FUEL Story County

FUEL Advisory Council Spotlight📸
Meet Sam Dilocker with Hy-Vee Corporate!

I joined FUEL in January 2023 in an effort to become more involved in my community, make new connections, and grow professionally. FUEL Young Professionals has been the perfect place for me to accomplish those goals. I’ve made so many valuable connections and friends, given back to my community by volunteering, and enjoyed getting an inside look into so many local businesses throughout the Ames MSA.

My favorite FUEL events are Leadership & Professional Development events. The most recent one I was able to attend was our homebuying Lunch & Learn, which was super helpful to me as a young professional starting to think about buying a home one day. I look forward to meeting more YPs at our next social event on August 6 at Wallaby’s!

Lyndsey's message was inspiring and we were so grateful to be a part of this event! Thank you, Lyndsey!

Happy 4th of July! 🎇✨
Look at all of our amazing volunteers!! We couldn’t do it without you 🎉
Thank you to everyone who helped out during the fireworks show last night and this morning!

We can't wait for Campustown After Sundown on July 11th, but we need YOUR help! Volunteer shifts are still available. If you are interested, please sign up here - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409094DA4A82CABFE3-50005267-campustown #/

The 2024 Young Professionals Panel for the See Yourself in Ames series was a hit! Thank you to our FUEL 4 Under 40 Winners for speaking about your college experiences, career opportunities as a young professional in the area and talking about all of the fun you can have living in the Ames MSA! A big thanks to the Workforce sponsors and FUEL YP sponsors for supporting these programs.

The next combined event for FUEL YP & SYIA is on July 10th for our Lunch & Learn with Lyndsey Fennelly. FUEL Members- please register on fuelyoungprofessionals.com.

FUEL 2023 4 Under 40 Winners-
Abbie Miller - AgCertain and OEI, Inc
Mindy Bergstrom - Elliot Pointe, LLC (Cooks' Emporium, Nook & Nest, Z.W. Mercantile, The Recipe)
Steven Lawrence - Ames Chamber of Commerce
Melissa Muschick - Discover Ames

FUEL Advisory Council Spotlight📸
Meet Sarina Flathers with The Boys & Girls Clubs of Story County!

“Passion is a feeling that follows action. It tends to be created or discovered, not predicted or planned. You don’t find your passion. It finds you as you get in the mix and try things.” – James Clear

Working in the nonprofit industry for almost a decade, I was content and fulfilled serving the community through my day-to-day job. Five years into my career journey, I felt pulled to serve on a larger scale and knew I needed to step out of my comfort zone to change. That’s when I joined FUEL Young Professionals.

Joining FUEL Young Professionals was the catalyst to growing my personal brand out in the community and refined my passion of connecting people with purpose and multiplying value to leaders. What I love most about FUEL YP is how we bring a variety of industry leaders together to create a vast network of resources through building relationships, by providing leadership development, and serving the community.

Are you “getting in the mix and trying things” that FUEL YP offers? Sign up for a program, go to an event - who knows what passion lies within you!

We had such a fun evening at Alluvial Brewing Company! Social events are a great way to meet new FUEL YP members and make connections! Thanks to all who attended! 🎉

Mark your calendars for our next Social event will be at Wallaby’s Rooftop Patio on August 6th from 4:30-6:30pm!

We are SO excited for our next FUEL Social at Alluvial Brewing Company! Join us tomorrow, June 4th from 4:30-6:30pm. We will have the back room of Alluvial reserved and appetizers to enjoy. Bring a coworker or a friend with you!

We can't wait to see you - cheers!

Over the past nine years, Alluvial Brewing Company, located in north Ames, has developed over 100 unique blends of beer, and has evolved and positioned themselves as a social outlet for ale and lager enthusiasts, and music lovers. Learn more in this Traction story online.
https://www.ameschamber.com/traction-stories/alluvial-brewing

Another beautification project in Campustown is complete! Thank you to our YP’s for planting new flowers and sprucing up this space! Check out the new landscaping on Chamberlain Street.

We had so many FUEL YP's volunteer at Downtown After Sun Down and during 515 Days! The community showed up and we were eager to lend a hand!

The After Sun Down series in Campustown on Thursday, May 30th from 5:00-8:30pm. We are looking forward to another great evening of food trucks and live music!

