TEDx Youngstown Jan. 24: No 'Brain Drain' Here
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- As the steel industry retrenched in the late 1970s and early ‘80s, the phenomenon of a “brain drain” in the Mahoning Valley became painfully obvious. The number of jobs shrank for young people with talent and ability and they pursued careers out of town. Or, more likely, out of state.
For a group like the Mahoning Valley Young Professionals, formed in 2003, reversing that trend and encouraging talented graduates to remain ranks high as a priority.
"I've always seen the Young Professionals as a group that advocates for the Youngstown area," says Bob McGovern, a forecasting analyst for First Energy and who sits on the Young Professionals board.
The effects of the brain drain strike a chord with McGovern who grew up in the Valley and watched it happen. Although he works in Akron, McGovern has called Youngstown home the last year and a half. During that time he's seen the city and how both residents and outsiders perceive it improve. "When I was growing up there was a brain drain," he says, “and now I think that people have taken that and coined the term ‘brain gain.’ ”
To increase that momentum, the Young Professionals are helping to bring in what organizers characterize as an inaugural event for the Mahoning Valley when TEDxYoungstown takes place Jan. 24 in the Williamson College of Business Administration at Youngstown State University.
TED – an acronym for Technology, Entertainment, Design -- is a nonprofit organization that describes itself as devoted to "ideas worth spreading." TED events feature prominent "thinkers and doers" asked to give the "talk of their lives" in 18 minutes or less. The talks, which can be on nearly any topic, are recorded and shared through the group's YouTube page. Some of the more popular talks find their way onto the TED website, where they are shared for free.
A TEDx event is independently organized with TED providing guidance. As per its guidelines, TEDxYoungstown limits attendances to 100.
"I think it's going to bring a formal stage for people to bring positive thoughts and concepts to the Valley," says Lori Shandor, chairwoman of the event and president of the Young Professionals.
Over the day, the audience will hear 18 speakers from the region share their thoughts on innovation as well as see an "innovation lounge" where new products such as Google Glass are on display.
TEDx events have become popular across the United States and the world with 537 having taken place in 86 countries last month, according to ted.com.
"It's thought-provoking. It's a way to get you to look at something differently than you would have before," said Shandor, who began organizing the event when Brian Kolenich pitched the idea. Kolenich is the executive director of Park Vista of Youngstown.
Shandor, who has been watching TED talks for four years, decided to reach out to the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, the Youngstown Business Incubator and the Mahoning Valley Young Professionals for help in executing the idea.
The TEDxYoungstown committee was created and it began collecting applications for speakers through its website. Its members are Shandor; Kolenich; Heidi Daniel, director of the public library; Debbie Liptak, library development director; McGovern and Robert Cruciger, representing the Young Professionals; Colleen Kelly, YBI director of development; Christian Rinehart, owner of O'Donold's Irish Pub; and Bergen Giordani, owner of One Hot Cookie.
Shandor's upcoming participation in the annual TED conference in Vancouver, Canada, will allow future events to be opened up to larger numbers. Plans are to hold one TEDxYoungstown event annually.
As a fan of TED talks, McGovern was delighted to get involved with planning TEDx Youngstown. Among his responsibilities are the Innovation Lab and supporting the speakers who will deliver talks on or about music -- a task he says that includes "figuring out how to move a piano across YSU's campus."
As to the state of the brain drain, McGovern sees a reversal with more young professionals either remain in or return to the Valley. He points to TEDx Youngstown as proof.
"Ten years ago I don't think you would have had a TEDx event in Youngstown. There would have been more skepticism [as] to why you would have that in Youngstown,” he said. “Now you say there’s going to be a TEDx in Youngstown on the theme of innovation and it's almost obvious."
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story first appeared in the 25 Under 35 Extra edition of The Business Journal.
Copyright 2014 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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