Newest Board Member: Ethan Merchant

The newest addition to the BWYP board, Ethan has been involved with the group since 2019 and joined the leadership ranks this year. 

He serves on the social committee, and enjoys meeting new upcoming young professionals and discussing ideas for the community. You can also find him volunteering with other YPs at places like Mid-City Nutrition. 

Ethan works as a program manager at HDT Automotive Solutions. He earned his bachelors in Mechanical Engineering, with a specialty in Bioengineering, from Kettering University. 

In his free time, he likes to get artsy with acrylic painting and lathe woodworking.

Mural wrap added to 7th Street Tunnel

The Blue Water Young Professionals added a mural wrap along the 7th Street Tunnel. This project is a collaboration long in the making between the YPs, SC4 staff and students, and the City of Port Huron.

It first started in 2017 when the YPs partnered with SC4 on a grant for the college’s Clay and a Concert series, which allows elementary students to create clay tiles and enjoy a concert. Those tiles were used to create a mosaic now adorning both entrances to the 7th Street Tunnel after SC4 donated the tiles to the YPs.

The partnership continued when it was decided adding murals to sides would make the space that much more appealing, and so a SC4 student design competition as launched.

Wrap design is inspired by JR McPhail, who won the student design competition back in January 2018. The wrap was digitally recreated and installed by locally-owned graphics company Image Authentics, Inc.

Kegs N Ks returns June 8

GET READY FOR A ROCKIN’ GOOD TIME

Join 200 of your closets friends for beer and a fun run - Kegs N Ks is back! This BWYP annual fundraiser returns Saturday, June 8.

Kegs N Ks is was celebrating it’s fifth year under BWYP leadership. This year’s proceeds will benefit general projects as determined by members.

Current cost is $25 and includes a post-race pint of Bell’s Beer and a T-shirt. Price increases to $30 on May 1.

To register visit RunSignUp or for more information view the Kegs N Ks race page.

YP board sees another big change

New Year, New Board

Shelby Washkevich, Sara Grout and Austin Shell

YP board sees big change for second year running

January is the month of fresh beginnings and that holds true for three new directors: Sara Grout, Shelby Washkevich and Austin Shell.

The sassiest of our members, Sara joins the board after co-chairing our ChillyFest Bed Races committee, helping with Volleygrass and taking on the role of lead organizer for the Cros-Lex stop of the BWYP Community Tour. She is an attorney at Touma, Watson et al. law firm.

Shelby has previous experience helping the YPs organize our annual fundraiser, Keg N Ks. She works in sales at Radio First.

Austin is a staff accountant at Stewart, Beauvais and Whipple, and has previously served on the Volleygrass committee.

We also wished fare thee well to four board members in 2018.

As much as he didn’t like to admit it, BWYP founder and president AJ Armbruster may as well start digging his grave due to being a decrepit man of 35 years. He leaves the board for that reason. Joking aside, we wouldn’t be here today without all the hard work AJ put in to form the young professional group back in 2009, when many others were leaving for opportunities elsewhere. Thank you for your leadership over the years.

Mallory Michaluk now serves as the new president.

We also say goodbye to Kendra Lake, who joins AJ in the old folks home. For many years Kendra served as our media specialist, taking the lead on social media, eblasts and a website overhaul. She also took initiative on many other behind-the-scenes tasks and served as the group go-to, especially when it came to teaching AJ all things tech.

Both Sarah Grewe and Cameron Herrington resigned due to work obligations, which involved a move to Houghton for Cam, and passed the reins of their executive positions to other members.

Demiree Potter took over a 2-year term as board chair from Cam, and Shelby is serving a 1-year term as interim secretary for Sarah.

Bed Races registration is open!

ChillyFest Bed Races returns for the 7th year. Hosted by the Blue Water Young Professionals, this is one the ChillyFest’s most popular events and pulls in hundreds of spectators as they watch teams race down the icy streets of Port Huron.

Team registration is now open. To learn more or create a team click here.

Further questions can be sent to bedraces@bwyp.org.

Join us for Holiday Homecoming!

Join the Young Professionals on Thanksgiving Eve (Nov. 21) for the first ever Holiday Homecoming.

Traditionally one of the most popular days of the year for former residents to return, gather and socialize at local pubs, restaurants and area hot spots, the purpose of the Thanksgiving Eve Holiday Homecoming event is to potentially recruit those who have left the region to return home to their roots where workforce talent is desperately needed and the region’s low cost of living and quality of life is very desirable.

Job opportunities in the region have never been more plentiful. It’s time for talented individuals and families to rediscover Port Huron…not the city you remember…and we are excited to show you why.

