Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce Kicks Off RETAIN Program with First Cohort, Strengthening Support for Young Talent in Rochester
ROCHESTER, NY (November 12, 2024) - Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Monroe County, has officially launched the first cohort of its RETAIN program under the CampusROC initiative, starting with a kick-off event at Rohrbach Brewing Company in October. The RETAIN program, initially created by Monroe County, focuses on helping new graduates integrate into the Greater Rochester workforce through financial incentives, professional support, and strategic networking opportunities. Now managed by CampusROC, RETAIN builds on its mission to recruit, retain, and nurture young talent in the region, with a particular focus on recent college and trade school graduates.
This year's class of young professionals in the RETAIN program is as follows:
- Abby Hannel, Lifetime Assistance
- Bethany Mansour, Simcona Electronics Corporation
- Camila Silvera, Ward’s Science (VWR, Part of Avantor)
- Colin Thompson, Passero Associates
- Daniel Breault, Photonect Interconnect Solutions, Inc.
- De’Yoni Majors, Rochester Regional Health
- Elisa Everett, Visit Rochester
- Haley Brunstad, West Irondequoit School District
- Jasmine Duran, New Hope Veterinary Wellness Center
- Julia Jones, Phillips European Restaurant
- Lada Kozachok, Wilmac Technologies
- Leila Pena, Del Monte Hotel Group
- Louis Chavez, George Eastman Museum
- Lucy Manuel Pizarro, Jrlon Engineered Products Division
- Morgan Adams, NextCorps
- Nicole Rogers, Mental Health Counselor
- Nicole Watson, NWB Consulting
- Oleg Savka, ICC Community Development Solutions
- Rory McIntosh, Actel Advisory Group
- Sierra Sadowski, Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester - Levine Center to End Hate
- Tristan Eldridge, Conlon and Company Certified Public Accountants, P.L.L.C.
- Zachary Sobel-Pressman, Labby, Inc
“We are excited to launch our first RETAIN cohort, building on the framework laid by our partners in Monroe County. Our kickoff event was just the beginning of what we hope will be a vibrant community for young professionals,” said Andrea Tuttle, CampusROC Talent Strategy Program Manager, Greater Rochester Chamber, “Seeing our first cohort come together and connect on both professional and personal levels underscored the potential of this program to truly embed these young professionals in the Rochester community. Thank you to all of our private and partners who have helped make this possible.”
October’s kickoff event marked the first of many networking and community-building events planned for participants, offering them a chance to connect with peers, learn more about RETAIN’s benefits, and proudly receive their first piece of RETAIN gear. Participants in RETAIN will have access to ongoing mentorship, networking events, and career development resources throughout the year. As part of the program's expansion, CampusROC will host events like a Family Weekend, networking opportunities with Rochester’s business leaders, and an End of Year Celebration, aimed at fostering a deep sense of community and career growth.
In addition to networking and mentorship, RETAIN provides financial support for eligible graduates, with a grant amount recently increased to $4,000 per recipient. The program prioritizes graduates employed at small for-profit businesses in Monroe County, particularly in underserved areas and minority and women-owned companies.
For more information on RETAIN, visit CampusROC.org/RETAIN or contact Andrea Tuttle at Andrea.Tuttle@GreaterRochesterChamber.com.