“I knew that research was out there, but 62 percent is really eye-opening,” said Porter, current vice chair of Metro EDGE, the Metro Chamber’s young professional program.

That number, presented by Downtown Development District of New Orleans CEO Kurt Weigle, was part of a body of research that found most young professionals across the nation pick a city based on things they value before finding a job.

“Earning a good living is important, naturally, but the best and brightest are looking for more than just a paycheck,” said 2012 Metro EDGE Chair Sean O’Brien. “Young professionals are looking for a place to live the best life they can—they want to make it count.”

What do young professionals base their locale choices on? In New Orleans the research pointed out things like diverse and unique neighborhoods, convenient housing and public transportation, and a clean environment. A vibrant arts community, access to entertainment and outdoor recreation also top the list.

“We want Sacramento to be a place where young professionals are excited to live. We want to keep our homegrown talent and attract the best from across the country. We want those who will help lead this region toward a prosperous future. That under-40 talent pool is the future of this city,” said O’Brien.

Ensuring Sacramento’s future is at the heart of Metro EDGE’s mission. The goal: to Engage, Develop, Give and Empower the 40-and-under young leaders of the Sacramento region.

Founded in 2009, membership has grown to more than 450 strong. Members come from a myriad of business sectors, ethnic groups and education levels. They have access to various professional enrichment opportunities that are offered throughout the year. EDGE-ucational Forums, networking events and philanthropic projects are among the many Metro EDGE offerings that bring young professionals together.

More than purely social, Metro EDGE provides future leaders a chance to contribute today. Since inception, Metro EDGE has logged more than 1,200 hours of community service and raised more than $8,000 in cash and in-kind services for charitable causes in 2011.

“Our members are incredibly engaged. We want to help, and we want to be a part of positive change,” said O’Brien.

The group encourages members to get involved. From city council meetings to Metro Chamber events to the Next Economy Regional Forums, our members are everywhere.

“Metro EDGE represents the voice of young professionals in the region,” said O’Brien. “We’re not going to be heard, or contribute to any kind of solution, by sitting on the sidelines.”

Not only civically active, Metro EDGE is leading the charge in taking pride in our hometown.

“New Orleans has a very unique brand. It has a culture all its own. It has swagger,” said Porter. “Sacramento desperately needs to embrace its own identity, and Metro EDGE is working toward that end.”

Porter went on by saying, “We have some of the best weather and freshest food in the nation, we’re the state capital, and we have an amazing community and family atmosphere. We all need to take some pride in how great this region is. We all need to believe it and live it every day. Metro EDGE members are doing it, and we want everyone to.”

Metro EDGE is encouraging a larger contingency of its members to join the 2012 Metro Chamber Study Mission to Denver this fall. Part of that program will be devoted to studying the Downtown Denver Partnership’s strategy to attract and retain young professionals. That strategy includes creating a vibrant center city for the surrounding region by building up downtown physically, culturally and socially.

“Young professionals in Sacramento have chosen to live here. We all have a stake in this community and we want it to thrive,” said O’Brien. “It is truly a great time to be a young professional. And it’s an even better time to be in the Sacramento region.

Erika Bjork, co-chair of Metro EDGE’s Regional Action Committee shares the #1 reason you need to be at next Tuesday’s City Council Meeting – more than just a new entertainment and sports complex is on the line.

** UPDATE: Sign the petition to vote YES here

One doesn’t have to be a sports fan to understand that the March 6 Sacramento City Council vote has broader implications than if the NBA’s Sacramento Kings remain in the River City. This vote will decide if bands like the U2 or Beyoncé will ever perform in Sacramento and if families will have a place to take their children to see Disney on Ice. More importantly, the vote will decide if Sacramento finally wants a catalyst to trigger redevelopment in downtown.

Sacramento has long been an icon of prosperity and manifest destiny from its early days during the 49er Gold Rush to serving as the capitol of the ninth largest economy in the world (at one point we were the sixth). In the 1990’s it served as a place for young couples eager to buy homes and start families to prosper during skyrocketing real estate prices in the Bay Area.

