The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce® convened the leadership of its Council of Chambers and Business Organizations (CCBO) in the nation's capital to discuss issues of importance to the LGBT and allied business community, including LGBT equality legislation now before Congress.
The Mid-Year Leadership Forum allowed for two days of discussions surrounding advocacy efforts, chamber programming updates and work on Capitol Hill ensuring elected officials are aware of issues important to the LGBT business community.
"We were pleased to bring our chamber leaders to Washington, D.C. to discuss our collective agenda and share our vision for LGBT business equality with leaders on the Hill," said Justin Nelson, co-founder and president of the NGLCC. "The time spent together is invaluable and ensures that we are all working together efficiently and with the appropriate resources."
The CCBO is the NGLCC's avenue for the exchange of information, knowledge and ideas between local LGBT chambers of commerce, business organizations and the NGLCC. In attendance at the forum were Sam McClure, national chair and executive director of Twin Cities Quorum GLBTA Chamber of Commerce; Marvin Reguindin, Pacific regional chair and president of Inland Northwest Business Alliance; Tony Vedda, Mountain/Southwest regional chair and CEO of the North Texas GLBT Chamber of Commerce; Christina Pinson, Midwest regional chair and executive director of the Chicago Area Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce; and Bill Gehrman, Mid-Atlantic/Northwest regional chair and president of the Independence Business Alliance.
Advocacy discussions focused on issues including the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, the Uniting American Families Act, and ensuring LGBT businesses had access to participate in the federal procurement process. These items were discussed with House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank during a meeting in his office.
"I appreciate that we made time to not only discuss the business and LGBT advocacy issues of importance, but also make a trip to Capitol Hill," Reguindin said.
Other topics of the two-day meeting included NGLCC program updates regarding the Supplier Diversity Initiative, the NGLCC/Wells Fargo LGBT Business Owner of the Year Award, the Campaign for Disability Employment and the Communities of Color Initiative, which the NGLCC is launching this fall.
"This meeting was a significant part of ensuring that the leadership would be fully informed when taking the NGLCC's message back to their regions, and know the full suite of benefits available for NGLCC affiliate chambers to take advantage of for their members," said NGLCC chief of staff and director of affiliate relations, Kate Karasmeighan.
"We are grateful to the NGLCC for creating occasions such as this Mid-Year Forum as a vehicle for us to connect our work at the grassroots level to the work they do nationally," McClure said. "We are privileged each day to do this work, and the chance to share victories and opportunities is priceless."
During a session that focused on ongoing leadership development, members of the CCBO leadership were joined by David Grossman, an LGBT-certified supplier and author of You Can't NOT Communicate. Grossman spoke about how leaders-who he says are constantly communicating, whether or not they think they are-must be aware of the messages they are sending to those around them.
"This forum was an important opportunity for all of us to spend more time getting to know each other, understand the LGBT business movement more fully and develop ourselves as leaders together," Karasmeighan said. "I know that the hard work we did here will pay dividends in the broader movement across the United States."
