Houston Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs (HYPE) provides tailored professional development opportunities for the next generation of business and community leaders at member companies through unique, regular engagements throughout the year and a curated bimonthly newsletter geared towards building their skills and enhancing their leadership potential. Carly Bylund, Vice President at Frost Bank, and HYPE Champion. Bylund shares her insights on the value of HYPE for young professionals and recaps the latest HYPE Summit, an annual conference that connects HYPE members with Houston's top leaders How has your involvement with HYPE helped you build meaningful connections within Houston’s business community? Being a member of HYPE has been a wonderful way to stay connected to the Houston community. Since HYPE is a young professional group, it has been so beneficial to connect with like-minded people in similar career stages. HYPE has made meeting others easy, and it’s been a natural way to build my network. What do you find most valuable about being a HYPE Champion, and how does it motivate you to continue participating in events? As a HYPE Champion, I look forward to seeing familiar faces at every event. It is motivating to be surrounded by people committed to the opportunities Houston presents us with. There is such a diverse group of attendees to every HYPE event that I know I’ll leave each event learning something new about an industry, company, or even Houston itself. Can you share a memorable moment from a recent HYPE event that had a significant impact on your career or perspective on Houston's opportunities? The HYPE Summit was such a fun day! Having the opportunity to hear the stories and advice of successful Houston professionals is invaluable. I especially loved the breakout discussions, where we connected in small groups with each speaker. It was inspiring to hear from people like Trevor Best, CEO, Syzygy, Andrea Alexander, SVP and CHRO, Coterra and Steve Kean, President and CEO, Greater Houston Partnership. How do you think HYPE’s diverse group of attendees contributes to your professional growth and understanding of different industries in Houston? The diversity of attendees at every HYPE event is something I truly value. It creates opportunities to learn something new about a different industry or company every time. I always leave these events with a broader perspective on Houston’s business landscape and new connections that contribute to my personal and professional growth. The HYPE Summit features insights from successful professionals. What was the most inspiring piece of advice or story you heard at the event? I enjoy hearing about people’s specific career paths and how they got to their current positions because success looks different for everyone. One of the most inspiring takeaways was how many opportunities there are for young professionals in Houston to become leaders as we transition across generations. Listening to entrepreneurs like Trevor Best and executives like Andrea Alexander and Steve Kean was truly inspiring. Their stories reminded me that success comes in many forms and often through unconventional paths. It has encouraged me to be open to new opportunities and to think more strategically about how I can shape my own career. HYPE events bring together people from a wide variety of industries. How have these interactions broadened your understanding of Houston’s economic landscape? Every HYPE event I attend broadens my understanding of Houston’s economic landscape. Meeting professionals from different sectors and learning about their companies opens my eyes to new possibilities. These interactions have been a great way to stay informed about what’s happening across industries in the city. Looking ahead, what are you most excited about in terms of future HYPE events and how they contribute to Houston’s thriving young professional community? I’m already looking forward to the next HYPE event! These gatherings are a great way to stay connected, learn from others, and grow my professional network. I’m excited about the future of HYPE because it keeps young professionals engaged and invested in Houston’s success, and that’s something I’m proud to be a part of. HYPE is a member-based program, to subscribe you must be employed at a current member company. Learn more about this program here.

The Greater Houston Partnership welcomed 18 new member companies in the month of August. The Partnership works to connect companies with resources, information and networking opportunities to help increase business while also providing a platform to influence the direction of the region. New members joining in the month of August include: ABIC - American Business Immigration Coalition: ABIC - American Business Immigration Coalition is active in key states and communities across the country, engaging activists, advocates, business leaders, and elected officials on the urgency of passing immigration reform that boosts our economy, creates jobs, eases the labor shortage, and supports families. Website.  ACE Scholarships: ACE Scholarships provides children of lower-income families with scholarships to private schools in grades K-12, and to advocate for expanded school choice. Website.  Alvin Community College: Alvin Community College is a fully accredited community college working closely with business and industry to provide customized training in a full range of programs for traditional and nontraditional students. Website.  AMA Houston: AMA Houston is the area’s largest and most active professional marketing organization and one of the largest chapters in the nation. Website.  BBVA Compass Bancshares Inc: BBVA Compass Bancshares, Inc. is a U.S.-based financial holding company that provides banking and financial services. Website.  BE&K Building Group: BE&K Building Group is an integrated construction services company serving industrial + manufacturing, aviation + aerospace, life sciences, food + beverage, healthcare, higher education, and commercial clients. Website BidConnectUSA: BidConnectUSA is a cutting-edge 21st-century business ecosystem platform designed to increase your company's growth and provide holistic education to Small & Medium Sized Enterprises. Website  Cole Chemical & Distributing, Inc.: Cole Chemical & Distributing, Inc. provides chemical management services and is an independent petrochemical distributor serving the nation. Website  Elevator Repair Service, Inc.: Elevator Repair Service, Inc is comprised of a highly-skilled and experienced staff of Union elevator mechanics who are qualified in all phases of repair, construction, maintenance, modernization and installation of elevators, escalators, rack & pinions, and material lifts. Website.  Octagon Staffing, LLC: Octagon Consulting, LLC is a management consulting firm dedicated to enhancing organizational performance across private, public, and social sectors. Website.  Optimal Wellness and Lifestyle Balance LLC: Optimal Wellness and Lifestyle Balance is a wellness and fitness business that supports optimal health and wellness through blended formulations of natural product. Website.  Rippling Nature: Rippling Nature is Innovative results-oriented strategic advisor possessing rare combination of market, business, and technology acumen. Strong background in assessing, planning and directing the implementation of digital transformation projects within the food-water-energy nexus focused to greening the world/decarbonization. Website.  Rockwell American Services, Ltd: Rockwell American Services sells, rents and provides a wide range of products and services to the U.S. military, government and energy industry. Website.  Sixty Vines: Sixty Vines is a casual New American kitchen & wine bar offering bites & wines on tap in spacious, modern surrounds. Website.  Visa Solutions: Visa Solutions has been the premier immigration and relocation agency. Website.  West Gulf Maritime Association: The WGMA negotiates and administers various multi-employer collective bargaining agreements with the International Longshoremen’s Association. Website.  Whiskey Cake: Whiskey Cake is your neighborhood joint for craft cocktails and farm-fresh comfort food. Website.  Click here to see the Partnership's Membership Directory. To learn more about membership with the Greater Houston Partnership click here, or contact membership@houston.org.