OXYP Co-Chair Shares Her Vision for Connecting Oxnard’s Young Leaders

“The young professionals are the business leaders of tomorrow, so by investing in them through networking and leadership, we are enhancing the future of business,” says Taylor Penny, Annual Campaigns Coordinator for St. John’s Healthcare Foundation.

Penny helps lead Oxnard Young Professionals, also known as OXYP, with co-chair Miguel Valencia, Account Executive with United Staffing Associates. OXYP launched in late 2017 as a platform for the next generation of leaders to build strong connections, develop leadership skills, partner with business and community leaders, and interact with elected officials.

“The vision is to have a group in the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce that will be able to service the community, volunteer, support Chamber members and yield new members to come,” says Penny. “We feel that there are a lot of young professionals in the city who are becoming community leaders and having an influence on the generations to come.”

With more than 30 members, OXYP is open to individuals between the ages of 21-40. Membership is free for those employed by a Chamber member business; all others can join for $100 per year.

“One thing that might surprise people about this group is the amount of hard-working people that want to make a difference in this community,” says Penny. “We have new people join all the time and it is great to see them so eager to join and want to get involved.”

There are many opportunities for members to connect and grow their businesses and networks: The Chamber’s monthly Happy Hour 1.5 mixers, monthly OXYP meetings, monthly networking breakfasts at member businesses, and other special events.

In May, breakfast will be hosted at JR Bookkeeping, and in June, OXYP is hosting a Young Professionals Regional Mixer at the Annex Food Hall.

​“We are excited about all the business relationships that we have been exposed to and that are on the horizon,” says Penny. “We want to have a group of members that can continue to make great connections, want to grow their business, yield business, and to grow as a young professional in the City of Oxnard.”

Learn more about OXYP.

---