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SCHOLARSHIP – Point Foundation partners with professionals and corporations to empower LGBTQ students

By Eugene J. Patron, communications & marketing director, Point Foundation  @PointFoundation Jorge Valencia, executive director and CEO of Point Foundation (left), accepts a check from Peter Lichtenthal, president of Bumble and bumble, a division of The Estee Lauder Companies. Today, it is easy for people to name celebrities and sports players who have publicly come out as being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. However, every year during the in-person interviews with finalists for Point Foundation’s LGBTQ higher education scholarships, there are young people who say to the review panel, “This is the first time I have met a group of openly gay professionals.” Many of these bright young people from communities around the country have never been introduced to a gay doctor, a lesbian lawyer, a transgender entrepreneur —
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TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS – With backdrop of glitz and neon, NGLCC hosts 11th annual conference in Las Vegas

Laura Spaulding, owner of Spaulding Decon LLC More than 700 LGBT entrepreneurs, corporate partners, government allies and organization leaders from seven countries gathered at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas for the sold-out 11th Annual National Business & Leadership Conference of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. Shaun T, celebrity fitness trainer and creator of the INSANITY workout and Focus 25, delivered the opening session keynote address. Attendees, who had been encouraged to wear workout attire, were invited to take advantage of a special workout afterwards. Other keynote speakers included Beth Brooke-Marciniak, global vice chair of public policy, Ernst & Young LLP, and one of Forbes World’s 100 Most Powerful Women; Marcus Lemonis, chairman and CEO, Camping World and Good Sam Enterprises LLC, and host of CNBC’s “The Profit”; and Judy Dlugacz, founder and president, The Olivia Cos. LLC.
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Shaun T creator of Insanity Rocked the Conference Opening Session

All were dressed to work out mind and body for the opening session of the NGLCC Business & Leadership Conference 2014, presented by American Airlines.  After pumping up the crowd of conference attendees, Shaun T shared how he took his love for exercise and turned it into a fitness empire. More Information on Shaun T
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NGLCC Pursues Parity for LGBT Business Owners Around the World

In June, U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice announced a nearly $4 million partnership between the U.S. Agency for International Development and the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce to encourage and support gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender business owners and entrepreneurs in developing countries. This unprecedented agreement is the latest in a string of accomplishments
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Aspen Ideas Festival unites leaders to create solutions to challenges

By Victoria Fulkerson, senior vice president, NGLCC This summer marked the 10th anniversary of the Aspen Ideas Festival, an event dedicated to bringing together leaders from around the globe and across many disciplines to engage in deep and inquisitive discussion about the ideas and issues that shape our lives and challenge our future. Produced by
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NGLCCNY expands with new office location and growing membership

At work in the new space, from left, Thomas Chernick, membership account executive; and Derrick Brown, executive director. By Thomas Chernick On July 1, the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce New York unveiled its office at 6 E. 39th St. in Manhattan’s Midtown East. To accommodate growing demands for the chamber,
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Chamber president urges Nevada’s LGBT businesses to seek certification

Dina Proto By Melissa Lowery In 2011, when Dina Proto founded Teazled LLC to create greeting cards and became certified as a LGBT business enterprise through the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce that same year, she was surprised to learn that only three other businesses in Nevada were certified. After realizing
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Stars align for Atlanta small business owner

Tasha Reid Tasha Reid is not one to back down from a challenge. After playing basketball at a Division I college, she went on to play professionally for a team in Barcelona, Spain. After earning an MBA degree, she worked as a real estate agent and radio talk-show host. Today, Reid is the
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The Inman Co. coordinates interior design, mixing in a pop of good will

Shane Inman, president and senior principal designer of The Inman Co., subscribes to the motto that life is about being a part of something larger than one’s self. “What I do needs to make a difference,” he said. “Being a corporate member of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce is the perfect platform
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2014 Forum on Workplace Inclusion aims to break new ground

By Steve Humerickhouse With the mission of engaging people, advancing ideas and igniting change,The Forum on Workplace Inclusion — a program of the Opus College of Business at the University of St. Thomas — convened in Minneapolis for the 26th year. The more than 1,000 participants — equally split between human resource and diversity and
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