Unfortunately, the current image of Sacramento is a place with one of the highest mortgage foreclosure rates and a local economy still dependent on government jobs. Forbes recently voted it “one of America’s most miserable cities.” Sacramento right now is an underdog – but who doesn’t love an underdog.

In a recent poll, 46 percent of young professionals picked work-life balance over their careers. Key factors include culture, arts, number of people under 35, nightlife, cost of living, commute time, entertainment and sports. It is for these reasons that cities such as Austin, Portland, Salt Lake and Denver always rank high. With its amazing recreation, tree-lined streets and vibrant dining scene, Sacramento provides for nearly all of these factors. But nightlife and entertainment are two key areas where this city is lacking.

Recently, Metro EDGE held a “Business of Basketball” mixer to talk about the $422 billion dollar industry of sports. More than 120 people attended to learn the economic and cultural impact a sports team has on a city. Sacramento Kings SVP of marketing and broadcast Craig Amazeen and Sports Illustrated writer Sam Amick spoke about the impact professional sports have on a city. Because of our sports team, the Sacramento Kings, 1.9 million people exposed to Sacramento through the national TNT TV broadcast, 1,200 people employed by Maloof Sports and Entertainment, and the team has the potential to bring $7 billion to the local economy as a result of redevelopment of the Railyards.

Other cities, including nearby San Francisco, have demonstrated the value of sports on a culture and economy. Since the opening of AT&T Park in 2000, the China Basin district of San Francisco has seen a boom in development and revenue. This once vacant and industrial waterfront now serves as home to over 1,900 housing units and provides thousands of jobs through new campuses for UCSF and Salesforce.  San Francisco has also realized the power of sports during the SF Giants World Series win. An increase in tourism to $485 million took place in 2010 and local businesses saw a boost of 75 percent in business during Giants home games. Some credited the tourism boom to simply people watching the series on national TV and seeing the amazing weather in October. Culture, tourism and revenue are the reasons San Francisco is bringing America’s Cup to the bay which will result in over 8,840 jobs and $1.4 billion in revenue; third only in economic impact to the Olympics and World Cup. But one key influence of the new ballpark has been the recruitment of young professionals living in the area. SF Giants CEO Larry Baer recently stated at the State of the Downtown Breakfast that 48 percent of Facebook’s employees live and commute from San Francisco specifically because of the quality of life provided in the South of Market neighborhood.

Power Balance Pavilion (formerly ARCO Arena) was opened in 1987 and built for less than $40 million; the lowest of any NBA venue. The venue holds 17,317 for a basketball game and has featured concerts including entertainment legends U2, The Eagles, Prince, Rolling Stones, Bette Midler, Garth Brooks and Elton John. In its heyday, more than 200 events a year would be held at the arena. But, Power Balance Pavilion is also one of the oldest venues in the NBA – and it shows. Known for horrible acoustics and lack of loading docks, major performers have acknowledged they won’t return, providing the Oakland Coliseum and San Jose’s HP Pavilion the closest arenas for a Sacramento audience. In 2009, NCAA declined for the first time in 15 years to bring March Madness to Sacramento because of its “shabby conditions.”

Next Tuesday’s city council vote will determine if the City will lease its parking to a private operator to secure approximately $200 million for the construction of a new entertainment and sports complex (ESC) in downtown Sacramento. Cities such as Pittsburgh and Chicago have taken similar steps with mixed results. Advocates support the initiative as a means to generate investment for the ESC without increasing taxes; a key criteria set by Mayor Kevin Johnson early in the process. If approved, the private parking agreement would be a 50-year lease and include some exceptions to county and metered parking. Some have raised concerns associated with selling these rights, noting the general fund could be affected by as much as $9 million each year or that the City will sell short this potential future revenue. However, it should also be considered that a new ESC would create 3,700 construction jobs and 400 more permanent jobs that are currently housed at Power Balance Pavilion, $11.3 million annually in fiscal benefits during the construction period alone and bring 3.1 million visitors to downtown once doors open.

