From the city’s healthcare industry hub to advanced manufacturing facilities to academia, professionals are finding meaningful roles in the Cleveland area. Here are six groups that’ll help you meet the right crowd for you. (Click here to tweet this list.)

1. Cleveland 20/30

The Cleveland Professional 20/30 Club offers programming in four areas: social, networking, philanthropic, and educational. A weekly networking breakfast on Friday mornings can help you ease into this active network. Nervous about approaching fellow attendees? Networking Committee members are happy to make an introduction.

2. Mobile Monday Cleveland

Mobile Monday hosts events around the world, but Cleveland’s growing tech scene makes its speaker series worth attending. Featured guests share their experiences in the business-meets-tech space, but you might also find yourself sounding off in mobile tech discussions. There are only six events each year, so register early!

3. Engage! Cleveland

In the early stages of your career? Engage! Cleveland will help you explore ways to grow in the local professional community. Take a nonprofit leadership workshop, visit public art events, or sit back and listen at the Young Professional Speaker Series. Seasonal mixers remind you to take time to relax.

4. ClevelandGives

Choose a unique volunteer opportunity! But first: your group of local professionals will learn a practical skill to assist you in your task for the day. You’ll go home with business cards in your pocket and an appreciation for your newly-practiced skills.

5. Neighbor Up Network Night

Neighborhood Connections hosts this monthly meetup to encourage networking on a hyper-local level. Keep an open mind as you explore ways to connect with locals in your industry — or in vastly different fields. Neighborhood Connections partners with community groups to offer volunteer opportunities and job fairs: two more great ways to network.

6. Network After Work Cleveland

There’s no programming or long-term commitment. Just pick at monthly event and grab your name tag — color-coded to help you find your industry — and get ready to meet a few hundred professionals at some of Cleveland’s hottest downtown watering holes. Tickets for each event cost under $20. Arrive early to these all-evening events and you’ll be able to enjoy some light appetizers on the house.

What other networking events in Cleveland would you add to this list?

Lisa Rowan is a writer and editor in Washington, D.C.

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From the tech scene to the nonprofit world, here are seven solid networking groups worth an introduction.

1. YNPN Atlanta

The Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN) of Atlanta supports future leaders in the region’s nonprofit sector through social events and professional development opportunities. Many of the monthly networking events are free, and extra fun events—like “speed geeking,” where you learn how to use your personal interests to develop professional connections—mix up the routine.

2. Atlanta Women’s Network

Hoping to meet local businesswomen in a non-competitive environment? Maybe you’d like to find a mentor, but don’t know where to start. The Atlanta Women’s Network, founded in 1979, hosts a variety of mixers and discussions with the area’s business leaders. A mentoring program is available for members (dues run around $150/year).

3. Atlanta Under 40

Atlanta Under 40 hopes that a bit of mingling can lead to friendship — and maybe a little business, too. Monthly networking happy hours hosted by this “no strings attached” group are just $10 if you pay in advance, and a few appetizers are usually provided. The crew rotates among favorite watering holes and new venues.

4. Women in Technology

The Women in Technology (WIT) Atlanta Women Business Network understands that it takes a lot to balance work and life. That’s why they schedule their events at varying times—early mornings, lunch hour, or after work—to host monthly forums and development opportunities. No membership is required, and volunteer opportunities are available for tech women wishing to work with future STEM stars.

5. The Atlanta Fashion Industry Meetup Group

This members-only Meetup caters to Atlanta’s stylish side. Boasting nearly 2,000 designers, bloggers, photographers, stylists, and other professionals, the group seeks to connect the many elements that intersect to keep us looking sharp.

6. Social Media Club – Atlanta

Atlanta’s active branch of the Social Media Club welcomes all types of online communications professionals. Sign up for a topical “lunch ‘n learn” session or try something a little more creative: for example, a social media case study cage match. If the competition is too intense for you to take the stage, you’re still sure to make some great connections in the audience.

