By T.J. Chernick

The ongoing development of corporate alliances has been an ongoing highlight for the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce-New York as it supports the growth and partnerships of LGBT businesses and their corporate allies. The growth of these alliances were celebrated during the chamber’s mixer, co-hosted by the organization’s corporate partners Zurich and Aon. Held at Zurich’s New York office, the event also shined a light on the growing presence of diversity in the corporate landscape.

Zurich is a Zurich, Switzerland-based global commercial and casualty insurance company. London-based Aon PLC is global provider of risk management, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, human resources solutions and outsourcing services.

More than 250 NGLCC-NY members and supporters attended the event and were welcomed by special guest Dan Riordan, CEO of Global Corporate North America at Zurich, who stopped by to express his gratitude to the chamber for its mission of LGBT inclusion. It was the second time that Zurich hosted the event.

“We wanted to thank the NGLCC-NY for giving us the opportunity to host the mixer again,” said Riordan. “The timing of this event couldn’t be better, given that we just held our New York Metro Diversity and Inclusion Fair where we introduced the PrideZ Employee Resource Group.”

He encouraged attendees to meet at least three new people. “You’re here, in part, to expand your contacts and business relationships,” Riordan said, and added that the advantages of an inclusive workplace translate to benefits in the marketplace.

“Our PrideZ ERG supports the gay and lesbian community within Zurich to help us build a more open and inclusive work environment,” said Riordan. “My hope is that organizations like PrideZ keep growing in Zurich so that we expand the company’s collective understanding, openness and acceptance. To me, this is what will bring about the best ideas, the best products, and — for us — helps us become the best global insurer.”

From left: Zurich’s Garikai D. Medzikanda and Dan Riordan, CEO of Global Corporate North America at Zurich; NGLCC-NY’s Derrick Brown; and Aon’s Peter Eich.

Many of the members and supporters of Zurich’s PrideZ employee resource group attended the NGLCC-NY mixer.