Jason Ball, President & CEO – Lincoln Chamber of Commerce (lcoc.com)

Across the Lincoln community, young professionals are stepping up in big ways. They are leading teams, launching businesses, volunteering, building connections and sparking bold new ideas in the places they work. Their contributions are helping shape Lincoln today while laying the groundwork for an even stronger tomorrow.

That is what makes YP Week so exciting. Hosted by the Lincoln Young Professionals Group, a program of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, YP Week 2026 will take place October 19–23, uniting Lincoln’s young professionals for nine events spanning five days, focused on connection, professional development, leadership and celebration.

The Leadership Council of the Lincoln Young Professionals Group has an incredible lineup of events for this year’s YP Week. This includes a kickoff lunch with Charlie Colon of Chick-fi l-A, the opportunity to connect with the members of the Lincoln Chamber’s Board of Directors at Table for 10 lunches scattered throughout the city, a team volunteer
day and more.

One of the highlights of the week will be the annual Young Lincoln Leader Awards, which will take place on October 22. These awards celebrate the young professionals and businesses who are making a difference in the landscape of our business community. The Young Lincoln Leader Awards will recognize excellence in seven categories: Emerging
Leader of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Young Nonprofit Professional of the Year, Next Generation Workplace, Diversity & Inclusive Excellence and Young Professional of the Year.

Recognizing these accomplishments matters. Strong communities are built by people who are willing to get involved, take on leadership roles, pursue new ideas and invest their time and talents in making a difference. Lincoln is incredibly fortunate to have so many young professionals doing exactly that, and it is their energy, ideas and leadership that are helping to shape our future.

That is why the Lincoln Chamber is dedicated to creating opportunities for emerging leaders to build relationships, develop their skills and see a future for themselves in Lincoln. Programs like the Lincoln Young Professionals Group are an important part of that work, connecting young professionals with one another, expanding their networks and creating meaningful connections to the broader business community.

YP Week is about more than a calendar of events. It is a reminder that leadership is not defi ned by age or title. It is demonstrated through initiative, service and innovation. The young professionals we celebrate during YP Week are already contributing in meaningful ways to our businesses, nonprofi ts and community, and they will play an even greater role in Lincoln’s future.

I encourage all members of Lincoln’s business community to get involved in YP Week, celebrate the accomplishments of Lincoln’s young professionals and, most importantly, invest in the next generation of leaders who will continue to play a key role in the ongoing vitality of Lincoln.

To learn more about 2026 YP Week and view the full schedule of events, visit lincolnypg.org.