As the voice of young professionals in Charlotte County, we exist to enhance the community and its members through:

• Building relationships
• Developing professionally
• Promoting philanthropic involvement
• Creating awareness of relevant issues
• Shaping the quality of life and growth in Charlotte County

Our Vision:

• Create networking opportunities
• Provide understanding of our community to young professionals new to the area
• Create and cultivate our future leaders
• Work to keep our young professionals in Charlotte County
• Foster economic development in Charlotte County

CCYP Events:

· Monthly Evening Meetings – On the second Thursday of each month we meet at a local venue for appetizers and networking starting at 5:30 p.m., meeting at 6:30 p.m. The meeting may include an informative speaker, club business and/or an activity. Current members and potential members are welcome, and no RSVP is needed!

· Monthly Meet & Eat Lunches – These lunch meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at various locations, and usually offer a presentation from a guest speaker.

· Special Events - Special opportunities for members (& guest) only: theme parties, wine tastings, boat tours, holiday events, canoeing, paint balling, bowling, camping, etc. Much more fun to come!

Current CCYP Volunteer Board of Officers:

President - Michael Neufeld, Remax Anchor Realty - michael@ccyp.info

Vice-President - Matthew Chase, Regions Bank - matt@ccyp.info

Treasurer - Francine Boccio, Koch, Zeman & Walsh, CPAs and Consultants - francine@ccyp.info

Secretary - Liz Green, HarborStyle Magazine- liz@ccyp.info

Public Relations Director - Troy Bettencourt, Punta Gorda Police Department - troy@ccyp.info

Membership Director - Ashley Houseman, The Punta Gorda Club - ashley@ccyp.info

Special Events Director - Monica Luna, Marketing Arm International - monica@ccyp.info

Volunteer Director - Eve Sweeting, Fisherman's Village - eve@ccyp.info

Sponsorship Director - Danelle Sinacori, Pampered Chef - danelle@ccyp.info

Lunch Meeting Director- James Coalwell, Calusa National Bank - james@ccyp.info

Evening Meeting Director - Aaron Olsen, First Financial Employee Leasing - aaron@ccyp.info

CCYP History – written by Kaley Miller

I moved to Punta Gorda shortly after my husband Roger and I married in February 2003. Shortly after moving to the area I asked the local folks if there was a young professionals (YP) group here, but to no avail. We got involved in the local community and met other young professionals through work, community events and social meetings. Although we quickly found friends and things to do, we knew it wasn’t so easy for everyone, especially if you were new to the area or not already hitched.

Discussions about starting a YP group with good friend Jill McCrory, and others, was greeted with immediate interest and acceptance. It was not a new idea, after all. The surrounding counties of Sarasota and Fort Myers already had YP groups, so why not Charlotte? I met Mark Figueredo in 2004 and learned that not only did he like the idea, he had already bought the website domain (www.ccyp.info) unbeknownst to me in anticipation of group’s creation. It just took the cooperative momentum of Jill, Mark and I to plan the first meeting and invite other young professionals we thought might like to get involved.

We refer to our first meeting, on April 28, 2005 at River City Grill, as our “brainstorming meeting.” About two dozen young professionals showed up and we recorded ideas for structure and activities on a big flip chart. We followed that meeting with another organizational meeting at Jill’s home with a smaller group, hashing out the details of the charter and bylaws. On May 23, we signed our articles of incorporation, and on July 14 elected our first Board of Directors at the Captain’s Table restaurant in Punta Gorda. The rest, we say, is history!

I am very glad to have participated in the birth of this great organization and to serve as Membership Director for the first two year’s of CCYP existence. Thank you to Jill, and all our past and present Board members (listed below), for their generous donation of personal time, resources, creativity and talent in making this organization what it is today.

Past Board Members

President - Stacy Calvino
Vice President - Michael Neufeld
Secretary & Membership Director - Monica Luna
Treasurer - Jenifer Bettencourt
Volunteer Director - Elizabeth Hall
PR Director - Troy M. Bettencourt
Special Events Director - Brooke Cooley
Lunch Meeting Director - James M. Coalwell
Evening Meeting Director - Ryan Rupert
Sponsorship Director - Danelle Sinacori
ECYP President - Mike Vasher

CCYP Volunteer Board of Officers, 2007-08:

President- Stacy Calvino
Vice President- Michael Neufeld
Treasurer- Jenifer Bettencourt
Secretary - Matthew DeFilippis
Membership Director - Melissa O’Neil
Public Relations - Jeff Garczewski
Special Events Director - Mitzi D. Maggio Rigden
Volunteer Director - Elizabeth Hall
Sponsorship Director - Monica Luna
Lunch Mtg. Coordinator - Tracy Lehn
Evening Mtg. Coordinator - Ryan Rupert

CCYP Volunteer Board of Officers, 2006-07:

CCYP Volunteer Board of Officers, 2005-06: