March 2024

It's March, and our Chamber community did 'spring' into action. The event-packed month included spending time with Members in The Woodlands, Galveston and Katy and launching Show Your Pride!

We kicked off March by heading to The Woodlands where we teamed up with three wonderful Chamber Members for an event 'double header.' First, we stopped at Postino WineCafe - Woodlands, where we co-hosted the First Friday Meet & Eat with The Woodlands Pride.  Following lunch, we headed to Conduit Coffee where there was tasty coffee and fruitful conversation. Thank you to The Woodlands Pride for cohosting with us!

PRIDE@5 - GALVESTON

We had a blast at the beach during Pride@5 – Galveston edition! Thank you to sponsor Tom Schwenk with Coldwell Banker TGRE for helping us host a great event. It was a wonderful evening connecting with Chamber Members and local LGBTQ+ professionals on the island! 

SHOW YOUR PRIDE OPEN STUDIO

Show Your Pride 2024 officially launched and photo shoots have begun! Get your smile ready - participants pose in front of a brand new backdrop, provide us with three words about what Pride means to them! Photographer Chandrayee Soneja, from Chamber Member Soneja Creative, has returned this year to capture all the moments. Reserve your spot to have your Show Your Pride photo taken during Open Studios or join us at an upcoming Chamber event. 

NGLCC Affiliate Chamber Leadership Summit

It was an amazing two days with our LGBTQ+ Chamber colleagues and the The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) Team in Louisville, Kentucky for the Affiliate Chamber Leadership Summit (ACES). There are 54 LGBTQ+ Affiliate Chambers across the U.S. doing phenomenal work to support LGBTQ+ communities, including small businesses. Our team at the Chamber is honored to be part of this group of leaders making a difference in our communities.

3RD THURSDAY BREAKFAST - Community & Connections

This month's 3rd Thursday Breakfast at Cadillac Bar Houston was packed with opportunities (and people despite the rain!) We welcomed featured speakers Harris County Director of Boards and Commissions Daniel Santamaria and Houston Director of Boards and Commissions Scout Odegaard; photographer Chandrayee Soneja was on site to capture attendee Show Your Pride photos; and we had a collection for Transparent Closet, a free clothing boutique provided by this month's generous Breakfast sponsor and Chamber Member First Christian Church Katy.

Thank you to our sponsor!

BE A PART OF OUR UPCOMING EVENTS

The Chamber calendar is regularly updated, so check back often. Click to our Events Page to see more details of each event, and please plan to take part in as many gatherings as you can - - as always, we'd love to see you!

SBA HOUSTON ANNOUNCES NEW DISTRICT DIRECTOR

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced that Mark Winchester will serve as Houston District Director, overseeing implementation of SBA programs across the Houston District’s 32 counties. For the past 14 years, Mark served as the deputy district director of the Houston District Office and he has been a tremendous champion for the Chamber and the LGBTQ+ community. We congratulate Mark on this well-deserved advancement and look forward to continuing our successful collaboration. We are proud to call the SBA one of our Strategic Partners.  

RIVERA SELECTED SBA SMALL BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR

Dr. Roy Rivera, Jr. CEO and President, with Chamber Member Elation PT, was recently named Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration-Houston! Dr. Rivera and his fellow 2024 National Small Business Week Houston Winners are recognized for exemplifying excellence, innovation, and commitment, and their impact on their communities and economy. Congratulations, Dr. Rivera on this well-deserved honor.

NICE WINERY WINS THIRD SADDLE AT 2024 RODEO

(Cowboy)hat/tip to Chamber Member The Nice Winery on being voted "Top All-Around Winery" at the 2024 Rodeo Houston Uncorked International Wine Competition!

THE CHAMBER IS SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS

If you are in the Houston Heights and find yourself at Yale & 26th and/or just north of I-10 on Durham, Look Up! You may very well see the Chamber highlighted on a billboard.

Thank you to our Media Partner Clear Channel Outdoor for your support and partnership!

