Editor’s note: In keeping with the CantonChamber’s Young Professionals initiative – toattract and retain talented young people forStark County – ACTION will feature a month-ly profile of an individual who represents thegroup (ages 20-40) that the initiative is tar-geting.

Name:Kirsten H. Conley

Age: 31

Occupation/Title/Place of work:Brand Manager atThe M. ConleyCompany

Why are you interested Canton’s YoungProfessionals initiative?I’m interested in what innovative, youngminds can accomplish when they worktogether.

What is your involvement in ystark!,explain what you do.I’m a member and attend as many eventsas possible. I think the leaders of theystark! movement have been tasked with avery important job; one that’s integral tothe growth of this city. They are doing anamazing job!

Where did you grow up? I’m a hybrid of two states: Virginia andOhio. I was born in Washington, D.C. andspent most of my childhood years livingjust outside the beltway in NorthernVirginia.The remainder of my earlier yearswere spent living in Northeast Ohio.

In what cities have you lived andworked? I have lived and worked in Washington,D.C., Northern Virginia, Windsor, Conn., FortLauderdale, Fla., Canton and Cleveland,Ohio and Chicago, Ill.

Why have you chosen to live in Canton? I’ve spent much of my life in transient,densely populated areas. When I met myhusband, a lifelong Canton resident, ourbackgrounds were in stark contrast. Due inlarge part to his efforts to persuade me tolive here with him, I grew to appreciate theclose-knit, community-oriented lifestyle ofCanton.There is a sense of accountabilityand concern for fellow residents here thatI’ve never experienced anywhere else.Living here gives me a sense of connectionto, and responsibility for, the people I sharethis city with.

What type of dwelling do you live in?What do you think of the housing choic-es for YPs in the Canton area? My husband and I just bought our firsthome this past summer. We love ourneighborhood and the community aroundus. It’s a pleasure to finally live somewherewhere I actually know my neighbors’names!

What do you like MOST about Canton?I most enjoy the fact that Canton is small enough that you feel connected to the people around you. I’m also learning that it is quite a forward-thinkingcommunity. I’ve also heard that Canton is agreat place to raise a family.

What do you like LEAST about Canton?Having lived in larger cities, I do miss theincredible, almost innumerable assortmentof new things to do and see – arts, enter-tainment, culture, culinary experiences.So, having a design background, it hasbeen very encouraging for me to see theadvancement of the arts here in Canton.I recently had the opportunity to serveon the subcommittee for September’sinaugural “green” First Friday. I was flooredby the number of diverse people whoattended, demonstrating Canton’s interestfor the environment and the arts.

What do you think Canton needs toattract other young professionals likeyourself? Encouraging YP minds to be involved inthe advancement of our community willnot only encourage a sense of pride andownership, but also dissuades the attitudethat Canton is a stagnant place to live. Ithink that many young professionals areattracted to service and volunteerism intheir communities, and those YPs, I believe,are one of the keys to the city’s futuregrowth.

What would you change about Canton if you could?I would like to see people have more prideand appreciation for the city they live in. Ithink this city sometimes suffers from acase of low self-esteem. With many of ourindustries and jobs recently being dis-placed, we are experiencing a period ofunprecedented transition. I believe weneed to continue to think progressivelyand remind ourselves that the pendulumalways swings both ways, it will only be amatter of time before we find our placeagain in the global economy.

Could you see yourself spending yourlifetime in Canton? I could see that being a very real possibility.There are definite perks toliving in Canton; my husband’s family lives here, I’m beginning to meet somevery interesting people and I’m makingnew friends. There are so many communi-ty-minded organizations to be involved in,and Canton is going through an excitingperiod of change. My whole family isspread out from coast to coast, so I alwayshave someplace different to visit when Iget a little restless and feel like I need achange of scenery!

What other cities in the United Stateswould be appealing to you as a homebase? Why? I love Chicago and could see myselfhappily living there again. It’s a cosmopolitan city with all of the benefitsthat its size and cultural diversity supports,but without the impersonal, unwelcomingnature of most cities that scale. I’ve alsoalways been charmed by the Southeast,specifically the southern coastal Carolinasand Savannah, Georgia area.

15C a n t o n R e g i o n a l C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e

Young Professional Profile

Kirsten H. Conley