Issue link: http://www.insightdigital.biz/i/222066
UPFRONT face time P H OTO G R A P H B Y B i l l K ap i n s k i / I M A G E S T U D I O S , F O R I N SI G H T Brian Johnson Brian Johnson is manager of Current, the young professionals group at the Green Bay Chamber of Commerce, and was founder of the Manitowoc Chamber's young professional group, SAIL. Johnson, who also co-founded the annual Leaderfest event held for all young professionals in the New North, sat down with Insight Editor Margaret LeBrun to discuss his role helping to attract, develop and retain young talent to the region. w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m on attracting young talent Northeast Wisconsin is positioned well to make a splash in terms of how we engage our young professionals. We have people stepping up to the plate saying, "Give me something to do," and they're doing it. It's no secret when you look across the country that you see pockets of talent shortages. Our goal is to make sure that Green Bay, or Northeast Wisconsin in general, doesn't fall into one of those pockets. My role is to manage the Current Young Professionals program at the Green Bay Chamber of Commerce. I've been with the Green Bay Chamber seven years. Prior to that I was in Manitowoc, where I owned my own small business, a lawn care and landscaping business – which has nothing to do at all with a political science degree. I co-founded the young professionals group in Manitowoc with the Manitowoc Chamber. Data suggests that people in their earlier years are much more innovative and creative, and it's because they don't have life experiences that tell them that's the way things are supposed to be. There's data that supports why most high-growth, entrepreneurial companies are owned by people under 40. They take more risks. The millennials are not [continued] » D e c e m b e r 2 013 • Insight | 15