Meet ystark! YP: Emily Anderson

Name

Emily Anderson

Age:

26

Occupation/Title/Place of work:

Senior Executive Compensation Analyst - The Timken Company

Why are you interested you in Stark County’s Young Professionals initiative?

First and foremost, I am a young professional in Stark county and I take pride in that. I think this generation gets a bad reputation, but this generation also cares so much and has so many great ideas (in the workplace and in the community). I was previously the chair of the Young Professionals Network at the Timken Company and enjoyed being involved with that group. We have been able to host a lot of great events at Timken and make an impact on the organization. I would love to help take that impact outside of the company when and where possible.

What would you share to encourage other people to join?

I think this generation specifically likes to learn about new opportunities (jobs, places to live, events in the area, new people, etc.) so being able to share related information is a great way to encourage others to join. Being able to connect the people together and show them the benefits of doing so is key.

Did you grow up in Stark? If so, where? If not, where did you move from and why?

Yes, I did grow up in Stark. I went to Canton City Schools and lived not far from downtown. I moved to North Carolina for a temporary work assignment in 2016, but was so thankful when it was time to move back! It was a great experience - but there's no where like home.

Why do you stay in Stark County, from both a personal and professional point of view?

Stark County is a wonderful place to live and work. I had a great experience with the schools (Canton City Schools, Kent Stark and now Malone for graduate school). I worked at the local restaurant Milk and Honey for a long time and loved getting to know all of the regulars who have lived in the area for a long time and who have been coming to Milk and Honey for years. I started working for the Timken Company after that and have loved working there as well. It's a great place to work and the people who work there are even better. It feels good to work for a company who employs many people in the area as well does a lot of good in the community. From a personal perspective, we have a two year old that we want to raise here. All of our family is here and that's what's important to us.

What do you like MOST about Stark County?

The people, and the food! There are so many great people who live in Stark county and so many places to eat!

What would you change about Stark County if you could?

One macro item is just being able to change the perception of the area - it can get a bad rep but it truly is a great place to work and live. There are areas of improvement, but those are being worked on as we speak! One small items - my husband and I are outdoorsy people, so being able to have more outdoor things to do (even just more patios at restaurants) would be great!

What do you see as valuable opportunities for YPs in Stark County when it comes to career opportunities, cultural access, leadership or community involvement opportunities?

There's quite a few large employers in the area, some even make the list as employers of choice. They work very hard to get that ceritifcation and get it for a reason. There are TONS of community involvement opportunities in a wide range of areas (volunteering with animals, people, children, schools, enviornmental, etc.) and most of those have leadership opportunities that come along with them (i.e. board positions). Another big career opportunity in this area is that the population is growing older, which leads to retirements and career advancement opportunities for YPs.

What would attract more YPs to Stark County?

Generally speaking - job growth and more unique things to do. Most YPs love city life and unique places to go. Job growth is important for YPs with families and YPs without families.

What do you do in the evenings or on the weekends for fun in Stark County or NE Ohio?

We love to be outside (when the weather isn't freezing!) But with the little one we spend time at home with family, swimming, going for walks, camping, shopping and going out to eat!

Could you see yourself spending your lifetime in Stark County and if not, what would cause you to leave?

Absolutely - we left once and came back! I believe that this will always be a great place to work and live and that there will always be opportunities here for me to grow both professionally, and personally as a person and as a family. I suppose the only reason we might leave is if our babysitters (aka grandparents) moved away. Thankfully they're from the area and have no plans of moving away either!