More than 200 attendees gathered at The Harbor Center in Slidell on October 15 for the St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce’s UNLOCKED Young Professionals Summit, exceeding its attendance goal and selling out the event. The half-day summit brought emerging professionals together for practical discussions on leadership, collaboration, confidence and career growth, along with networking opportunities and a keynote luncheon featuring Lauren Haydel, founder and CEO of Fleurty Girl.
Designed for professionals under 40, UNLOCKED focused on skills and connections that can help young professionals grow in their careers, contribute to their organizations and become more involved in their communities.
The program opened with Northshore Collaboration, a live podcast conversation featuring Jim Carlson, Ed.D., Ashley Llewellyn, Lacey Osborne and podcast host Lauren Navarre. The discussion explored how collaboration can strengthen local businesses and communities.
Three sessions followed, each addressing an important aspect of professional development. Leading with Confidence featured a panel discussion on leadership development, civic engagement and emerging leaders. Panel participants included Stacie Chitwood, Amy Fresh, David Payton, Stephen Reuther and moderator Jamie Andrepont. Navigating Imposter Syndrome, presented by Tanya Crombie, Ph.D., and Shane Purvis, offered strategies for building confidence and overcoming self-doubt. Craig Marinello led How to Become Irreplaceable, sharing insights on the skills, communication and relationships that help professionals stand out and make a difference in the workplace.
The summit concluded with a keynote luncheon featuring Haydel, who founded Fleurty Girl in 2009 with $2,000 and a single T-shirt design. She shared lessons from building the New Orleans-based retail business, including insights on entrepreneurship, leadership, resilience, marketing, embracing failure and taking action.
Throughout the morning, attendees also had opportunities to connect with fellow professionals and visit vendors during networking breaks.
The St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce thanks its President-Level Sponsors for supporting UNLOCKED: American Bank, CGB Enterprises/Zen-Noh Global, Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Company, Hancock Whitney, JD Bank, Lakeview Hospital, Ochsner Health, OnPath Credit Union, REV Fiber, Slidell Memorial Hospital, St. Tammany Health System and Visit The Northshore.
Session sponsors included Hancock Whitney, HUB International, Geaux Book It and Northshore Community Foundation. The Chamber also thanks its media sponsor, The St. Tammany Farmer, and recognizes its in-kind sponsors for their contributions: Fidelity Bank, Matthew Guidry, Donut King, Sweet Rose Café, East St. Tammany Business Alliance, The Harbor Center, Arena Collective and Lettuce Media.
UNLOCKED is part of the Chamber’s ongoing commitment to helping develop the next generation of business and community leaders. By creating opportunities for young professionals to build skills, exchange ideas and form meaningful connections, the Chamber helps strengthen the region’s workforce and support the Northshore’s continued growth.