7. ULGA-YP

The Urban League of Greater Atlanta Young Professionals brings together those who work to build and strengthen their communities. Just one example of an interactive event: an idea hackathon to help fellow young professionals brainstorm solutions for community issues. You’ll be so wrapped up in the goal that you’ll barely realize you’re making connections.

If you live in Atlanta, what other groups would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments!

Lisa Rowan is a writer and editor in Washington, D.C. Her typical sin at networking events: getting distracted by the hors d’oeuvres.

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The culprit? It might not be entry-level pay or the smallest cubicle, but a factor you wouldn’t expect: lacking opportunities to continue learning in their first jobs.

The 2014 College Graduate Employment Survey, released recently by Accenture, found that 80 percent of 2014 graduates expect a formal training program from their first employer. But only about half of 2012 and 2013 grads reported receiving such training.

One of the strengths of the GenY set is their willingness to learn and to try new things. In response, managers have an opportunity to help their younger employees grow. Not sure where to start? Try these ideas: (Click here to tweet this list.)

Empower your employees

If your company is small or lacks the resources to offer a formal training program, toss the keys to your employee. “This is exactly the kind of training and career path that many creative people want: to be able to set challenging goals for themselves and then try to meet them,” Richard Branson explained in an advice column on Entrepreneur. And with self-paced online learning programs like Skillshare and Codecademy, your protégé may be able to study at the office.

McLean Robbins, a freelance writer and social media trainer, noted that brown-bag lunch presentations offer younger staffers a chance to not just learn about relevant topics, but also to groom their public speaking and presentation skills.

Be a student, too

Whether you’re providing the coaching or just the encouragement to self-starters, remember that you can also learn from from GenY staffers.

A fresh graduate can be especially helpful in teaching you the ropes of new tech tools or social media trends. When you’re willing to learn — and be taught — you foster engagement. Engagement and a sense of being useful can in turn lead to company loyalty.

“[GenY workers] seek to continually improve themselves, and by providing clearly defined metrics for appropriate behavior and even promotions and success, these employees are much more likely to stay engaged,” Robbins said.

Share your experience through mentoring

Mentoring may not come with homework or formal programming, but real-world experience shared through conversation can be valuable to younger employees.

For example, Discovery Communications’ MentorNet program matches employees with more senior staffers in their department or field of interest, whether the best match is down the hall or around the world in a global office.

“I was very interested in learning more about digital content and strategy on a global scale, and the company matched me up with someone overseeing digital content for Discovery Networks International,” Kim Tran explained. “Talking to my mentor on a weekly basis was so exciting because she had over a decade of experience in the industry and was incredibly insightful. I learned so much just through our conversations.”

Tran has since left Discovery, but said that her mentor offered candid advice that helped her make decisions about the next step in her career.

If you manage GenY employees for your company, how do you offer them opportunities to learn?

Lisa Rowan is a writer and editor in Washington, D.C.

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So far this year, I’ve been hit with a double-whammy of meeting creep. Instead of settling into 2014 feeling refreshed, I felt stressed. I’m done with it. You should be too.

Meeting creep: the inevitable inconvenience

The first major offense was a meeting organized at my workspace. How many times has something like this happened to you? Only a handful of the 20+ tenants had collected by the meeting’s start time. Two of the organizers rolled in at 10 after, only to begin passing around snacks. Ten minutes later, we began.

We adjourned 25 minutes after the meeting was supposed to end.

The second major offense was a call a colleague had scheduled. I offered a two-hour window on a certain day and received confirmation. I prepared talking points and adjusted my plans so I could be at my desk, prepared and relatively relaxed before the call.

The phone didn’t ring all afternoon. In fact, the phone didn’t ring until two days later.

Can you relate?

“Eighty percent of success is showing up”

It happens all the time. Appointments are set, then pushed back by 20 minutes, then 40, then an hour. Sometimes, it’s easy to shrug off. If you have your laptop, work can be completed in the downtime. But meeting creep is getting out of control.

My mother taught me that if I wasn’t 10 minutes early, I was already late. I’m the person who shows up for morning doctor appointments before they unlock the front door. The person who will take another lap around the block before walking into the bar so that maybe, for once, I’m not the first one there.

