Coeur d’Alene Chamber Launches NEXT GEN Mentorship Program for Young Professionals

Forty young professionals ages 23-35 met with 43 volunteer senior leaders at the Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber’s kickoff for NEXT GEN Coeur d’Alene, a new six-month mentorship and leadership development pilot designed to strengthen the county’s leadership pipeline and civic engagement. The initial session established mentor-mentee pairs, set expectations for the program and began a series of monthly MasterClass workshops focused on practical skills.

The strong volunteer turnout - mentors outnumbered participants - signals local business and nonprofit enthusiasm for investing in early-career talent. Mike Baker, CEO of Heritage Health and a Chamber board member, called the program a targeted investment in the area’s leadership future: “This program fills a critical gap in our community. We talk a lot about workforce and leadership pipelines and NEXT GEN is exactly the kind of intentional investment that helps ensure our future leaders are prepared, connected and committed to this place.”

NEXT GEN is structured around two pillars: one-on-one mentorship and skills-based MasterClasses. Chamber CEO Linda Coppess led the inaugural MasterClass, People First: The Art of Connection, emphasizing networking and relationship-building. Sessions are designed collaboratively by senior leaders and the young professionals themselves to deliver immediately applicable skills for business and civic roles.

Local business leaders and organizations are prominently involved. Jennifer Smock, co-owner and managing broker at Windermere Coeur d’Alene Realty, highlighted the reciprocal nature of the program: “What excites me most is the mutual learning happening here. This isn’t just about seasoned leaders giving advice - it’s about listening, sharing perspective and building trust across generations. That’s how strong communities are built.” Sydni Parker, owner of SJP Properties and chair of the NEXT GEN Committee, described the program’s role in making civic pathways clearer for young professionals: “So many young professionals are looking for ways to be involved beyond their day-to-day work. We want mentorship, we want community and we want to contribute - but those pathways aren’t always clear. NEXT GEN creates a bridge, helping us feel seen, supported and invited into leadership.”

The pilot received title sponsorship from STCU and drew program support from chamber volunteers, the NEXT GEN Committee, and program advisor Marita Diffenbaugh, Director of Innovation at XLabs at North Idaho College. The initiative also traces its origins to an intern, Emily Forslof, whose early work helped shape the committee behind NEXT GEN.

For Kootenai County employers and civic groups, NEXT GEN represents a pragmatic approach to talent retention and succession planning: structured mentorship and monthly training can accelerate professional development, deepen community ties and expand the pool of leaders ready to serve on boards and volunteer roles. Over the next six months the Chamber will monitor participation, mentor engagement and the practical outcomes of the MasterClasses, with an eye toward sharing lessons and scaling outreach across the region.

As the pilot unfolds, local young professionals will continue monthly MasterClasses and ongoing mentor meetings, and the Chamber aims to translate early results into broader recruitment strategies that keep emerging leaders engaged in Coeur d’Alene’s economic and civic future.