About the Foundation

Southeast Texas Young Professionals Organization's mission is to promote the retention and recruitment of young professionals through networking and career development opportunities throughout Southeast Texas. Young professionals and post-secondary students between the ages of 21 and 40 are encouraged to join. Membership dues are set at $75/yr. Interested professionals over the ages of 40 will have the opportunity to get involved in an advisory capacity. All sponsorships run from January through December 2024.

The Southeast Texas Young Professionals Organization, Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce and The Beaumont Enterprise honor the best and brightest young professionals in our area who are under the age of 40 each year. These honorees are chosen for their academic achievements, professional success, and community involvement.

This program focuses on leadership development and helps prepare students to be strong leaders in the future. 8^th grade students from across the region participate in activities that help them build self-esteem, team building and leadership skills. They learn about personality profiles and are involved in activities focused on presentation and public speaking techniques. The program is held on the Lamar University Campus where students can engage with student services that provide preparation and admissions information during the day.

Junior Leadership Southeast Texas allows 11^th grade area students to enhance their skills and knowledge base and encourages them to remain in, or return to, our area following graduation. This unique program includes six all-day sessions throughout the school year on topics such as Leadership Skills, Public Safety, Arts & Community, Local Government, Economic Development, Healthcare, and then concludes with a graduation dinner for high school juniors in the Beaumont Area. The sessions involve speakers, field trips, and events to enhance student’s knowledge of our area.

The Mentorship Program partners mentees with mentors who are selected to meet their individual needs. The program lasts nine months. Participant mentorship pairs attended six events. In addition to Orientation and Graduation, the participants take six field trips to various agencies throughout Southeast Texas to learn about the area. They also can attend “Professional Development Trainings” that educate on important business topics of our day. Nominations and applications are reviewed by the Mentorship Committee for participation each year.

The Leadership Beaumont Committee hosts two Professional Development Luncheons each year, as well as spring and fall social mixers.  The goal of this committee is to provide an opportunity for networking and continued involvement for Leadership Beaumont Alumni. They provide appealing and entertaining events to maintain alumni participation to support the Leadership Beaumont program. The goal of the Professional Development Luncheons is to educate the public through topics that are of concern and interest to potential attendees.

Lemonade Day is a free, fun, experiential learning program that teaches youth how to start, own, and operate their own business. A lemonade stand! The foremost objective of Lemonade Day is to empower youth to become the business leaders, social advocates, volunteers, and forward-thinking citizens of tomorrow. Each child that registers receives information through an app that can be downloaded to your computer or phone. This app teaches them business skills like creating budgets, setting profit-making goals, serving customers repaying investors, and giving back to the community. Along the way, they also acquire skills in goal setting, problem solving, and gain self-esteem that is critical for future success. They keep all the money they make and are encouraged to spend some, save some and share some.

Leadership Beaumont is a nine-month community awareness and leadership development program. Leadership Beaumont began in 1971 and is the oldest community leadership program in the state of Texas. The program begins in September with a full day opening session and concludes with graduation in May. Twenty-five to forty applicants are accepted into the program each year. Graduation is a celebration of the Leadership Beaumont participants and the reunion of Leadership Beaumont alumni! Sponsorships to underwrite the cost of the program are contributions to the Beaumont Chamber Foundation, a 501c3 TAX DEDUCIBLE organization.

What has Leadership Beaumont accomplished?

Since 1971 more than 1,700 leaders have graduated the program, many of whom now are civic and business leaders across Southeast Texas, the state of Texas, and the nation. Some of the long-standing programs, events and initiatives that came from the program include:

• Created Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA of Southeast Texas)
• The downtown Beaumont 4th of July Celebration
• 8^th Grade Youth Leadership
• Leadership Southeast Texas
• The Public Service Candidate Workshop
• “Noon Tunes” and Brown Bag lunches in downtown
• Beaumont Relief Program
• “Suits for Success” Program
• Southeast Texas Young Professional Organization
• Fundraisers Established- Spice of the Season and Beaumont Chamber Foundation Golf Tournament
• Implemented “Planet K12” – a website for youth activity, interests and communications
• Beaumont City Ordinance on Bike Path
• And innumerable other beneficial contributions to the community.

And we continue to strive to positively impact our community every year.

 Spice of the Season is our main fundraiser and is a themed event designed to involve the community in an evening of fun, laughter, and entertainment unlike any other event of its kind. To add to the fun, “celebrity” waiters and attendees are encouraged to dress in festive attire to go along with each year’s theme. This event has a variety of activities throughout the evening to keep the fun going and has continued to grow each year.