The Charlotte-based trade organisation MHI is reaching out to professionals under the age of 40.

"We launched the MHI Young Professionals Network at ProMat 2013," says Devon Birch, MHI marketing and communication services manager. "We have had a great interest in the group. We have seen a registration of about 250 people for the group, and around 230 people signed up for the (27 February) webinar. We have also seen a large group of people follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter and read our Blog. All the feedback has been positive, and we are looking to grow."

Birch indicates that MHI plans to conduct a quarterly webinar for the group. "The next one is scheduled for June and will be on leadership," he says. "There will be more events as the group grows, and hopefully we will have some in-person events scheduled soon. We will also offer exclusive events/activities for our MHI members at our spring and annual meetings."

The MHI spring meeting will be held on 7-10 April at the Charlotte Marriott City Centre, and MHI's 2013 annual membership meeting takes place on 30 September-3 October at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando, Florida.

The MHI Young Professionals Network's mission is to provide resources and programming to those under 40 with a goal to increase industry retention, education and networking as well as to offer career support. An individual does not have to be a MHI member company employee to join.