With a March 1 deadline for NBA teams to file for relocation, Anaheim and Seattle have both expressed an interest in the Sacramento Kings. The March 6 vote is a make or break situation. A “no” vote would all but end the process and signal the departure of professional sports from Sacramento, let alone a primary tenant should the city ever be able to build a venue in the future. Considering Sacramento is one of only 30 cities to currently be home to a NBA team and its lack of corporate support for a NFL or MLB team, the likelihood of bringing another professional sports team to Sacramento could be decades away.

More importantly, this vote may represent what type of city Sacramento wants to be in the future. Perception alone of a declining city can drive young professionals away. As the underdog, Sacramento may need to take a risk and beat the odds to be a thriving environment for young professionals as well as all its residents.

____________________________________________________________________________________
Info for Tuesday’s City Council Meeting2012 at 6:00 p.m.
City Hall, 915 I Street, First Floor, Downtown Sacramento

Tuesday, March 6,

Watch Live Online or on Metro Chamber Channel 14

Note: Speaker slips are located inside the chamber should you wish to comment. Public comment allows for individuals to speak 90 seconds on agenda items for public record. It is highly recommended you arrive early to hold a place in line should you wish to speak.

Here are the players and their contributions to a city-owned $400 million downtown entertainment and sports complex (ESC):

AEG – A world-renowned entertainment group that built Staples Center and turned the O2 into one of the most successful venues would operate and manage a new sports complex. Unconfirmed reports show that the city is asking AEG to contribute up to $40 – $60 million towards the project.

City of Sacramento – The city of Sacramento would own the new ESC and it would be built on land donated or acquired by the city. The city is expected to contribute close to $200 million towards the development and building of the venue, but also reap a lion’s share of the revenue through property, income and sales taxes generated by the downtown development.

ICON venue group – Known for building fan-friendly and affordable sports complexes including Denver’s Pepsi Center, ICON would build a new venue. ICON has partnered locally with David Taylor to build the downtown project.

Maloof Sports and Entertainment – Maloof Sports and Entertainment is the entity that owns and operates both the Sacramento Kings and Power Balance Pavilion. Led by majority owners the Maloof family, local ownership also includes Joe Benvenuti, Bob Cook, John Kehriotis and Dave Lucchetti. Recent reports speculate the Maloofs  will contribute nearly $150 million towards the project.

NBA – Since the failed Q and R measures in 2006, the NBA has stepped in to lead negotiations between Sacramento and the Sacramento Kings. Commissioner Stern has taken an especially active role including embedding NBA marketing and sales staff in the Sacramento King’s office following the Maloof’s initial attempt to ask the Board of Governors to approve relocating the team in 2011.

Sacramento Railyards – The 240-acre Railyards would serve as the location of a new ESC. It is the largest urban infill sites for a metropolitan of its size in the country and also in a prime location to link mass transit in a modern transportation hub. Inland America finalized a deal with the city for a 24-acre parcel that would be home to a new ESC.

Think BIG Sacramento – Led by executive director Chris Lehane, Think BIG Sacramento is a regional initiative to create jobs and economic growth through a Sacramento ESC. This volunteer coalition led by key leaders, business executives and citizens has been a primer driver towards public awareness and economic impact reports.

The Regional Action Committee is the political arm of Metro EDGE.  The goal of the committee is to keep Metro EDGE members informed and engaged in current issues affecting the Sacramento region and more specifically the lives of young professionals and future business leaders. Read below to be kept in the know! 
 
On January 20, two public policy professors came together at the Metro Chamber to discuss the proposed “Checks and Balances Act of 2012.” Dr. Barbara O’Connor (Sacramento State University) and Professor Robert Benedetti (University of the Pacific) gave the crowd thier take on the act, which recommends a variety of changes to our city’s charter and governance structure, which is more than 100 years old.  

