Junior Chamber connects Flagler teens with business and community leaders

FPC student Bryan Soudrain leads a group of 30 fellow students.


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  • | 4:50 p.m. January 19, 2021
Bryan Soudrain, Jesse Doolin, Krish Sagar and Miguel Castillo (not pictured: Taylor Carroll). Courtesy photos
Bryan Soudrain, Jesse Doolin, Krish Sagar and Miguel Castillo (not pictured: Taylor Carroll). Courtesy photos
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by: Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber of Commerce

The Junior Chamber of Commerce is a growing group of 30 Flagler Palm Coast High School students who are actively seeking to better understand their future and the community in which they reside. Led by FPC student Bryan Soudrain, in partnership with the newly created Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber, the Junior Chamber of Commerce has already hosted a conversation with Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland and have their sights set on growing the group beyond FPC students. 

“The values the Junior Chamber hopes to instill in students include determination, ambition, understanding the importance of hard work and striving to have an exceptional work ethic,” Soudrain said. “Our Junior Chamber is ‘for the youth, by the youth,’ and we are interested in exploring our future career opportunities, better understanding the business world and creating opportunities for our group members.”

The Junior Chamber is officially sponsored by the Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber of Commerce, which was recently created after the dissolution of the Flagler County Chamber.

Greg Blosé, newly appointed chamber President and CEO said: “I went on a listening tour when I entered this community and found that business leaders in our region are concerned about the quality of our future workforce. During this time, Bryan Soudrain contacted me to talk about dozens of students who wanted to do more to better prepare for their future careers.”

The chamber has helped the Junior Chamber establish connections. 

“As mayor, I am happy to do whatever it takes to support our local students,” said Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland. “I was impressed by the level of interest the Junior Chamber members had about making a positive difference in their community and preparing for their entry into the workforce. This is a worthwhile initiative and I hope others join me in supporting these students.”

“Mayor Holland spent over an hour with us answering questions about her role as mayor and much more, which was an invaluable experience for our group,” Soudrain said. “We have 30 FPC students in our group now, and we know there are more like us.”

The Junior Chamber meets at the Flagler County Youth Center, which is close to the FPC campus.

“The Youth Center is very honored to be able to host the Junior Chamber of Commerce,” said Jordan Butler, director of the Flagler County Youth Center. “This group is an extremely talented and driven group that is working hard to make connections between academics and local businesses.” 

The officers of the club are Vice President Jesse Doolin, Operations Manager Krish Sagar, Fundraising Manager Miguel Castillo and Secretary Taylor Carroll. 

The Junior Chamber has also been working with Tony Flores, SCORE Certified Mentor, to help with their most recent project: a video promoting tourism in Flagler County. 

“I was honored to volunteer my time," Flores said.

For more information, or to view the mentioned video, contact Greg Blosé, President and CEO of the Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber, at 386-846-1864 or via email at [email protected]

 

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