Sperry’s Dinnerhouse will serve as the hub of Holiday Homecoming, with a social event planned from 6-8 pm, featuring prizes, appetizers, drinks and the opportunity to scope out hot jobs with local employers.

Activities such as a mini escape room will be hosted in The Underground at Sperry’s as well. Optional loft tours will be open to attendees following the event.

When the event concludes, we encourage everyone to continue to enjoy the rest of their evening at the many local bars and restaurants downtown.

7th Street Tunnel gets makeover

If you've walked along the Black River Walk this past month you've probably noticed the 7th Street Tunnel is looking brighter. This is thanks to a partnership between BWYP and St. Clair County Community College and its Clay and a Concert series. 

Run by SC4's art department, Clay and a Concert invites local elementary school students to a theatre etiquette class where they then get to experience a live concert in the college's Fine Arts Theatre. The day's activities also include a hands-on clay workshop. 

The tile mosaic now adorning both entrances to the 7th Street Tunnel was created with clay tiles made by fifth-grade students from Roosevelt Elementary who participated in the program during fall 2017. The tiles were inspired by the Port Huron's maritime surroundings, and SC4 generously donated them to the BWYP. 

The YPs has the mosaic installed by Ron Besko and Jane Barden over a four day period starting June 7. The City of Port Huron and the National Endowment for the Arts were also partners in the project.

Kegs N Ks price increases April 16

The Blue Water Young Professionals' annual fundraiser returns Saturday, June 9 along the Black River Walk. Register now as the price increases from $15 to $20 on April 16. 

Now with a new and improved course as well as a new date, participants will have the option to consume a 4 oz beer at several points along the 4K race course. Participants will also receive a full Bell's beer at the end of the race and a t-shirt with the Kegs N Ks logo.

Make sure you join us for the after-party with music, food and beer for purchase, games, and a rockin' good time!

All proceeds from Kegs N Ks 2018 will go toward the Blue Water Young Professionals' Black River Walk mural project. Since 2011, the BWYP has been working with partners throughout the community to help make the Black River front a beautiful place for residents and visitors alike to enjoy. With your support, we can continue our work on this project. Visit our website for more details about the Black River Walk. 

For more information, visit RunSignUp.com. 

Board sees biggest change in leadership

From left to right: Cam Herrington, Sarah Grewe, Audrey Sochor, Demiree Potter, Grant Moore, Mallory Michaluk

The Blue Water Young Professionals is facing its largest shift in leadership since the group’s established in 2009.

The dawn of 2018 shines a light on four new directors: Cameron Herrington, Mallory Michaluk, Grant Moore and Demiree Potter.

Three of the four are in their early 20s and recently moved back to the area.

Age limits mean we also have to say farewell to Jackie Hanton and Lindsey Adams Fitchett. Hanton has served as the group’s vice president since the group’s formation. Audrey Sochor is her successor.  

Leo Colantuono also resigned from the board earlier in the year to focus on creating a new business and other community service.

When it comes to board officer roles, the vice president position isn’t the only one to see a change.

Sarah Grewe has taken over as board secretary. This role was previously fulfilled by Korissa Wilkins. She will still sit on the board as a member at large.

Herrington now serves as board chairman. This role was previously filled by Colantuono.

YPs host Chilly Fest Bed Races 2018

Get Ready to Rumble (run and bumble with a bed, that is)!!!

The Blue Water Young Professionals continue as host of the Chilly Fest Bed Races for the seventh straight year. This can only mean one thing - Bed Races is almost here and registration is open!

Returning team ready to get signed up? Go for it! Never heard of it, so what is Bed Races, you ask?

It's simple, teams of five will race a "bed" against other teams down the chilly streets of Port Huron while wearing hilariously themed costumes. Teams have a chance to win an epic trophy and prizes from local businesses.

The Basics:

When
Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018 at 2:15PM
Racing begins at 3PM

Where
Intersection of McMorran Blvd. & Superior Mall in downtown Port Huron.

Who
Team of 5 people. Teams can be co-workers, friends, family, or 5 strangers…really any 5 people can form a team.

How Much
$25 entry fee for each team.

Why
Why not? Don’t you want to have fun in the middle of winter?

The after-party and award ceremony will be at Sperry's 2nd Floor Dinnerhouse. More information, rules and registration forms can be found on the Bed Races webpage. For even more information, please contact Sara Grout and Tori Ferres at bedraces@bwyp.org. 

Bed Races is one event out of two days of wintertime fun during Port Huron's Chilly Fest.