Featured Posts – Page 20 – Affinity Magazine – Innovative. Successful. Loyal

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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By Affinity Staff|October 31st, 2014|Acedemia and Educational Institutions, Business Equality, Chambers/ Chapters/ Network Affiliates, Education, Equality News, Feature Story, Featured Posts, News Around The Network, Nonprofit, Philatrophy and LGBT Community Involvement|0 Comments

ENTREPRENEURS EXTRAORDINAIRE – Thankful for help from community and SBA, Savannah entrepreneurs return the favor

By Suzanne Squyres TailsSpin’s Jeff Manley and Jusak Yang Bernhard with Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet of SBA.jpg Against many odds, Jusak Bernhard and Jeff Manley have a successful business. Leaving behind award-winning careers in the entertainment industry and their home in Los Angeles, they moved to Savannah, Ga., where they opened TailsSpin Pet Food & Accessories. On the first day of business, the store tallied a single sale of 89 cents. Now in its seventh year, it employs 26 people and has three locations, one of which sparked the renaissance of a once-derelict strip shopping center.
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By Affinity Staff|October 18th, 2014|Business Equality, Feature Stories, Featured Posts, Government, Philatrophy and LGBT Community Involvement, Public Sector|0 Comments

OPEN MINDS – RBC and EY find ways to overcome hidden diversity obstacles

By Melissa Lowery @Melifornia Wanda Brackins In the past few decades, diversity has emerged as a critical factor in the ability of businesses to succeed in an increasingly global marketplace. Leaders understand that in order to innovate, attract clients and partners and retain and cultivate the best talent, organizations must foster diverse, inclusive work environments. But, when the efforts of committed leaders plateau, how can an organization attain the breakthroughs it desires?
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By Affinity Staff|October 18th, 2014|Business Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, Featured Posts, LGBT Diversity & Inclusion In The Workplace|0 Comments

IN THE NEWS – LGBT History Month and National Coming Out Day observed

LGBT History Month, a time to reflect on the struggles faced by LGBT individuals and the history of their civil rights, is observed every October. It was first established in 1994 to coincide with National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11. LGBT History Month was founded by Rodney Wilson, a Missouri high school teacher who believed that a month should be devoted to the celebration and teaching of gay and lesbian history.
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By Affinity Staff|October 17th, 2014|Equality News, Featured Posts, News Around The Network|0 Comments

IN THE NEWS – Attorney General Eric Holder, staunch LGBT civil rights advocate, tenders his resignation

Eric HolderU.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced his resignation on Sept. 25, 2014, and will step down as soon as the U.S. Senate confirms his successor. A stalwart supporter of civil rights of LGBT individuals, he said that one of his greatest accomplishments was aiding in “the promise of equality for our LGBT brothers and sisters and their families.” The country’s first African-American attorney general, Holder’s tenure at the U.S. Department of Justice includes the implementation of reforms to the criminal justice system and enforcement of major civil rights initiatives, including lawsuits against Texas and North Carolina for obstructive voting laws.
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By Affinity Staff|October 17th, 2014|Featured Posts, Government, News Around The Network, Public Sector|0 Comments

PERSPECTIVE – The art of human connection: Three keys to building profitable business connections the conscious way

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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By Affinity Staff|October 17th, 2014|Business Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, Featured Posts, LGBT Business in the Corporate Supply Chain, LGBT Diversity & Inclusion In The Workplace|0 Comments

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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By Affinity Staff|October 17th, 2014|Business Equality, Chambers/ Chapters/ Network Affiliates, Feature Stories, Featured Posts, LGBT Business in the Corporate Supply Chain, Nonprofit|0 Comments

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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By Affinity Staff|July 24th, 2014|Business Equality, Chambers/ Chapters/ Network Affiliates, Diversity & Inclusion, Featured Posts, LGBT Diversity & Inclusion In The Workplace|0 Comments

Return on Relationship

By J. Robby Gregg Jr. During a recent conversation with a friend who happens to be chief diversity officer for a national retailer, we discussed the importance of return on investment or ROI in the workplace. We quickly agreed that an organization’s ability to express its appreciation and support for the people who work diligently
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By Affinity Staff|July 24th, 2014|Diversity & Inclusion, Featured Posts|0 Comments

Out & Equal Workplace Advocates

Study reports LGBT workers making gains, advancements still needed By Selisse Berry, founder and CEO, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates Let’s start with some good news. Corporate America is way ahead of the law when it comes to LGBT equality. Among the Fortune 500 companies, 88 percent have nondiscrimination policies based on sexual orientation. More
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By Affinity Staff|July 24th, 2014|Business Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, Featured Posts, LGBT Diversity & Inclusion In The Workplace|0 Comments

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