In the meantime, if I time my public transit journey for a gathering or appointment poorly, I’ll apologize by call or text about the possibility that I’ll be late. (Growing up on the 10-minutes-early rule leaves you with some guilt issues later in life.)

Maybe we wouldn’t be so breathlessly busy if we had more respect for not just our own time, but also for one another’s time. (Click here to tweet this thought.) Meeting creep backs up more than one person’s day. It leaves tasks unfinished and family meals delayed. It leaves otherwise organized people feeling rushed.

The ripple effect of meeting creep can throw off an entire week’s worth of productive work.

Rethink your commitments

Battling meeting creep requires two methods of attack. First, it requires a commitment to others. If you have a legitimate reason for lateness and know it’s going to happen, the burden is on you to notify the other party. Apologize profusely.

Once you arrive or call, skip the small talk. You owe it to the other party to stick to the agenda. After all, you have less time to cover the same amount of material. Better get down to business.

Second — and this is the bigger challenge — commit to yourself. You don’t have to bend over backwards to accommodate someone else’s needs if they blew you off in the first place. If a meeting drags over the time allotted, I dare you to stand up and gather your things. Then get on with your day.

As professionals in a freelance, solopreneur, entrepreneur, whateverpreneur world, it’s obvious that 9-to-5 schedules are a thing of the past. But you have places to be and commitments to keep. You don’t have to be 10 minutes early, but for all our sakes, stop being late.

Lisa Rowan is a writer and editor in Washington, D.C. She also owns a vintage clothing shop.

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Austin isn’t the only place to trade business cards in Texas. Houston offers plenty of opportunities to mix and mingle with its growing professional crowd.

So slap on a name tag and get ready to work the room at one of these events. (Click here to tweet this list.)

1. TYP Houston

Houston’s Texas Young Professionals chapter welcomes 20- to 40-somethings from every industry. This group offers professional development and community service opportunities alongside regularly scheduled socials. Crave a midday learning opportunity? Sign up for a monthly Marketplace Houston roundtable discussion, where lunch is included with admission.

2. Network After Work Houston

Grab a color-coded name tag on your way in, and you’ll find others from your industry in a flash. Bi-monthly networking nights provide a regular opportunity to meet other professionals while visiting new and noteworthy Houston hotspots. Grab your ticket online before the event and score a sweet discount on your entry fee.

3. AfriPRO Houston

From law and business to medicine and education, this nonprofit supports young professionals along with causes that boost the local and international African community. A regular schedule of traditional networking events is accented by more relaxed gatherings that involve trivia or a charitable cause.

4. NetParty Houston

Get ready for an adventure! NetParty events feature big crowds, swanky settings and unexpected twists. Grab a friend from a different industry and shake off the workday at events that feel more social than professional. Perhaps the best part is the promise that the tunes will never be too loud for conversation.

5. Lean Houston Startup Happy Hour

This group is serious about tech startups. Before trying the Houston Lean Startup Circle’s monthly presentation and discussion, try the Startup Happy Hour. There’s no cover, so you’ll be a regular in no time.

6. SLGT Coffee Club

Start your day with caffeine and conversation with Houston’s entrepreneurial crowd. The Support Local Grow Together Coffee Club meets monthly and welcomes business owners, investors and anyone who wants to support the local economy. If you own or work for a small business, don’t sleep in on this one.

7. American Marketing Association — Houston

Membership’s not required, and monthly happy hour networking nights offer free admission. If your work involves marketing, you’ll want to meet up with this group. If you make friends fast, consider membership for access to industry training sessions and members-only events.

8. Young Professionals in Energy

This worldwide group is specific to the energy industry, but there’s a nice variety of events to fit every Houston-area personality. Attend networking happy hours, evening events focusing on women in energy or sign up for a community service event. It’s hard to resist volunteering for events like a cleanup called the Trash Bash!

Lisa Rowan is a writer and editor in Washington, D.C. At networking events, she’s the one wearing at least three name tags, just for fun.

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New York City may have a large population, but it doesn’t make networking any less intimidating. Sometimes it’s difficult to know where to start.