 The complete draft of the proposal can be found here. The highlights of the Checks and Balances Act of 2012 include:

• Would make the mayor the chief executive of the city, rather than the city manager
• Would have a City Council President preside over council meetings, rather than the mayor, which would free up the mayor’s time by allowing him to not have to manage the nitty gritty of the meetings
• The mayor would propose a budget that gets approved by the council
• Would create new processes for transparency and public input
• Would create an Independent Redistricting Commission
• The proposal would automatically sunset in 2020 if not re-approved by voters

It was made very clear that this proposal has changed quite significantly from the Strong Mayor initiative in 2008. The full report has a chart that compares them directly.

Professor Benedetti described how California has chosen an interesting governing system (for all across the state) where we have both city managers and mayors – a “dual executive system”. This model has plusses and minuses. Since the city manager is not elected, Prof. Benedetti argued that is important for the mayor to have more authority since that person is more accountable to the public.

A key emphasis that both professors made was that the role of the mayor should be as a figurehead that can create a regime to run the city not just through government but through partnerships with the private and nonprofit sectors too. They argued that the mayor should be the “chief negotiator” and his time should be available for those type of tasks rather than the day to day tasks of running city council meetings – instead he should focus on being the “aggregator for the city’s vision and use the bully pulpit to set the tone for the city pursue bigger ideas”.  Another key point that was discussed heavily is the public’s current distrust and distaste for government. Both professors felt that the changes in this proposal would be helpful in increasing transparency and accountability.

There were several questions by audience members about why we should reform the charter instead of making smaller tweaks along the way that don’t constitute “charter reform”. There were a variety of questions about the redistricting commission logistics. A few others asked about delaying reform until the next census, what’s the rush type of concerns. Both professors concluded that we cannot wait for a perfect proposal and this was a step in a good direction that we should take advantage of.

Supporters of the initiative would like to get it placed on the June 5, 2012 ballot. If approved by voters, it would take effect in November 2012.

Interested in learning more? Want to get involved? Conact the Chairs of the Regional Action Committee and they can let you know how to do just that. Contact: MacKenzie Woodard or Erika Bjork.

Ryan Porter, 2012 Metro EDGE Vice Chair, participated in the Sacramento Metro Chamber Study Mission in New Orleans last fall. Here he shares some of the key ideas and lessons he left with and how they can apply to the future of Sacramento.

In each of the past 13 years, the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce has sent some of the best and brightest our region has to offer on an annual Study Mission to a different US city in search of an answer to one specific question: “What are the keys to a successful city?” This year, I was lucky enough to join 75 regional business and civic leaders for a four-day trip to New Orleans, Louisiana to determine what The Big Easy could teach us. Over the course of the trip I found that New Orleans had focused on a few specific themes when rebuilding their city: public safety, culture and identity. Sacramento will need to acknowledge and address these issues in order for our region to develop into the national destination we all envision it becoming.

For non-residents like myself, it is hard to think of New Orleans without immediately thinking about the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. Even six years later, our group could still see the reeling effects from the disaster during our own lower 9th ward bus tour. Residents admit that much has been done, but much more rebuilding still lies ahead. Most apparently however, residents seemed to agree that Katrina was a manmade disaster, and that the destruction was avoidable. Choices, decisions and prioritizations led to the failing levies, which in turn caused the vast majority of damage. It is a sad fact, but an encouraging one at the same time since it would imply that the opposite could also be true. Our pro-active choices and decisions could prevent similar incidents. New Orleans’ residents now take a more active ownership role in the policy discussions which will shape their city going forward. The mantra of the New Orleans Civic leaders was that human will, not Katrina, was the catalyst for change. Their advice for Sacramento was simple: Don’t wait until it is too late.