We had a packed house for our Homebuying Lunch & Learn at First National Bank! Thank you to mortgage lenders, Dona McMasters and Sara Lehman, and Friedrich Real Estate agent, Jason Jennings! Purchasing a house is one of the largest purchases you will ever make, so we were happy to learn the in’s and out’s of the homebuying process 🏠

Join us for our next Lunch & Learn at Overtime Training Facility as we hear from Lyndsey Fennelly on July 10th!

Our next Lunch & Learn is at First National Bank as we learn about the home buying process and how the real estate market looks this summer! Don’t forget to register 🤩

May 21st
12-1pm
Register here - https://fuelyoungprofessionals.com

FUEL Advisory Council Spotlight📸
Meet Morgan Dalbeck with Saltech Systems!

I joined FUEL Young Professionals two years ago to expand my network, gain insights from peers across various industries, and foster personal and professional growth through collaboration and shared experiences.

This past year I decided to become the Community Outreach & Partnerships Lead because I love bringing people together for a good cause. My goal has been to make the volunteering fun and accessible, so everyone in FUEL can pitch in and make a difference in Story & Boone County. My favorite volunteering opportunity has been assisting in the barricades for the 4th of July Fireworks, because I am able to bring my family, enjoy dinner, and have the best spot in town for the fireworks!

Looking to volunteer? We need YOUR help! May 15th we are helping with 515 Days in Downtown Ames, and July 3rd & 4th Fireworks Volunteering. All registrations are now open on the FUEL calendar page! https://fuelyoungprofessionals.com/events/

FUEL members had a great time volunteering on Saturday morning planting new flowers at the Campustown Park! Our little helpers even got the chance to meet Firefighters from the Ames Fire Department!

The next time you pass through Campustown, take a moment and stop by the park on the corner of Welch and Chamberlain.

Last night, FUEL members volunteered at Reiman Gardens and cleaned flower pots so they could repurpose them this summer. The group cleaned 300 flower pots, which will save Reiman Gardens close to $1,000.

If you like gardening, come volunteer this Saturday at 10:00am to help plant flowers and clean up the Campustown Park!

We had an amazing evening at The Recipe! Thank you for hosting our FUEL members! 🍽️🥂

Chef Patrick taught us some tips and tricks on a few appetizer recipes and whipped us up some delicious cocktails to enjoy during our sold out class!

Check out our events calendar at www.fuelyoungprofessionals.com to see what other events we have cookin’! 🤩

515 Days are a spring celebration in Downtown Ames for those who live, work and play in the 515 area code, beginning on 5/15. You can learn more about 515 Days here: https://amesdowntown.org/upcoming-events/515days-2024/

"Downtown After Sundown" is the first event that is taking place during 515 Days on Wednesday, May 15th, and it won’t be possible without volunteers! There are several volunteer options to choose from, and we'd love your help!

FUEL Volunteer Sign Up: https://fuelyoungprofessionals.com/events/515-days-volunteering/

📣VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR SATURDAY, MAY 4TH📣

Calling all green thumbs and community champions! 🌟 Join us Saturday, May 4th for a day of planting flowers and sprucing up our beloved park. Together, let’s roll up our sleeves and make a difference in our community!

Please let us know you will be attending here - https://fuelyoungprofessionals.com/events/beautify-our-campustown-park/

We have time allotted from 10am-2pm, but hoping with many volunteers it will not take the whole time!

We had an amazing time at Friendship Ark Homes & Community Services Tropical Sangria Escape! This was a wonderful way to give back to our community and we loved helping out - and it felt like a tropical getaway! 🌴🌺☀️

Check out www.fuelyoungprofessionals.com for more upcoming volunteering opportunities!

FUEL Advisory Council Spotlight📸
Meet Mitch Anderson with Story Construction!

I joined FUEL in 2019 just after I was hired at Story Construction in Ames. After really only being a college student in Ames, I was looking forward to familiarizing myself with the business community in the Ames area and FUEL was a great way to do that. Not long after first getting involved in FUEL, I joined the board of directors (now the advisory council), and I now chair the council for the year. I get to work with a great group of people on the council who are dedicated to connecting young professionals in the Ames area.

Yet this year I’m specifically looking forward to our joint lunch and learn event with See Yourself in Ames in July and the remaining social events we have. I’m also really looking forward to our work on the council as we further develop FUEL to be a voice for young professionals and connect them with other opportunities in the Ames MSA.

