News Summary
As young professionals seek networking and personal development opportunities, the Union Club of Cleveland is becoming their preferred ‘third place.’ With a focus on evolving membership needs, the club aims to attract more young individuals while enhancing facilities and maintaining a commitment to community involvement.
Cleveland – A new trend is emerging among young professionals in Cleveland as they increasingly choose the Union Club of Cleveland as their ‘third place’ for networking and personal development. This prestigious club is evolving to cater to the exclusive and inclusive needs of its members, focusing on professional and social growth.
Currently, the Union Club boasts a membership of 1,050, a figure comparable to pre-COVID levels, with a long-term goal of increasing this number to 1,500. The club, established in 1872, has historically served as a gathering point for business leaders and executives, but recent shifts in membership trends indicate a pivot toward attracting younger individuals.
Among the new members is Megan Lavins, who returned to Northeast Ohio earlier this year and quickly became a member of the Union Club. After living and working in major cities like New York City and Tampa, Lavins moved back to her hometown of Hudson after her fiancé secured a job in the area. She works for J.P. Morgan in downtown Cleveland and values the club as a location for client meetings and networking opportunities within the corporate community.
Another young member, Nick Hylant, who also hails from Hudson, rejoined the area in 2019 to work for his family’s business located in Independence. Like Lavins, Hylant quickly joined the Union Club in search of professional connections and social interaction. He appreciates the pleasant environment for meetings and social gatherings, often utilizing the facility to host awards dinners and events for his company.
The Union Club’s downtown location provides convenient access for members looking to build their professional networks. The club is adapting to the preferences of younger members, with an increasing emphasis on fitness amenities. Lavins, an accomplished marathon runner, appreciates the 24-hour fitness center, while Hylant enjoys the overall ambiance and service quality provided by the club.
In recent years, the Union Club has made strides in meeting the needs of its members by emphasizing work-life balance and community involvement. Both Lavins and Hylant are focused on using their memberships to engage with Cleveland’s nonprofit organizations, showing a commitment to social responsibility and local impact.
The board of the Union Club, under the leadership of board president Nora Mahoney, recognizes the importance of physical spaces for networking in an increasingly digital world. The club offers a range of facilities for meetings, lodging, and fitness, as well as various social and professional events tailored to member interests.
Planned improvements to the club include enhancing fitness facilities, creating darts and billiards rooms, and developing family programming, which aims to attract a broader demographic. In addition to these enhancements, the club offers reciprocal membership benefits with over 150 exclusive clubs worldwide, further expanding networking opportunities for its members.
With a vision to maintain the Union Club as an integral part of its members’ social and professional lives, the focus remains on cultivating valuable relationships within this esteemed network. By continuing to evolve and adapt to the preferences of younger generations, the Union Club is well-positioned to thrive in the competitive landscape of professional networking environments.
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Additional Resources
- Cleveland’s Union Club Revitalization
- Wikipedia: Cleveland
- Future Growth at the Union Club
- Google Search: Union Club Cleveland
- Cleveland Magazine: Business Hall of Fame
- Google Scholar: Professional Networking
- Cleveland Scene: Union Busting Allegations
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Business Networks
- Lloyd Howell Resigns
- Google News: Community Leadership
Author: STAFF HERE CLEVELAND WRITER
CLEVELAND STAFF WRITER The CLEVELAND STAFF WRITER represents the seasoned team at HERECleveland.com, your premier source for actionable local news and information in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and beyond, delivering "news you can use" with in-depth coverage of product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news impacting the region—backed by years of expert reporting and robust community input, including local press releases and business updates, while providing top reporting on high-profile events like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions, Cleveland International Film Festival, and holiday parades, alongside key organizations such as the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Orchestra, and Great Lakes Science Center, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and healthcare like Sherwin-Williams and University Hospitals, and as part of the broader HERE network including HEREDayton.com, offering comprehensive, credible insights into Ohio's vibrant landscape. HERE Cleveland HERE Dayton
