By Ryan Miller
As a program of the Hampton Roads Chamber, tHRive engages young professionals and gives them a voice to improve our region by creating enduring relationships while promoting community involvement and professional development.
Established: July 2015
Members: Over 2,100 from all over Coastal Virginia
Qualifications: Membership is open and free to young professionals ages 21–39. Individuals can sign up on their website by filling out a simple form. Once joining, it’s up to members to make the most of their membership through involvement in events.
Current board members Savannah Bolin, Abbie Miller and Tyler Johnson
tHRive IMPACT Talk Regional Report Presentation
Events They Host:
Events are held throughout the region in different cities and reoccur on a regular cadence.
New Member Meetups: First Friday of each month from 7:30–8:30 a.m. at Cure Coffeehouse, Norfolk. New members can have a cup of coffee and breakfast provided by tHRive, meet young professionals and learn more about the group.
Happy Hours: Held monthly and often hosted at breweries, giving young professionals a chance to mix and mingle within different cities.
Table for 10: A monthly event where nine young professionals and one business leader sit down for dinner and a conversation where they can ask candid questions.
Local Looks: Monthly or bimonthly excursions where about 30 members are given exclusive behind-the-scenes tours of regional assets.
IMPACT Talks: Held multiple times a year, Talks feature prominent regional leaders discussing issues that affect young professionals so they can be part of the conversation.
Signature Events: Held annually, these events bring together large groups of members to benefit a local charity. One of these events is their anniversary party, which will be held on Aug. 1 at the Harbor Club at Waterside District where tHRive members plan on welcoming over 200 young professionals during the celebration.
Former Chairwoman Julia Rust with former board members Joel Perkins and Jessica Bedenbaugh
Community Engagement: Each year, tHRive picks an organization to support through volunteering and fundraising events. This year they’re supporting CHKD with an internal goal to raise $5,000. They’ve joined in their walk/run, care visits with children and have done fundraising during their Happy Hours. Simultaneously throughout the year, tHRive members volunteer at smaller events with the Foodbank and host fundraisers at events held by other organizations.
Partnerships: tHRive’s business sponsors enable the group to host events and keep their membership free. Their two largest contributors (known as their Diamond Sponsors) are ABNB Federal Credit Union and Hamilton’s Realty. Waterside District, Virginia Natural Gas, Gather and TechArk are also sponsors. Many tHRive members are also members of fellow young professional groups, such as Downtown 100 or CBDX, so tHRive often collaborates with these organizations to host events.
tHRive founders Alisa Crider and Anne Baumler
Benefits: “We provide a platform to empower young professionals,” says Alisa Crider, chairwoman of tHRive. “You can certainly interact and cultivate relationships with likeminded peers, you can meet business leaders, elected officials and help these people understand what you’re passionate about, why you love what you do. We provide many opportunities for you to meet and mingle with them and have those important one-on-one conversations.”
The Experience: Crider adds, “I just think it’s so neat to be able to give young professionals a voice, allow them to share their thoughts and opinions about crucial issues, and our local businesses and government leaders can then use that information to inform decisions and ultimately improve our region.”
Learn more and join tHRive at YPThrive.org.
