How has being in the network impacted you personally and professionally?

When I was in High School and College, I was pretty active in several different organizations and activities. Once I graduated though, I spent the next several years not really being involved with anything outside of work and it is something I still regret. When I moved to Bismarck three years ago, I knew that a couple of former college classmates were involved in the Bismarck-Mandan Young Professionals  Network and I thought that maybe it was time to find something to get involved in. It’s been one of the best decisions I could have made. Being new to the area, I didn’t know many people and the YPN changed that very quickly! I’ve made many friends during my time in the network that I otherwise may have never met had I just stuck to my comfort zone and I’ve had some great, funny and awesome times as a result. I’ve also gotten to meet community leaders, groups from other countries, and countless others contacts with the fantastic programming that the YPN offers its membership.

How can the network add more value to its members?

I’m a big proponent of “value-added” programming within the network. If we can add something to a program/event that you as a member can take with you and use in your personal and professional lives, then I’m all for it. One event that has been a staple of the YPN for several years is the 30-in-30 speed networking event. This has been a very successful event that has had one main focus – adding to your list of professional contacts. This year however, the Professional Development team decided to try and add something more to the event. Since the speed networking involves you giving your “elevator pitch” 20+ times to 20+ people, we thought that bringing in somebody to discuss how to develop and refine your elevator pitch would be a great way to add something to the event that attendees could take home with them and use in their professional lives. I also believe that continuing to find new and engaging programming that only the YPN is providing within the area is crucial. One example where I think we are making strides in that direction is the “Coffee with…” series that started last year. This has been a fantastic (and exclusive) opportunity for YPN members to meet with city and state leaders in a small group setting and is something that you would be hard pressed to find being provided by many (if any) other organizations within the area. Those are the type of events that really show value to our membership. It can be tough to quantify what exactly your membership dues are bringing you each year and coming up unique and new programming can be one way that we can help our members to do that.

Vote for the next Vice President at the Cinco Annual Meeting and Anniversary Celebration on May 4, 2017. RSVP today! 

What is your involvement like within the Bismarck-Mandan Young Professionals Network (YPN)? 
My main focus within the YPN is within the Professional Development team. A year and a half ago there was an opening to fill a recently vacated co-lead position on the PD team and even though I had only been to 2 meetings at that point I decided to jump in with both feet and volunteered to fill that position. In addition to being a co-lead on the PD team, I am actively involved with the Service team and I have also helped to plan Young Professionals Day and have served on the Strategic Planning committee. Finally, I am putting my professional skills to use serving on the newly formed Tech Team.

What strengths as a leader will you bring as VP of the YPN?
One of the qualities that has served me well in past leadership positions as well as in my professional life is the ability to stay level-headed; especially in moments of stress. I’ve spent most of my professional life working in environments where my team is responsible for making sure that customers/clients have internet connectivity and when things break it can be very stressful trying to identify/fix the problem while also dealing with angry customers. I realized very early on that it doesn’t do any good to lose your cool either at yourself or at your customers during those times. I hope to bring that level-headedness to bear during times when the YPN may be experiencing moments of stress/panic and help guide us through without losing our cool. Through both my professional life and lifelong hobbies, I also bring a wealth of experience in how we can leverage technology to help the YPN grow both in membership and engagement within the network. We live in a world where everything seems to be just a click or tap away and making sure that we stay up-to-date in how we are utilizing technology will allow us to continue to engage with our membership.

Vote for the next Vice President at the Cinco Annual Meeting and Anniversary Celebration on May 4, 2017. RSVP today! 

Name: Jamie Jackson

Where are you from: Lewistown, Montana

Place of Employment: Basin Electric Power Cooperative

Job Title: Network Security Analyst

How long you have been in the network: 3 years

Fun fact about yourself: Between the ages of 8-13 I attended a summer camp each year for kids with Asthma. It was called…wait for it…Camp Huff ‘n Puff (really!). Over the years I: had an ex-con counselor, asked a girl to the dance via a note, and during a game of frisbee golf got into the only “fight” I’ve ever been in which resulted in a week’s worth of KP (kitchen patrol)!

Vote for the next Vice President at the Cinco Annual Meeting and Anniversary Celebration on May 4, 2017. RSVP today!