucky and Lexington to plan a YP Day in Frankfort in February 2008
  • Partnered with the Junior League of Louisville, the League of Women Voters, and the Greater Louisville Medical Society to host a televised debate between Attorney General candidates Jack Conway and Stan Lee.

2006-2007

  • Hosted the 2007 YP Summit September 13-15 2007. This was an international event bringing more than 200 YPs to Louisville, many for the first time. This allowed us to showcase our city’s entertainment venues, restaurants, arts, etc.
  • Provided members with behind the scenes tours of WHAS TV, Hotel 21 C, and Caesar’s Indiana.
  • Co-hosted a Candidates Night Out and Mayorial Debate between Jerry Abramson and Kelly Downard with the Louisville Urban League Young Professionals.
  • Partnered with Brightside to plan and execute the first-ever Green Tie Bash fundraiser for downtown beautification efforts.

2005-2006

  • Partnered with Ignite Louisville and Junior Achievement to offer a program called “Gearing Up for Success” to juniors in two local high schools. The idea of the program was to teach basic interviewing skills, professional dress, resume preparation, etc. to get the students to begin thinking about their careers.
  • Created the concept of Community Connections, a highly successful non profit networking event, designed to partner YPs looking to get involved with executive directors of local non-profits.
  • Represented our membership by advocating successfully for a new downtown arena.

2003-2004

  • Organized City Talk Speaker’s Forum Series.
  • Provided opportunities for members to work with the Wayside Christian Mission Thanksgiving Dinner.
  • Partnered with the Salvation Army Angel Tree and helped to distribute toys and clothes.
  • Helped Brightside “brighten” the city before the Kentucky Derby.
  • Partnered with KET and the Louisville Urban League Young Professionals for a pandel discussion on “Matters of Race”.
  • Launched Ignite Louisville in partnership with the Leadership Louisville Center and the Louisville Urban League Young Professionals.
  • Sponsored a three-part Career Management Series.
  • Sponsored informative seminars including, “Home Buying and Financing,” “Creative Cooking Class” and “Strategies for Planning for a Secure Retirement”
  • Invited members to two Living in Louisville lunches to learn about the city.
  • Organized sporting teams and programs including fielding teams in a Winter Soccer League and a Spring Co-ed Softball League. Members also gathered at Monday Night Football Games at local bars and restaurants.
  • Hosted parties for members including a Halloween Party at Masterson’s, a rooftop Martini Party at Glassworks, and a Super Bowl Party at Jillian’s.

General YPAL Achievements

  • Former YPAL board members have helped the Louisville community to become more civically engaged by helping to create events such as the Green Tie Bash to benefit Brightside and the METRO TV program “Leadership Landscape.”
  • We actively engage our members with the local arts scene, including the Opera, Actor’s Theatre, Derby Dinner Playhouse, etc.
  • YPAL partnered with Leadership Louisville Center to create a unique leadership training program for YPs called Ignite Louisville.
  • Each year YPAL partners with various non profit organizations, providing fresh ideas, energetic volunteers and increased awareness. Some of the non-profits we have worked with include the Salvation Army, Special Olympics, Junior Achievement, Brightside and Kentucky Harvest.
  • YPAL’s City Talk Series helps YPs to learn more about important public issues including downtown housing, expanded gaming, educational issues, building downtown bridges and many more. The idea is to get YPs exposure to both sides of important issues facing the community.