END OF YEAR MESSAGE FROM
BOARD CHAIR
|
Wow! What a year! 2019 has been a strong year for the Chamber with our growing membership, increase in LGBTBE
®
certified businesses, addition of strategic partnerships and more programming & events offered than ever before in our history. And, we are just getting started with our goal to support our members!
The work of the Chamber does not happen without the strong investment of our business level members,
corporate partners
,
Chamber sponsors
and our
strategic partners
.
Thank you
for investing in the Chamber and helping us build a strong and thriving LGBTQ & Allied business community! A special shout out to our
Silver Level Corporate Partners:
Amegy Bank, Comcast and United Airlines and our
President’s Circle Members:
AlphaGraphics Sugar Land, Cyber One Solutions, Patrick Daniel Law Firm and REFUGE Marketing & Consulting.
|
|
|
As we begin our fourth year in 2020, the Board will be engaging in strategic planning over the next couple of months with the goal of identifying opportunities to bring more value to our members, grow the membership and plan for a strong future. Considering that we are in the fourth largest city in America, the opportunities for the LGBTQ & Allied business community are bright! With the right planning and preparation, we will guide the organization in the coming years in a way that benefits our members and helps you grow your business.
Speaking of 2020, we are making plans to add more exciting events and engaging programming to meet a variety of member needs and expectations. Check out the Chamber calendar for upcoming events including the January events highlighted below. Please note - we are renaming the monthly Happy Hour to the "Biz Connect Mixer," which will continue to be held as usual on the last Thursday of each month.
Want to get your business noticed by our event attendees?
Event
sponsorship opportunities are filling up fast!
Sponsoring a Chamber event is a terrific way to bring visibility for your business. Now is the time to reserve your sponsorship opportunity.
Click
here
to learn more about sponsoring
a 2020 Chamber event and complete the sponsorship form.
Last but not least…I want to give a huge thank you to our board members and volunteers who have given so much of their time, talent and treasure to the Chamber. And, to our Executive Administrators at Manifest Creative, who have gone above and beyond to support our membership. Thank you for your support and partnership in our important work.
For now…enjoy every moment of the holiday season! As we embark on a new year, I look forward to great things ahead for our members and community. Cheers to a prosperous 2020!
|
|
Tammi Wallace
Co-Founder & Board Chair
|
|
Save the date for these upcoming events!
- JANUARY 15 - Brewing Up Business at Share Wellness & MediSpa
- JANUARY 30 - Keep an eye out for more details about the Biz Connect Mixer and Power Hour at Regions Bank with EPAH
|
|
Get in front of Chamber members and showcase your brand! Click
here
to learn more about sponsoring a 2020 Chamber event and complete the sponsorship form. We have a robust 2020 planned, so be sure to nail down your sponsorship opportunity today!
|
|
Thank you to Inaugural Chamber member,
Jumper Maybach
, for hosting and sponsoring our final
Brewing Up Business
of the year. We cut the ribbon on the new Jumper Maybach gallery in Uptown Park in November. Congratulations to the Jumper Maybach team on your new space! Check out the
event photos!
|
|
It’s been a busy 2019 with nearly 50 Chamber events! Check out the Chamber’s
past event photos
on Facebook.
|
|
With the outcome of the recent election, there are several City races that resulted in a runoff, including the Mayoral race and multiple council races. The runoff election will be held this
Saturday,
December 14
.
|
|
For more information on the December 14 runoff election, visit
harrisvotes.com
.
Quick Links:
|
|
The Chamber is proud to welcome our newest members who joined in recent weeks.
Thank you for supporting the Chamber!
|
|
|
NGLCC 2020 CONFERENCE – VEGAS BABY!
|
Save the Date! The
National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) will be held next year in Las Vegas
July 28 – July 31. Join more than 1,200 LGBTQ business owners, corporate partners, chamber leaders and other key stakeholders for the world's largest LGBTQ business conference.
|
|
The
Chamber Job Board is a tremendous member benefit! If you are hiring, be sure to post your open positions on the Chamber Job Board, as we are actively promoting the Job Board via social media, newsletters and other avenues to help you find your next great hire!
