Featured Member: Elizabeth Cleary

Meet YPAL’s November Featured Member, Elizabeth Cleary!

What is your day job?
I am the Director of Operations and Community Programs for The Chamber of St. Matthews here in Louisville. The title is kind of a mouth full and it’s a lot even on the best days, but basically I manage the overall operations of the Chamber while also designing and executing our community programs and programs which include the St. Matthews Street Festival, Halloween in Brown Park, and Light Up St. Matthews.

What is the best part of your job?
Honestly one of the best parts of my job is getting to be a part of a business owner’s journey as they take their business to the next level. I’ve gotten to be there when a member opened their doors for the first time and then along their journey to expansion; it’s an incredible feeling to even just have a small part of that. On the community side of my job there is nothing more rewarding than seeing a child at Halloween in Brown Park with their costume on grinning from ear to ear after going through the park. Being able to deliver that level of happiness to kids in our community means so much and I look forward to it every year.

Why did you join YPAL?
To expand my network, I went to a college out of the area and had lost a lot of the local connections in my age group. So when I wanted to expand my network within my own generation I jumped in.

Favorite YPAL Event or Program?
The Emerging Leaders Program hands down. I walked away with some amazing friends and have learned a lot more about myself as a professional than I ever thought I would. It’s made me better and it shows

What is the best career advice you have received?
The best advice I ever got came from a former professor of mine, he always said that you only get so many days and you never know how many you have until they’re gone. So live each one like it’s your best day, and don’t waste it on doing something you don’t like. It isn’t always the easiest advice to follow, we all have our bad days, but I definitely don’t waste it doing something I hate even on the worst days I just try to find that little nugget of something good in the worst of it and hold onto that.

Coolest place you have ever traveled?
This one is hard, I travel a lot because I’ve been showing dogs since I was a teenager and still do but picking the coolest place took me a moment. If you ever get the chance and you’re in Florida in December, go to Blue Springs State Park. It’s a beautiful little state park, but the coolest thing is that in the winter they can have hundreds of Manatees inland on any given day (check their Facebook page for the count). You can swim with them at times if you want, but honestly just being there in this little state park surrounded by these beautiful peaceful creatures was amazing. There’s no experience like it so whenever I hear someone talk about going down in December and looking for something to do it’s always the top of my list.

What makes Louisville weird?
How incredibly small town it can be, it is almost ridiculous! You can live your whole life in this community and be one conversation away from someone you’ve never met but need to know. I always say it’s not six degrees of separation in Louisville, it’s two degrees.

Favorite restaurant in Louisville?
Ciao Ristorante! It makes the Italian side of me giddy every time I go. The restaurant is gorgeous, the food is incredible and authentic, and you need to go like yesterday. Try the special, it’s always worth it! And for everything Italian, GET THE CANNOLI!

Do you know a great young professional who we should feature next month? Tell us about them (or yourself) here!

A big thank you to our Featured Member Blog Post Sponsor, Webster University!
Webster University, a global institution, provides adult learners with a quality graduate education in a diverse and personalized learning environment. Take your career to the next level with a graduate degree designed for the working professional. Your future is now! Contact Webster University, Louisville at (502) 896-1835 or visit their website www.webster.edu