Have you taken your FUEL Survey yet? We want to better serve our members and we want to hear from you! Fill out your survey here - https://fuelstorycounty.com/survey/

What a great evening at our CliftonStrengths Workshop! 🎉

Our attendees discovered their Top 5 Strengths, learned the values they bring to the table and the role they play, gained personal insight on how to better utilize their strengths in the workplace and how they can motivate others with different strengths to create a strong team (check out all of the spaghetti tower masterpieces)! Thank you to all who attended!

A big thank you to our facilitator, Kathy Wieland, for guiding us throughout the evening!

Ames Chamber of Commerce Iowa State University Ivy College of Business

FUEL Advisory Council Spotlight📸 Meet Abigail Jennings, Realtor with the Jennings Real Estate Team at RE/MAX Real Estate Center!

I've proudly been part of FUEL for two years and currently serve as the social chair on the council. Initially joining as a member, I quickly realized my desire to become more involved, leading me to join the council and now serving at the Lead Social Chair. This role involves planning various social events throughout the year, which has been incredibly fulfilling.

Growing up on a farm outside of Ames, my roots in the area run deep, fostering a strong passion for the Ames MSA and its people. Engaging with and contributing to the community I call home has become a personal mission. I firmly believe in the power of early community involvement, recognizing its long-term benefits. Through FUEL, I've not only expanded my professional network but also formed meaningful friendships. Learning about our community alongside fellow members has been enriching and has contributed to my personal growth.

Looking ahead, I'm excited about the upcoming social events planned for 2024. From a cooking class at The Recipe, to a fall floral arrangement session, and a summer networking night at Alluvial Brewing Company, there's something for everyone. I can't wait to reconnect with familiar faces and meet new ones at these events. See you there!

There are only 13 spots left for the next social event at The Recipe! Sign up today at fuelstorycounty.com!

We learned a lot at the Resource Recovery Center this afternoon! Thank you to everyone who attended! We had grab & go lunches provided by our new Lunch Sponsor, too!

Last year, Story County diverted over 37,000 tons of material from the landfill. We had FUEL members volunteer at Rummage RAMPAGE in 2023 that assisted with those efforts of recycling and reusing goods!

Happy International Women’s Day! 🫶🏼❤️
We started our morning at surrounded by 140 passionate and vibrant leaders in our community! We were honored to hear from Mo Collins and feel empowered to continue to be changemakers in the Ames MSA!

Registration is now closed for our CliftonStrengths Workshop coming up on Tuesday, March 26. We look forward to sharing our strengths and learning from each other later this month!

FUEL Advisory Council Spotlight 📸Meet Nick Sloan, Product Analyst at Kingland!

I’ve been a FUEL member for about 7 years. A couple of years after joining, I was encouraged to join the Leadership and Professional Development (L&PD) committee to help plan lunch and learn events. I did so as I thought it would be a good way to get more involved in the organization. Later on, I became the chair of the L&PD committee to continue to give back to FUEL members and the community.

FUEL has had great growth recently and having the opportunity to be the L&PD Lead for the FUEL Advisory Council this year felt like a good chance to make an impact. I’ve met so many great people through FUEL which has expanded my professional network and given me an even greater appreciation for the people who live and work in the Ames MSA. We have some great events planned for 2024. They include a presentation and tour at the Ames Resource Recovery Plant, a CliftonStrengths workshop, and a presentation from the Executive Director of the Trice Legacy Foundation. I’m looking forward to engaging with you in 2024!

Registration is now open for Ames Resource Recovery Plant tour and the CliftonStrengths workshop at fuelstorycounty.com!

“When you make the most of your strengths, there are no limits to what you can do and how you can lead.”

We are thrilled to give our FUEL members the opportunity to find out their Top Five Strengths and learn how to apply them at work and in their daily lives to maximize their full potential! This is a workshop that you don’t want to miss.

Registration deadline is March 6th. Register now at fuelstorycounty.com/events/cliftonstrengths-workshop/

Pass this information along to coworkers, staff members and friends. If you have already completed the assessment previously, you can still attend! Please register and then reach out to our Leadership & Professional Development Lead, [email protected].

FUEL had an incredible year in 2023 and we are so grateful to have many FUEL members dedicated to this program and impacting our community.

We hosted 5 Social events, 6 Lunch & Learns and 7 Community Outreach & Partnerships events – WOW!

It was an exciting year for growth, as we welcomed 75 new members to FUEL this year! We couldn’t have had this much success without you. Thank you for being a part of FUEL and continuing to connect with other young professionals, the business community and the communities in which we live, work, and play.

Here's to making more connections, impact, and memories in 2024!