SBA HOUSTON OFFERING SMALL BUSINESS CEO TRAINING

U.S. Small Business Administration - Houston is Seeking 50 Top-Quality Small Business CEO's for its Dynamic CEO Training Program! This intensive 6-month program combines in-person and virtual training, features contemporary training materials, can be customized for the needs of specific businesses, and is totally focused on GROWTH, and is FREE! CEO's will enhance leadership abilities, acquire MBA-equivalent knowledge, benefit from personalized business guidance, and establish connections with a group of entrepreneurs and small business leaders.

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THANK YOU RENEWING IMPACT PARTNERS AND MEMBERS

EQUITY INVESTOR IMPACT PARTNER

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PRESIDENT'S CIRCLE MEMBERS

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Maverick Wine & Spirits

CONGRATULATIONS TO NEW LGBTBE® CERTIFIED MEMBERS!

NOT A CHAMBER MEMBER? JOIN TODAY!

The Chamber is growing!

It’s a great time to be part of our growing and thriving Chamber community. The Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce is the leading regional advocate for the economic and civic interests of the LGBTQ+ business community. Whether you're an LGBTQ+ or Allied-owned business, a large company, or a professional or young professional you can get involved with us. Chamber membership is comprised of a wide array of entrepreneurs, executives, small businesses, and Fortune 500 firms. Learn more about membership benefits and levels.

The energy on the streets of downtown Houston was amazing during the 35th Annual Walk to End HIV, hosted by nonprofit Chamber Member Allies In Hope Houston (formerly AIDS Foundation Houston). It was inspiring to see so many participants supporting the organization and its work to end the HIV Epidemic in the Greater Houston area.

The Chamber team was invited to a listening session with U.S. EEOC Commissioner Kalpana Kotagal who was visiting the Houston District Office. The trip was part of the REACH Initiative directed at vulnerable workers and underserved communities including LGBTQ+ workers. The Chamber looks forward to working more with the EEOC to help our community understand our rights.

It was a wonderful Houston Rodeo season with some of our Chamber Partners for Houston's largest event.



Thank you to Impact Partner, bp America, for the invitation to join you for First Responders Day. It was wonderful to see so many Chamber supporters including Brett Clanton, Senior Government Affairs Manager and Jessica Kemp St. Rose, Government Affairs, and our good friend, Consul General Richard Hyde, with the British Consulate Houston.

Thank you to Chamber Impact Partner NRG for inviting us to join them at the Rodeo! Much appreciation to Eric Blackwell, Director, Government & Political Affairs with NRG for the invite! It was wonderful seeing State Rep. Ann Johnson and her wife, Sonya Cuellar, as well as representatives with Chamber Member, Brazoria County Pride. 

Thank you to Impact Partner, Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages (CCSWB) for inviting Chamber Board Chair Thomas Lopez and President & CEO, Tammi Wallace to join you opening night at the Rodeo, AND participate in the Grand Entry. 

Yee Haw, Y'all!

It was a perfect time to be Out At The Rodeo! We salute this wonderful organization for bringing together over 400 members of the LGBTQ+ Community.

Community members and Allies filled the arena during Pride Night and cheered the Houston Rockets in their victory over the Portland Trailblazers! It all tipped off with a dazzling performance by Pride Chorus Houston, then continued when Houston City Council Member Mario Castillo threw the first shot, and Chamber Member Pride Threads, facilitated by the Chamber, debuted a new specially-designed Rockets Pride Night t-shirt. The Chamber is proud to once again be a partner this year with the Houston Rockets on their Pride Night.  

The Chamber was honored to be a part of the Harris County Precinct 4 Women’s History Luncheon. Commissioner Lesley Briones hosted the event to celebrate Houston’s legacy of women in leadership. An inciteful panel about Lessons on Resilience included State Representative Ann Johnson , Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex-Tatum, Sandra Rodriguez, Advocacy Director for Latinos for Education, and Poppy Northcutt, First Female Engineer to work in NASA's Mission Control.  

ADP | Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas | UPS

Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce www.houstonlgbtqchamber.com