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RISE SPRINGFIELD
THRIVE IN SPI • SPRINGFIELD SANGAMON GROWTH ALLIANCE
“Friend groups can really define whether a place feels like home,” Woolsey said. “When I moved back to the Midwest, I didn’t realize how quickly the connections I made here would be what keeps me in Springfield. The people I’ve met are a big reason why I can’t imagine living anywhere else. RISE continues to help me find those people and lean into all the good parts about Springfield.” And these bonds really matter. Research consistently shows that a sense of community is one of the strongest predictors of whether young professionals choose to stay in a region long-term. Springfield, like many mid-sized cities, faces the challenge of attracting and retaining young talent. RISE helps solve that challenge by helping people feel welcomed, grounded, and part of something meaningful. One of their proudest milestones so far is the inaugural RISE Springfield Leadership Conference, a project Gentile and Woolsey had envisioned from the very beginning. Seeing it come to life this year was a testament to the community’s hunger for growth and connection. The conference pushed participants to stretch themselves, step into new situations, and discover the leaders they could become. The team is already dreaming bigger, perhaps even welcoming national speakers in the future. But at its core, the success of RISE isn’t measured in attendance numbers or marquee events. It’s measured in stories; the young professional who moved to Springfield, unsure if it was the right fit, and found a friend group that changed everything; the newcomer who attended one event and suddenly felt less alone; the countless individuals who now see Springfield not just as where they work, but where they belong. RISE Springfield is shaping the city in ways that go far beyond networking. It’s cultivating confidence, connection, and pride. It’s helping anchor young professionals who will power Springfield’s economy for decades. And perhaps most importantly,
RISE SPRINGFIELD: How a Young Professionals Network Is Strengthening the City’s Future
In Springfield, the future of economic vitality doesn’t just depend on new developments, major employers, or long-term planning; it depends on people. And perhaps more importantly, it depends on whether those people feel connected, valued, and at home. That idea sits at the heart of RISE Springfield, a young professionals group that has quickly become one of the region’s most energizing networking and connection initiatives for emerging leaders. While it operates under the umbrella of the Greater
Springfield Chamber of Commerce, RISE is anything but traditional. There are no formal memberships, no rigid structures, just a welcoming place for young professionals to meet, learn, give back, and find a sense of belonging in Springfield. “Networking doesn’t always come easily to people, but it’s so important for personal and professional growth,” said Nick Gentile, co-founder of RISE Springfield. “Meeting new people can open doors to promotions, new jobs, or even life-changing relationships.
Programs like RISE help you take that step, connect with people you wouldn’t normally meet, step outside of your comfort zone in a supportive setting, and ultimately, become a more well-rounded professional and member of the community.” Interestingly, RISE didn’t begin with a strategic plan or a large task force. It began with a simple conversation between two young professionals, Gentile and Bailey Woolsey, co-founder of RISE, who recognized something missing in Springfield. Introduced by Visit Springfield CVB’s Amy Beadle about four years ago, their first meeting was driven by a shared vision to create a space where like- minded professionals their age could connect, dream big, work hard, and make Springfield feel like home. They envisioned a community that extended beyond the office and typical networking mixers, and into genuine connection and lasting relationships. With months of planning and support from Mike Murphy, President of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, that vision evolved into something real. When RISE Springfield officially launched in early 2023, it immediately struck a chord. Events began drawing dozens, then hundreds, of young professionals. Today, more than 500 to 600 people have attended a RISE event, each one contributing to the growing network and the supportive culture that has come to define the group. What has made RISE so impactful isn’t just the professional development opportunities or volunteer involvement, it’s the friendships. To them, RISE isn’t just about filling a calendar with events; it’s about creating moments where people find “their people.”
“ Programs like RISE help you take that step, connect with people you wouldn’t normally meet, step outside of your comfort zone in a supportive setting, and ultimately, become a more well-rounded professional and member of the community. Nick Gentile, co-founder of RISE Springfield
it’s proving that when people feel cared for and connected, they choose to stay, building not just a workforce, but a thriving community.
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