Finding Their People

SPT-OKI YO PRO gives young professionals in Southport and Oak Island a place to connect, build community and put down roots.

When Abby Carson first moved to the Southport and Oak Island area a couple of years ago, she ran into a challenge that many young professionals here share: Finding her people.

That experience helped spark the creation of Southport-Oak Island Area Young Professionals (SPT-OKI YO PRO), a growing community that now brings together emerging leaders between the ages of 21 and 40 across industries who want to build friendships, strengthen local connections and shape the future of the area they call home.

Carson joined the board of the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce last summer. After settling into her role, she started thinking about what she could contribute. She already knew something was missing for many younger residents.

“It can be difficult for younger folks to make friends because this area tends to be of an older population,” Carson says. “So, I just thought it would be the perfect thing to bring to the chamber and also fill that need for a community engagement group for young professionals.”

That idea quickly turned into action. The group launched its first gathering in October of 2025, and it did not take long for momentum to build. Today, events regularly draw around 30 people at a time. For a new initiative in a coastal community where many residents arrive later in life, that turnout says a lot.

The mission of SPT-OKI YO PRO focuses on professional growth, community engagement and social connection.

Carson describes it more simply as “building community,” which shapes everything the group does.

Contributed Photo

Most gatherings take place at local restaurants or bars around Southport and Oak Island. They are relaxed and welcoming. They feel more like meeting friends than attending a traditional networking event. No one is expected to pitch a business idea or hand out stacks of cards. People show up, talk and get to know each other.

Many young professionals moving to Brunswick County arrive from bigger cities.

Some work remotely. Some are stepping into family businesses. Others are building careers in hospitality, healthcare, wellness or entrepreneurship. Without an easy way to connect with peers in the same stage of life, it can feel like everyone else already has their circle. This group helps change that.

Contributed Photo

Carson remembers meeting people who told her they planned to stay only a couple of years before moving somewhere else. She saw something different.
“You can settle here,” she says. “What’s wrong with here?”

The SPT-OKI YO PRO group gives people a reason to stay longer and get involved sooner.

Members meet town leaders. They connect with local business owners. They start to see where they fit in with the bigger picture of the community. That early connection can open doors that might take years to find in larger cities.

Contributed Photo

That kind of momentum is already starting to show. Friendships and professional connections are turning into real opportunities. At one event, a local entrepreneur met tourism staff who helped her move forward with the permits she needed to expand her electric bike tour business into Southport.

Within a week, she was up and running in a new market, which is exactly the kind of connection the group hopes to spark again and again.

That type of connection is also drawing a wide range of members. Healthcare workers attend alongside gym owners. Hospitality professionals mix with remote employees who work for companies across the country. Spa staff, restaurant managers and young business owners all show up at the same tables.

Contributed Photo

For people who work from home, the group can be especially meaningful. It gives them a place to plug into the local community, even if their employer is somewhere else entirely.

Looking ahead, the group has plans to grow in ways that feel natural and community focused. Members-only gatherings like beach bonfires and cookouts are on the horizon. Volunteer projects will help participants connect with local causes. Mentorship opportunities may follow once membership continues to expand.

Contributed Photo

Carson also hopes the group will evolve into something even bigger.

“One of our many young remote workers may work for a company out in San Francisco,” she says. “How great would it be if they started a local company here?”

Contributed Photo

It is easy to imagine that happening. Brunswick County continues to attract new residents every year. Many bring fresh ideas with them. When they find the right network, those ideas can take root.

For anyone wondering whether SPT-OKI YO PRO is right for them, Carson says yes: “If you are a young professional in the area, you already fit.”

YOU’RE INVITED
SPT-OKI YO PRO (Southport-Oak Island Young Professionals)
The invitation is extended. Show up, ready to meet people. That is really all it takes.
To find an event or for more information: southport-oakisland.com/article/ spt-oki-young-professionals.html
info@southport-oakisland.com
(910) 457-6964