When Jon Rolph graduated from Baylor University in Texas‚ he thought he would wind up in Hollywood making films.

Instead‚ he ended up in his native Wichita‚ helping run a family business‚ and he couldn’t be happier about the way things turned out.

“I think Wichita is one of‚ if not the most‚ exciting cities to live in in the United States‚” says the 26-year-old Rolph‚ whose family’s Carlos O’Kelly restaurants operate in 10 states. “If you want to be involved in your community‚ have input into its future‚ this is the place to be.”

Rolph’s commitment to his hometown may be unusually enthusiastic‚ but thanks to a major effort by the business community‚ more young people like him are looking hard at Wichita as a place to build careers and raise families.

“In the course of our visioneering process‚ one of the biggest needs we heard from parents and employers was a way to attract and keep our young talent in Wichita‚” says Harvey Sorensen‚ a partner with local law firm Foulston Siefkin LLP and chairman of Visioneering Wichita.

In response‚ the chamber in 2005 launched Young Professionals of Wichita‚ designed to “recruit and retain‚ young‚ diverse talent through social and professional immersion‚” says YPW Director Molly Edwards.

“We want to allow young professionals to come together and socially interact with people they might not ordinarily meet and‚ hopefully‚ build business relationships and friendships‚” she adds. “We also want to educate them about why Wichita is a great place to work‚ live and play – so they can‚ in turn‚ educate others.”

Giving young businesspeople a sense of community and connectedness is key in keeping them in Wichita‚ Rolph says.

“My generation is very relationally driven‚” Rolph explains. “We may have seen our parents choose jobs over relationships‚ but we tend to choose relationships over jobs. In choosing where we live‚ community and quality of life matter more to us than just jobs. With YPW‚ you’re automatically part of a community.”

No one was prepared for how widely shared that sentiment might be. More than 400 young people turned out for YPW’s launch event in June 2005. By the following month‚ membership had grown to 1‚100‚ and YPW’s cleverly designed Web site – www.ypwichita.org – was attracting 2‚300 hits daily. Corporate support has been equally gratifying‚ with more than two dozen companies invested in the program.

“It’s booming‚ and that’s a great thing‚” Edwards says. “This age group feels we have never had anything like this in Wichita – a forum for them to come together. They’re so excited.”

YPW plans to host 20 to 30 events a year‚ both educational and social. Volunteers may also serve on a range of councils and action teams that focus on areas such as intern recruitment‚ social networking‚ public promotion‚ diversity and educating members about Wichita’s many plusses.

“Right now‚ we’re in the early stages of networking‚” Rolph says. “But if we can come up with a common vision‚ one day this will be a very powerful thing for the community.”