Break the ice by attending one of these regular events that attract a variety of movers and shakers. Most have reasonable entrance fees, and membership is rarely required. All you need is a willingness to shake a few hands! (Click here to tweet this list.)

1. NY Tech Meetup’s Demo Night

Monthly Demo Nights draw as many as 800 attendees, so grab a friend and get your ticket early to hear from some of the city’s hottest startups. Ten-year-old nonprofit NY Tech Meetup hosts a slew of other events throughout the year, including demo nights and discussions especially for women in tech.

2. New York Women in Communications

This student-friendly nonprofit supports women in every area of the communications industry. Monthly Cocktails & Conversations allow ample time to meet and greet before discussing current industry topics with guest speakers. While membership offers programming discounts and access to members-only events, there are plenty of opportunities for non-members to get a taste, like speed mentoring and a weekly Twitter chat.

3. The NYC Business Networking Group’s Grade-A Networking Mixer

Small business owners, execs and B2B service providers meet at the monthly Grade-A Networking Mixer, which regularly welcomes more than 100 professionals. This one is freestyle, so grab a beverage and dive in.

4. Online News Association New York City

You don’t have to be a member of the Online News Association to attend ONA’s regular panels and workshops. Reporters and editors will find programming particularly relevant, but attendees are a mix of newsroom veterans, freelancers, photographers and data enthusiasts. Mingling is encouraged at presentations, and some are capped with happy hour.

5. Networking for Professionals’ High Speed Networking

Hate striking up conversation? Skip the small talk and get down to business at High Speed Networking. Shy types and those who seek structure will appreciate these two-hour programs that force you to mingle. The group also hosts monthly Shakers and Stirrers events for networking at a more relaxed pace. Bonus: you can scope out confirmed event attendees and their positions ahead of time.

6. Tech Cocktail NYC’s Mixer & Startup Showcase

No clue how to get to SXSW? Start with Tech Cocktail. The Mixer & Startup Showcase (11 cities strong!) is a must-attend for entrepreneurs, tech fans and anyone who wants to scope out the next big things. You’re bound to leave with a few good ideas and a few business cards in your pocket.

7. Freelancers Union’s Freelancers Happy Hour

The Freelancers Union offers everything from yoga to popup coworking events in its hometown. Monthly happy hours in Brooklyn provide a low-pressure opportunity to connect with other solopreneurs. Not sure how to break the ice? Crack a joke about working in your pajamas all day. That’ll be sure to start a conversation.

8. DUMBO Tech Breakfast

Here’s a chance for early birds to shine. This twice-monthly breakfast club has no agenda or budget (it’s buy-your-own-breakfast) but has the admirable goal of fostering the neighborhood’s growing tech community. If your work involves coding and Web development, start your day here.

9. Be Social Change’s Change Makers Happy Hour

Open to do-gooders in every industry, Be Social Change helps nonprofit, education and entrepreneur professionals amplify their social impact. Monthly Change Makers Happy Hours help you dip your toes into the social change scene. Ready for a deep dive? Take a Makers Institute class, where topics range from business plans for startups to crowdfunding for social good.

Lisa Rowan is a writer and editor in Washington, D.C. During networking events, you can find her within arm’s reach of the snack table.

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Rather than sink into the doldrums, try one of these ways to fill your time wisely:

1. Build your network

Now’s your chance to go to events, seminars and meetups you might have otherwise missed. It’s not about fishing for clients; it’s about making the most of your professional community. Fellow members of an association or social group can offer support in good times and bad, and you might feel energized just by talking with other self-employed people. Remember to take a few business cards along in case an opportunity for work or collaboration appears.

Don’t worry about restricting yourself to outings tied to your business. Take this chance to catch up with friends over coffee, too. If a museum exhibit or guided nature walk will boost your outlook, take advantage of the time to explore.

2. Improve your skills

Could your portfolio use an update? Can you pick up a skill that will make you more valuable to future clients? Slow periods provide an opportunity to learn something new, like a software program, language or business skill. Take a deep dive into YouTube tutorials, try a Lynda online course or crack the books in person at a local community college.

