While Rotary Clubs across the nation grapple with declining memberships, the Rotary Club of Key West has experienced a renaissance of new Rotarians since the COVID pandemic ended in 2022. Even more remarkable, much of the club’s growth has come from members under the age of 30, bucking a trend that most civic and nonprofits across the nation are struggling to overcome. In fact, Key West’s noon-time club, which has met every Thursday for the past 110 years, is not only embracing the resilient surge, but doubling down by creating a sub-chapter of like-minded people called the Young Professionals Network (YPN).
“The Young Professionals Network was created to connect and empower the next generation of local business leaders,” said Samantha Barrabeitg, a local real estate agent and founding member of the network. “The YPN brings together professionals aged 18 to 40 across all business and entrepreneurial fields.”
Today the YPN meets monthly, offering those under 40 an opportunity to share in the mission of fostering meaningful connections and encouraging professional development, while strengthening relationships that support a thriving local workforce in the Keys.
Mason Neller is another founding board member, who recently graduated from college and returned home to the Keys to launch his career as a financial adviser. Neller understood that establishing a base of clients and strong local relationships would be instrumental to his success and immediately recognized the challenges many young people face as professionals in the Keys.
“The idea for the network was brought up to me by Scott Oropeza,” said Neller, referring to the longtime Key West Rotarian and CPA. “The concept was developed after recognizing that young people represent the future of our community and we have a responsibility to shape that future here at home.”
Neller says he looks up to mentors like Oropeza and recognizes that many of Key West’s most successful business leaders began in the same vein of the YPN mission, “by building meaningful relationships, one connection at a time.”
Alexis Guevremont, another board member, echoed Neller’s belief in the power of connections.
“There’s real value in being in a room with other driven people from different industries — you never know who you’ll meet, what you’ll learn or how you might be able to help each other,” she said.
And while the Rotary Club of Key West offers the setting for YPN, those 40 and under do not have to be a Rotary member to join. Board member Justin Nicholson understands that one of the greatest challenges in Key West is stepping into the shoes of so many respected and established business leaders who have decades of accolades and community support. But he added that the legacy pioneers represent one of the network’s greatest assets and the Rotary Club offers invaluable access to those who understand what it takes to succeed in Key West.
“The advantage is that often those same people are our greatest mentors,” said Nicholson. “They graciously help us understand that none of what they did came overnight, but started out as young professionals like we are now.”
Today, the YPN has over 60 members who are 40 or younger. For Neller, the vision is to become as recognized as the Chamber of Commerce or Rotary as a “must-join organization” for young business professionals to connect and thrive in the early stages of their careers.
Those interested can email Neller at mason.neller@chapmanandcardwell.com for details on upcoming meetings and events, such as their upcoming sandbar outing or pickleball tournament.
