On a hot June afternoon in New Orleans, the general session hall of the 2025 WBENC Annual Conference buzzed with energy. Attendees filled the theater seats, all eyes focused toward the stage where Pamela Prince-Eason, President and CEO of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, was about to speak.Smiling, making eye contact, calling out familiar
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FINANCIAL SPOTLIGHT By William “Bill” Kapfer I was taken aback when I came across an article touting the pink dollar as a newly prominent economic force, a testament to the LGBTQ+ community’s purchasing power. It made me pause and ask out loud, “Really?”The economic clout of the queer community has been a topic of conversation
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From the Publisher’s Desk I am thrilled to introduce myself as the new publisher of Affinity Inc. magazine. It’s both an honor and a deeply personal milestone to take the reins of a publication that has long stood as a beacon of visibility, advocacy, and excellence for the LGBTQ+ business community and its allies. As
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Leadership SPOTLIGHT By Diane Sears Affinity Inc. magazine turns 13 this year, and like any teenager, it is going through some significant changes. Don McKneely, Affinity Inc.’s founder and longtime owner and chairman of TexCorp Communications Inc., recently announced he is turning over the reins of the magazine to Brian Auden. An award-winning entrepreneur, service-disabled
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Chamber SPOTLIGHT By Diane Sears When Kristin “Kri” Edholm became the first paid staff member in the history of the Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Nevada (GLCCNV) last fall, she knew she was stepping into a milestone moment — not just for herself, but for the entire LGBTQ+ and allied business community in the
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Business Spotlight Merritt Business Solutions President and CEO Denise Merritt and her firm have been on a thrill ride for the past year. The Florida-based entrepreneur was named 2024 Supplier of the Year by the National LGBT Chamber (NGLCC) and one of 14 WBE Stars by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), representing WBEC
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Q. What did you want to be when you were a little kid and why?A. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to be. Nothing really clicked when I was young. I eventually started a career in architecture because I enjoyed drawing and building. I always knew I’d run a business. I just didn’t know what
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LGBTQ+ leaders By LGBTQ+ The Victory Fund Hundreds of LGBTQ+ Victory Fund supporters gathered at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington on April 27 for the organization’s annual National Champagne Brunch, which celebrated LGBTQ+ political representation. The event celebrated wins in LGBTQ+ representation and rallied support for LGBTQ+ elected officials to help fight against anti-equality forces in
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LGBTQ+ leaders Since 1991, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund has helped elect thousands of candidates to positions at all levels of government. The organization supports pro-equality, pro-choice, out LGBTQ+ candidates who it knows can win their elections and fight for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. The following are candidates the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund is supporting on
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According to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Global EV Outlook 2023, sales of electric vehicles (EVs) continue to rise. The IEA expects some 31 million EVs to be sold worldwide in 2027, up from 10.5 million in 2022. Read More ›
