BIZ Online NGLCC

In light of the imminent addition of LGBT supplier diversity as a scored piece of the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index, the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce® (NGLCC) is hosting a series of teleconferences titled Ask the Experts: LGBT Supplier Diversity and the HRC Corporate Equality Index, providing insight to the corporations seeking to expand their procurement practices to include the LGBT business community.

Last month the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) finalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Department of Commerce to collaborate on key Department initiatives. Among other things, the partnership will help identify, foster, and promote contracting opportunities for LGBT owned small businesses, similar to the Department’s work with other U.S. small businesses and woman and minority-owned business enterprises.

In an interview with BIZ, Griffin discussed why it's important for companies to have a diverse workforce, how companies should develop their own effective diversity and inclusion policies, and why success in her own career has given her a voice to help others.

The NGLCC is starting off the New Year by educating current members, as well as those interested in becoming members, about the benefits of certification as an LGBT Business Enterprise (LGBTBE) as a business development tool.

In the latest installment of the Procurement Series, Tim Ruddell, manager of sustainable and firm-wide procurement for KPMG, explains what KPMG looks for in a supplier, why being an certified LGBTBE matters in the procurement process, and why sending a sloppy e-mail could ruin your chances of landing a contract with his company.

The NGLCC would like to thank the incredible sponsors that made both the 2010 National Business & Leadership Conference and National Dinner record-breaking successes, and wants to give a special thanks to conference Presenting Sponsor, ING, and dinner Presenting Sponsor, IBM.

In the latest edition of interviews, Philip DeVliegher, senior manager of supplier diversity for Marriott, offers advice to potential suppliers on how recently certified LGBTBEs should approach a potential corporate customer, what Marriott is looking for in its first- and second-tier suppliers and why having mentors to guide them is an important part of the process.

The NGLCC's Supplier Diversity Initiative has set the stage for yet another successful partnership between a certified LGBTBE and an NGLCC corporate partner, who have teamed up to provide office products and services to businesses, corporations and individual customers.

The NGLCC's affiliate chambers are active in their Supplier Diversity Initiative efforts this fall, with an event held earlier this month by Plexus in Ohio, and an NGLCCNY roundtable discussion about certification coming in October.

Legal firm Kaye Scholer LLP recently joined as a new Visionary National Legal Partner in NGLCC's National Legal Partnership program.

With international trade quickly becoming a genuine financial opportunity for many U.S. small businesses, the success of last month's LGBT trade mission to Argentina becomes even more significant.

The LGBT and disability communities have many things in common, not the least of which is the discrimination they face on a daily basis in the workforce and marketplace.

During the second National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce® (NGLCC) quarterly teleconference call, John Warrillow, a serial entrepreneur and author who has started and sold four of his own companies, spoke to certified LGBT business owners about how they can prepare their own businesses when it comes time to sell them.

The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce® (NGLCC) has been getting some face time with LGBT business owners.

The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce® is pleased to announce changes in the leadership of its Procurement Council.

This June, women-owned businesses will have an exciting opportunity to network and learn at the Women's Business Enterprise National Council's (WBENC) Women in Business 2010: The Opportunity Connection.

To help corporations prepare for the next CEI, the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce® (NGLCC) will host a spring series of Ask the Experts teleconference calls on supplier diversity-all geared toward corporate supplier diversity and LGBT employee resource group representatives.

In the latest installment of the Procurement Series, Mattel's senior director of global procurement, John Ballotti, offers his insight into what Mattel looks for in its suppliers, reveals who potential suppliers should first turn to if interested in working with the company, and explains why bad-mouthing the competition will get businesses nowhere.