By Melissa Lowery When President Obama charged the federal government with establishing a coordinated government-wide initiative to promote diversity and inclusion in the federal workforce in 2011, the U.S. Small Business Administration responded with action and practical application. Under the leadership of Eugene Cornelius Jr., deputy associate administrator for field operations, the SBA developed
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Recognizing the business imperative to embrace diversity, the U.S. Small Business Administration and National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce launched the first initiative of its kind focused on LGBT business owners. LGBT Business Builder will bring together expertise and resources from staff at SBA district and regional offices, NGLCC’s 38 U.S.-based affiliate chambers and
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By DeVere Kutscher, Publisher, Affinity Inc Magazine. Happily, today more companies than ever, and even government agencies, welcome — and in fact seek out — lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender-owned businesses as part of their supply-chain diversity strategy. LGBT business enterprises are increasingly joining the ranks of other diverse suppliers such as women, veterans, Hispanic, disabled
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The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the National Business Inclusion Consortium, presented the 2015 Financial Services Diversity Leadership Awards to three honorees in February. The evening began with a reception on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange, followed by a dinner and awards ceremony. This year’s award
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Maria Contreras-Sweet, SBA Administrator COVER STORY By Melissa Lowery The U.S. Small Business Administration is on a mission to modernize the organization and let small business owners know that they are standing by to provide support at every stage, from startup to expansion to globalization. Recently appointed Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet is leading the
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LGBT-Certified Businesses Win Historic Opportunity to Supply the Super Bowl For the First Time, NFL Includes LGBT-Certified Businesses in Diversity Initiative Team NGLCC WASHINGTON, D.C.—Nov. 10, 2014—When the NFL teams take the field during Super Bowl 50 in Feb. 2016, there will be more than one winner in the stadium. Diversity will
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By Richard Oceguera @RichardOceguera Richard Oceguera It’s August 2014 in Little Falls, N.J., and I’m giving a talk to a group of 23 seasoned small business owners at their weekly leads group. “Who here absolutely loves networking?” The room is silent and only two hands go up. “Who here has been trained in the art of networking? Or, as I like to call it, the art of human connection?” Not a hand goes up this time. Finally I ask, “If there was a way to build your business that didn’t included networking, would you prefer that?” Every hand immediately flies up.
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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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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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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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