Post Katrina, the Army Corps of Engineers rated Sacramento to have the highest exposure for flood devastation in the nation. How can our great city expect to thrive as a national destination if we can’t even ensure the safety of our own residents? Civic leaders, elected officials and the residents of Sacramento should all heed the advice of New Orleans. We need to band together, get informed and address these regional concerns while they are still under our control.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, the second and third themes that come to mind when I think of New Orleans are Culture and Identity. More specifically New Orleans is known for Mardi Gras, and I expect nothing less from a city nicknamed “The Big Easy”. Love it or hate it, everyone seems to have an opinion about this annual party full of debauchery and the city that hosts it. New Orleans has done what other cities fear to do: embrace its identity. Mardi Gras has been engrained into the culture of all New Orleans’ residents, and instead of shunning the negative connotations associated with it, the city has turned it into a two billion dollar-a-year revenue generator. They play to their strengths and have developed a strong sense of civic identity over the course of the city’s illustrious history. If you ask New Orleans’ residents what is so great about their city, they will give you a laundry list of reasons and qualities, but at the end of the day they will sum it up by saying their town just has “it”.

I’m going to let everyone in on a little secret, Sacramento has it too. No, not the same culture and identity that New Orleans or any other city has, but our very own unique brand. We need to embrace our identity. We have some of the best weather and freshest food this nation has to offer. We have a strong political landscape. We have a magnificent community and family atmosphere. However, we seem to lack the civic pride and confidence needed to show just how wonderful our region is. We need to learn from New Orleans and take it upon ourselves to answer one simple question: “What does Sacramento mean to me?” Once we answer that, it’s up to us to shout from a mountain top about it.

Because if we believe it, and if we live it, then everyone else just might want it.

Metro EDGE members are still buzzing about the 2011 Executive Insight Event at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento. Phrases like “best EDGE event ever!” and “Inspirational!” are even being thrown around. To be honest, we couldn’t agree more! The amazing group of executives shared their valuable time and profound insight with sincerity and lots of good humor. (“Why am I holding my mic like a rapper!”) We wanted to share a few of our highlights, the warm & fuzzy, the candid, and of course the EDGEy. With all the great insight flying around, we missed a few, so please comment with your insight highlights from the night!

James Beckwith, Five Star Bank
“Flush the toilet on failures.” (In other words, don’t dwell on our failures. Let them go. Flush them and move on.)

Steve Childs, SacTown Magazine
“If you dip your toe in the water, you almost always start swimming, so don’t waste your time procrastinating and just go for it.”

Chris Delfino, Downey Brand Attorneys
“Sacramento is an amazing place. When I am asked what Sacramento needs, I say Sacramento just needs some swagger.”
“Be willing to roll up your sleeves and do the work.”

Mike Heller, Heller Pacific Inc.
You [MetroEDGE] are the crew that’s going to lead Sacramento to raise the bar.”

Becky Johnson, Siemens
“Form genuine friendships.” (In regards to networking.)
“Learn to say no. Establish boundaries.”

Donna Lucas, Lucas Public Affairs
“Do things that challenge you.”
“Give yourself some pause.” (Discussing the importance of a work/life balance.)

Mark Otero, KlickNation
“How you spend [your time] defines who you are.”

Randy Paragary, Paragary Restaurant Group
“Truly find something you love, and stick with it. Simple as that.”

Randy Satar, Teichert Land Company
“This is not a dress rehearsal…Jump in and start doing it.”

Michele Wong, Synergex
“Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you.”

Photos and Video will be up soon…

What was you favorite quote or takeaway from the evening?

The Executive Insight will bring together our region’s most influential leaders with our “future” leaders, yes that’s you EDGErs. Its a great opportunity to get a peek into the minds of our region’s leaders. We have lined up 10 CEOs you’ll definitely want to meet:

• James Beckwith, CEO, Five Star Bank
• Steve Childs, Publisher, Sactown Magazine
• Chris Delfino, Partner, Downey Brand Attorneys, LLP
• Mike Heller, CEO, Heller-Pacific
• Becky Johnson, Director of Public Affairs, Siemens
• Donna Lucas, CEO, Lucas Public Affairs
• Mark Otero, CEO, KlickNation
• Randy Paragary, President, Paragary Restaurant Group
• Randy Sater, Senior Vice President, Teichert Inc.
• Michele Wong, Presient/CEO, Synergex

If you are as excited as we are to meet these leaders and secure some insider tips, then you’ll understand why we couldn’t wait till Wednesday to begin introductions. Below is a sneak peek into the background of 4 of our executives.