Now is also the time to update your website and social media profiles or get chatting in LinkedIn groups. Remember that if you learn something new that will be an asset to your freelance work, your online brand should reflect that. Be proud of what you’re adding to your resume!

3. Stash away some blog posts

Write now to avoid those “sorry I’ve been quiet here, I’ve been so busy” posts. No one likes to read them! Offer your favorite reads of the week, show off your latest project (even if it’s pro bono) or post a video to feature what you learned from following the step above.

Your blog posts don’t have to be strictly about business, either. Take a trip recently? Post a few photos from the road and announce that you’re ready to get back to work. Clients may be drawn to you because of your extracurricular interests or personality, so don’t be afraid to give your readers small peeks into your personal life.

4. Organize your work and your life

From your computer desktop to your digital photos to your receipts and tax info—even your closet. Having these areas squared away will make life a little easier when the work starts rolling in again.

Don’t feel pressured to face every cluttered area at once; remember that small improvements can make a big difference in simplifying your daily life.

Lisa Rowan is a freelance social media consultant who works with nonprofits and small businesses. She also owns her own small business, Quarter Life, an online and pop-up vintage shop.

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These five essentials will help kickstart your in-control mindset:

1. Get out of bed—and get dressed

It’s easy to hit the snooze button when you have a morning commute of 17 steps. Figure out what time you need to wake each morning to complete a good chunk of work, and stick with it. Night owls may need to employ fancy alarm clocks or roommate support systems. A dog is a huge help. A dog with a small bladder doesn’t let you snooze much.

Working in your pajamas should be reserved for extraordinary circumstances—like snowy days or low-grade fevers. Dress for spontaneity. If a colleague called asking to grab coffee, or a client requested to meet ASAP, could you run out the door in five minutes?

Bottom line: Wear something you won’t be embarrassed to answer the door in.

2. Tackle your to-do list

When you’re wrapping up for the evening, make a quick list of the tasks you plan to complete the next day. Then, once you’re up and dressed in the morning, review the list and strike one or two items that aren’t immediately crucial. Having your list handy will keep you on task, and eliminating a few items from your list (at least temporarily) will make you feel less swamped as you near the end of your workday.

Paper lists work best for people who like to get touchy-feely with their workloads, but you might like an app like TeuxDeaux. If you’re struggling to manage your time spent on individual projects, try timeEdition or Focus Booster.

3. Go outside (every single day)

It’s hard to explain, but probably something you’ve heard before: a little fresh air can do wonders for you. Take a few moments to stretch out of your computer-induced posture, and don’t be surprised if your mood gets a boost, too.

If errands beckon, schedule time to walk to the post office or bank. A “walking meeting” with a friend or colleague can keep you moving as you brainstorm or catch up. And if you’ve got a dog, you know the drill.

4. Organize your passwords for your sanity

Your home office doesn’t need to look picture-perfect, but save time and energy by keeping the info you need most often within arm’s reach. Keeping track of your dozens of user names and passwords (for yourself and your clients) is key to avoiding headaches, repeated resets and the curse of the locked account.

Use an online tool like 1Password or keep a trusty notebook in your desk drawer with all the details. Just remember to keep your chosen method a secret!

5. Figure out your daily limit—and don’t overbook yourself

Your to-do list is there to guide you, not guilt you. Some days you’ll get stuck on the phone with a client. Some days your wifi will crap out and you’ll have to hustle to the coffee shop to make any headway. Pad your deadlines to avoid last-minute catastrophes. Don’t be afraid to say “no” to a midday meeting if it’s going to throw off your entire day.

You need to be at peace with yourself when you close the laptop, whether you do it at 5:00 p.m. or 9:00 p.m. Some tasks you don’t get to today can be moved to tomorrow’s to-do list (which you should be making tonight!).

Then, leave work at work. Even if your desk is only 17 steps away from the rest of your life.

Lisa Rowan is a freelance social media consultant who works with nonprofits and small businesses. She also owns her own small business, Quarter Life, an online and pop-up vintage shop.

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