TrendyMinds, an NGLCC-certified business based in Indiana, was selected to attend President Obama's State of the Union address, thanks largely to the strong ties between the White House and the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce®.
"Like with so many issues and opportunities, we were honored the White House reached out to the NGLCC and asked us to identify model small businesses that illustrate what's going right in the economic recovery," said NGLCC co-founder and president Justin Nelson. "There is a lot of ingenuity happening among LGBT entrepreneurs, and TrendyMinds is a prime example."
Founded in 1995, TrendyMinds is a full-service, boutique communications and public relations agency. It is located in the Douglass Pointe Lofts of Fall Creek Place in downtown Indianapolis.
"President Obama has made a commitment to equal rights for all Americans, including the LGBT community," said Trevor Yager, principal at TrendyMinds. "I'm thrilled to be invited to the White House, not just as a gay man, but as a successful American business owner and I am honored the NGLCC made this happen for my company."
TrendyMinds has experienced massive growth despite the challenging economy. In 2009 the agency grew by more than 200 percent, doubled the number of its employees, gained 15 new accounts and underwent a renovation to accommodate its expansion.
Additionally, TrendyMinds awarded $50,000 of in-kind charitable work to eight deserving non-profits in 2009. This year the company has tripled its charitable contributions and expects to give $150,000 of in-kind work to 12 nonprofits.
In the last year, the NGLCC has built a strong relationship with the Obama administration and Congress, acting as the chief business advocate for the more than 1.4 million LGBT-owned businesses in the United States.
The NGLCC also works with major corporations and the Federal Government to identify contracting opportunities for LGBT businesses. "This is yet one more example that President Obama understands the vital role the NGLCC and our members are playing in the economic recovery of our country," said NGLCC co-founder and CEO Chance Mitchell.
Yager will travel to Washington, D.C. to attend the State of the Union address Wednesday night and will attend a series of meetings on Capitol Hill with Nelson and Mitchell.