James E. Beckwith, Five Star Bank

James Beckwith has served as the President & Chief Executive Officer of Five Star Bank since 2003. During his tenure, Five Star Bank has seen an annual growth rate in excess of 20% and has gone from $65 million to more than $500 million in assets. A self-described “boutique bank” that focuses on relationship-based banking for local small business and entrepreneurs. A dedication to excellent service with the expertise to back it up is at the core of the organization’s philosophy. “More than anything we are problem solvers. We are consistent and reliable. We get things done,” said Beckwith.

A native Californian, Beckwith was born in Sacramento and graduated from San Francisco State University in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in accounting.  Beckwith is also a graduate of the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington, class of 1989, where he was class president.  He currently lives in Sacramento with his wife and their three children.

Steve Childs, Sactown Magazine

Steve Childs has been the publisher of Sactown Magazine since its inception in December, 2006. Prior to Sactown, Steve was the president of the largest regional magazine in America — Texas Monthly — which routinely competes with magazines like Vanity Fair and The New Yorker for National Magazine Awards. While he has spent most of his career in publishing, Childs is also an entrepreneur with twenty five years experience in executive roles in publishing, finance, advertising and consumer marketing, business development and management. He was also the Founding Director of Communities at Excite, one if the first major Internet search portals. But possibly the coolest thing he ever did was manage the famed Beacon Theater, a 26,00 concert hall, in New York City at the tender age of 23.

Donna Lucas, Lucas Public Affairs

Donna Lucas is founder and principal of Lucas Public Affairs, a California-based strategic consulting, public affairs, and communications firm.

One of the nation’s foremost public affairs strategists and a widely recognized expert in media relations and political affairs, Lucas has provided strategic counsel to large corporate clients, labor unions, non-profits, initiative campaigns, and political candidates. Prior to forming Lucas Public Affairs in 2006, Lucas served as a deputy chief of staff for strategic planning and initiatives for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and chief of staff to First Lady Maria Shriver.

Lucas is a graduate of the University of Southern California’s School of Journalism.  She and her husband, political satirist and former Bureau Chief of the San Francisco Chronicle, Greg Lucas, live in Sacramento.

Michele Wong, Synergex

A graduate of the University of California, Davis, Michele has been with Synergex since 1982. She began as a systems programmer, and then rapidly progressed through the positions of project leader and vice president of software development. She was promoted to executive vice president in late 1984, achieved the position of president in November 1990, and was named CEO in December 1996.

She was named one of the “Best and Brightest in Sacramento” by Sacramento Magazine, and in 2000, Michele was honored to receive the Woman of the Year Award as the Sacramento Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s top fundraiser. Most recently, she was named Sacramento’s 2006 Business Woman of the Year by the Sacramento Metro Chamber.

Seats are limited and you don’t want to miss out! Plus this amazingly insightful event also includes hosted beer, wine and appetizers, thanks to our sponsor, the Hyatt Regency.

Click here to register.

We Want Your Feedback!

As we prepare for the upcoming year we want to get your feedback on your experience with Metro EDGE so far, and learn more about your areas of interest for 2012 as it pertains to our region.

Please take a moment to fill out this brief survey. It will only take a few minutes to complete and your thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Your honest and open feedback will be completely confidential and will only be used as a tool to help us learn how we can continue to improve upon the great things already taking place. We value your opinions and look forward to your responses as we aim to make Metro EDGE the best resource for the next generation of leaders in our region.

This information will not be distributed in any capacity and will only be used for Metro EDGE purposes.

What makes Sacramento a fun, affordable city?