Please share this information internally with HR or those responsible for hiring and let them know this member benefit is available to your company!
|
|
|
SBA SEEKS 2020 SMALL BUSINESS AWARD NOMINATIONS!
|
|
If you are a small business owner with a great business - here's your chance to make sure all of Houston also knows it!
The U.S. Small Business Administration is now accepting nominations for its 2020 National Small Business Week Awards, including the annual Small Business Person of the Year. Deadline for submission: 2:00 p.m. C.T., January 7, 2020.
SBA Awards given in celebration of National Small Business Week from May 3-9, 2020 include the following:
- Small Business Person of the Year
- Small Business Exporter of the Year
- Entrepreneurial Success of the Year
- 8(a) Graduate of the Year
- Minority-owned Small Business of the Year
- Women-owned Small Business of the Year
- Veteran-owned Small Business of the Year
- Innovation (SBIR/STTR) Recipient of the Year
- Small Business Champion of the Year
- Small Business Media Advocate of the Year
|
|
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEWEST
LGBTBE® CERTIFIED MEMBERS!
|
|
Congratulations to the following Chamber members who have received their LGBTBE® certification!
Learn more about the how your business can become
LGBTBE ® certified.
|
|
FEDERAL RESERVE SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT SURVEY
|
|
The
NGLCC is partnering with the
Federal Reserve to conduct the
Small Business Credit Survey for both pre-start and existing businesses, and we are asking our members to participate.
This is the first time the Federal Reserve is specifically asking LGBTQ-owned small businesses to participate. The NGLCC wants to make sure the input from LGBTQ-owned small businesses is captured in this important research!
This short survey takes approximately 10 minutes and will ask about business conditions and financing needs and experiences. All responses are confidential and are accepted until
December 20. Complete the survey today by clicking
here for the survey link. Thank you!
|
|
NOT A MEMBER OF THE CHAMBER? JOIN TODAY!
|
|
The Chamber is the leading regional advocate for the economic and civic interests of the LGBTQ business community. With a robust 2020 planned, now is a great time to join one of the fastest growing chambers in the region!
Chamber membership is comprised of a wide array of entrepreneurs, executives, small businesses, and Fortune 500 firms. Visit the
Chamber website
and learn more about membership benefits and levels.
|
|
|
|
We love hearing about the recognition our chamber members receive in the community!
Congratulations to
Chuck Abell, Economic Development Specialist in the Houston District Office with our strategic partner, Small Business Administration. Chuck received the SBA Eisenhower "Ike" award for his work on the SBA National Small Business Week Awards program. Chuck has been a tremendous advocate for the Chamber through his work at the SBA. Congratulations Chuck and well deserved!
|
|
Do you have some good news to share? From time to time, the Chamber highlights significant accomplishments, big milestones and other good news about our members. Please submit your news via the Chamber
website.
|
|
FEATURED MEMBER – PRESIDENT'S CIRCLE LEVEL
|
|
From time to time, the Chamber features our
President’s Circle members who have made a significant investment in the Chamber. This month, we are highlighting President’s Circle member,
Cyber One Solutions.
Cyber One Solutions has been dedicated to helping small and medium businesses in Houston accomplish more. Cyber One Solutions solves all IT issues and drives business growth through first-rate technology solutions. As your strategic IT partner, Cyber One Solutions will explore your business vision and see how the we fit with your company. We will then recommend and build a proper IT infrastructure to promote productivity, efficiency, and profitability.
Thank you to Cyber One Solutions for its support of the Chamber!
|
|
The Chamber wishes all of our members and friends Happy Holidays!
Please note our offices will be
closed Dec. 23 through Jan. 1, reopening on Jan. 2.
|
|
|
SILVER CORPORATE PARTNERS
|
|
BRONZE CORPORATE PARTNERS
|
|
Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce | 832-510-3002 | info@houstonlgbtchamber.com | houstonlgbtchamber.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
