Launch & Develop Your Career With Us
We invite you to join us at our upcoming events!
Who we are
Bend Emerging Talent
Bend Emerging Talent facilitates and inspires personal and professional development and networking, with a focus on community. You’ll get to know other career-oriented professionals who are committed to investing in their—and our community’s—future.
We’re guided by an Ambassador and Advisory Council (AAC) who advise, promote and ensure the relevance and success of our programs.
Why Us
Our mission and vision
Miller Lumber has been a member of the Bend Chamber since its inception in 1926. Through networking, educational opportunities, and advocacy for the business community, we view the chamber as essential to the economic vitality of our community.
Bend Emerging Talent was the first networking group I joined when I went all-in on my business in early 2023, and it quickly became the place where I found people who truly get the entrepreneurial journey—friends, mentors, partners, and a supportive community that made building my business feel a lot less lonely and a lot more energizing.
We enroll 10 bankers each year in the Bend Chamber’s Emerging Talent Passport Program because it builds more than skills—it builds community. Through this experience, our team members grow as professionals and as people, forming connections that strengthen our workforce and deepen our ties to the communities we serve.
Our involvement with the Bend Chamber has always been about people and relationships, not only programs or events. The Chamber creates spaces where local businesses can truly connect, learn from one another, and feel supported as part of the broader Central Oregon community.
At Providence Health Plan, we value partnerships that strengthen community well-being. The Chamber’s collaborative approach aligns with our mission to promote health and connection beyond clinical care. Whether through advocacy, networking, or bringing people together, these efforts help businesses thrive and support healthier communities, one of the key reasons we continue to invest in and stay involved.
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Mission
We equip and empower Bend’s emerging talent to connect personally, grow professionally, and strengthen their role in a thriving, inclusive, and collaborative business environment and community.
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Vision
We envision a thriving community of diverse emerging talent who are connecting, developing, and collaborating to shape the future of Central Oregon.
2026 Bend ET Passports
Your journey to professional and personal growth, leadership training, and building lasting connections. Save big on a full year of programming.
Connections
Bend ET programs
Our programs are designed to expand your knowledge, skill set, and network. We value community engagement and help you find ways to connect and contribute. Bend will be a part of our history, but how will we be a part of Bend’s?
Professional development workshops with tangible takeaways. Gain valuable insights from local changemakers
Network, mingle, and hear from local leaders about getting involved in your community.
The NEXTUp Leaders Track is a collaborative, cohort-based program designed for emerging leaders, similar in structure to the highly regarded Leadership Bend program. Class size for the Deep Dive Learning Labs is intentionally limited to 30 participants to ensure a high-quality, personalized experience.
Bend Emerging Talent Passport holders have access to mentorship from Leadership Bend Alumni.
The Bend Chamber Association Health Plan is one of the ways the Chamber supports local employers, employees, and their families.
Over the past several months, the Bend Chamber Board of Directors, Chamber staff, and the Health Insurance Task Force have worked closely with Johnson Benefit Planning to identify a long-term carrier partner that will preserve the value, stability, and affordability of the Bend Chamber Association Health Plan. Following a comprehensive and competitive Request for Proposal process, we are pleased to announce that Moda Health has been selected as the plan’s new carrier partner.
Bend ET Passports
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