As a Sacramentan, you know the joys of living in our great city. The wealth of restaurants, entertainment options, activities and affordable housing give Sacramento an advantage over our big city counterparts in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco suffering from the high price of city living.  So it’s no shock to us that Sacramento was recently named the 6th most fun, affordable city in the U.S. and is home to some of the happiest young professionals.

To celebrate, Metro EDGE wants to acknowledge our members’ favorite places to have fun. Winners of each category below will be recognized for their contribution in making Sacramento one of best places to live in the United States. So….vote away!

The Metro Chamber has given us a few tickets for the upcoming “Perspectives” event featuring former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Twitter Co-Founder Biz Stone and 12-time Olympic medalist Dara Torres. We will be giving away a ticket to two lucky winners who comment on this blog post. Tell us in your comment why you want to go and which speaker you’re most interested in.

Perspectives will be held on Friday, September 23 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Sacramento Convention Center. Hosted by Tom Sullivan, this year’s event is titled “Clean slate. No longer business as usual” and will discuss how the shifting economic landscape is changing the way we have done business and will do business in the future.

So you want to win?

Share your opinion below and we will select two random winners at 5:00 p.m. PDT Wednesday, September 21. Want to increase your chances? There will also be an extra ticket given out on Twitter. Just send out a tweet between now and 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday with  “#SMCperspectives” to be entered (winner also chosen randomly).

Must be a current Metro EDGE member to win.

Good luck, we’ll see you there.

Metro EDGE member MacKenzie Woodard talks about her experience at June’s “In the Mix” event.

I don’t live in Downtown Sacramento. I don’t even work in Downtown Sacramento. But like anyone else who lives and works beyond the downtown grid, I know that Downtown Sac is the place to play. It’s the area that determines the future of the region. And it’s the only place where you can get an amazing Blueberry Mojito with a colleague, make a new business connection, and get an in-person education about the future of downtown revitalization all in one evening.

I mentioned to my colleague, Eric that I was heading out of the office a bit early to head downtown. EDGE was having an event at Ella’s Dining Room and Bar, and never having been there, I was excited to give it a try. Especially during a half-priced happy hour (as a financial planner I find a good deal especially attractive!). Turns out Eric, who recently moved downtown, had never been there either and agreed to join me. So, we found ourselves at Ella Dining Room & Bar, putting their claim of having the best happy hour in Sacramento to the test – and we were not disappointed. From the famous Gin and Tonic to the Blueberry Mojitos, Ella’s delightful cocktails and elegant ambiance were a terrific break from the summer heat. This event was one of our best attended “In The Mix” nights ever, and I was very happy to be the one to introduce my friend to the idea of being a young professional, engaged in the local landscape.

After saying hello to the EDGE members I knew and meeting several that I didn’t, it was time to make a critical decision – brave the heat to go on the tour of K St with the Downtown Partnership’s Kevin Greene or stay cool at Ella. Never one to back away from a challenge, we joined the group of 20 or so “EDGErs” and headed out the door after Kevin to hear about plans to add vehicle traffic to K St, develop new mixed-use space to bring more residential and commercial business to the area, and how these types of projects can be funded. I think our event was the good luck charm that allowed some of that funding to pass a vote that very evening.

Next it was off to the Downtown Railyards to learn about the possibilities for development there. Should it be a new sports complex? Is there a better use for the area? Who is going to pay for improvements? Of course these are complicated issues, but as the next generation of Sacramento’s leaders, we are the ones who will have to live with the decisions that are being made today.

Our attempts to take Light Rail back to Ella were foiled, so we spent the walk back to the restaurant getting to know one other a little better. After discussions of business philosophies, our personal ties to the region, and our reasons for joining EDGE , business cards were exchanged and we arrived back at the restaurant with new friends and a deeper understanding of the issues at hand for the downtown area.

When I got to the office the next day I asked Eric what he thought about the event. He said he was submitting the funding request to his manager that day to pay for the membership. And so EDGE has grown by one more member, new friends have been made and a group of young professionals are now engaged in the future of Sacramento. This is exactly what makes EDGE such a great organization to be a part of!