Pride In Business Celebration & Awards Event - BREAKING RECORDS! | |
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The 2023 Pride In Business Celebration & Awards and After Party were a stellar success! With over 450 people in the room, it was a beautiful celebration of Pride Month, honoring eleven remarkable Pride In Business Award Honorees and hearing a power conversation with our Special Guest, Francisco Sánchez, Jr., Associate Administrator with the U.S. Small Business Administration and our Emcee, Cheryl Mercedes, with Media Partner, KHOU 11.
Not to mention the huge crowd that joined us for the After Party! Read further for a wonderful recap of this signature event.
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This event marks the largest Pride In Business event to date from number of attendees (450+) to over 50 sponsors to fundraising. We appreciate the support of so many generous sponsors who helped us make the event an overwhelming success this year.
Thank you Gold Level Corporate Partner, HP, who is the Presenting Sponsor for the 2023 Pride In Business Celebration. We are grateful to the HP's Houston Pride Business Impact Network for the support!
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Thank you to our Media Partner, KHOU 11, for the amazing partnership for this event! | Check out the full list of event sponsors below. Watch the awards highlight segment on KHOU 11 news here. | |
Check out the full Pride In Business Celebration recap here. | |
Congratulations! 2023 Pride In Business Award Honorees! | | |
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The Chamber once again extends its congratulations to these amazing 2023 Pride In Business Award Honorees! Each of them is making incredible contributions to support and lift up the LGBTQ+ community. | |
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Pride Month Blog Series
What Pride Means to Me
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As part of the Chamber’s Pride Month celebration, we are profiling Chamber Leaders, Chamber Members and other supporters to share their perspectives on what Pride means to them. | |
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Stepping Up and Marching Forward: Allyship During Pride Month and Beyond
“As allies, we must amplify the voices of the LGBTQ+ community and stand in solidarity.”
READ MORE
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Commissioner Lesley Briones (she/her)
Harris County Commissioner, Precinct 4
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Chris Cantu (he/him)
LAMBDA NextGen Committee Co-Chair
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Pride is being comfortable in my skin and prideful in my identity
“Pride should be felt and celebrated all year round, but June is a friendly reminder to show love for our community.”
READ MORE
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Pride Month is a time to celebrate who we are, no matter our differences.
“Pride, to me, is the essence of showing up as your authentic self, even in the face of adversity.”
READ MORE
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Jha Allen (she/her)
Founder, Endless 8 Marketing
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Read the other powerful stories on the Chamber Blog. | |
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2023 Show Your Pride Campaign Shows the
Joys of Pride Month!
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The Chamber kicked off the Show Your Pride campaign in mid-May in collaboration with Chamber Member, Soneja Creative. The campaign has been a huge success! The smiles on the faces say it all in the stunning photos capturing the Show Your Pride Campaign!
The goal of the campaign is to capture, through photography, individuals in the LGBTQ+ and Allied community leading up to and through Pride Month to celebrate the vibrant community, including LGBTQ+ businesses, Members, Corporate Partners, and more in Houston and the region. The campaign included three words for each participant answering, "What Pride Means to Me".
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As part of the Chamber's collaboration with Council Member Abbie Kamin, IKE Smart City and Soneja Creative, the campaign is featured on the 67 electronic kiosks throughout various locations in the City of Houston to celebrate Pride Month. In addition, the 14 electronic kiosks in Montrose were wrapped with the Show Your Pride logo.
Check out the Show Your Pride photos at ShowYourPride.lgbt and the pictures from the launch event here.
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Chamber Renews SAM With U.S. Small Business Administration | During this month's 3rd Thursday Breakfast, the Chamber renew the Strategic Alliance Memorandum (SAM) with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA has been a Chamber Strategic Partner since the launch of the organization. | |  |
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Make your plan to join Chamber Leaders, Members, Corporate Partners and other attendees at the 2023 NGLCC International Business & Leadership Conference August 14 – 18 in Denver, Colorado!
This globally recognized conference is the largest LGBTQ business event on the planet. The NGLCC Conference delivers innovative leadership programming as well as networking and engagement opportunities for more than 2,000 LGBTQ and allied business leaders.
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Advertise in the Fall 2023 issue of
Business Intersections
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Talk about a win-win! Advertising in the Chamber magazine is a great way to bring visibility for your business and support the Chamber! 🙌
Members can take advantage of advertising space (with member-only rates) in each edition of the magazine.
The quarterly magazine is promoted on the Chamber's website, through social media, newsletters and more. Business Intersections creates 45,000 impressions for each edition of the magazine. Plus, it is regularly promoted via email signature lines for the Chamber Team!
Reserve your ad in the Fall 2023 Edition now!
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With Pride Month in full swing, the Chamber was highlighted throughout the month. Check out some of the coverage on the In The News page. |
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Arts + Business Member Highlight | Through the Chamber’s Arts + Business Initiative, we are committed to collaboration and exchange with arts and culture organizations to highlight the intersection of Arts + Business between the creative and LGBTQ+ and Allied Business Community. We partner with Chamber members in the arts and culture industry to bring awareness of their important work and contributions to the greater Houston region. | |
We are proud to highlight Arts + Business Chamber Member, The Alley Theatre.
One of America’s leading not-for-profit theatres and home to a Resident Company of actors, the Alley creates a varied repertoire and innovative productions of classics, modern plays, and premieres.
Learn more about the Alley Theatre at www.alleytheatre.org
Did you know that Chamber Members receive special discounts and other benefits from the Alley Theatre? Learn more here.
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The Houston Hour with Mister McKinney and Heidi Vaughn – Jack Berger, Director of Programming & Events, joined Mister McKinney and Heidi Vaughn on The Houston Hour to talk about Pride Month and the Chamber. Check it out here. | |
Fort Bend Walk to End Alzheimer’s Breakfast – The Chamber participated in the Fort Bend Walk to End Alzheimer’s Breakfast with Chamber Nonprofit Member, Alzheimer’s Association. Stephen Miranda, Board Member, represented the Chamber. | |
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Great Day Houston – Chamber Leaders, Shenice Brown, Board Chair and Tammi Wallace, Co-Founder, President & CEO, joined Deborah Duncan with Great Day Houston, for an interview about the Chamber and the Pride In Business Celebration. The Chamber is proud to call KHOU 11 the Media Partner for the 2023 Pride In Business Celebration. | |
City of Houston Office of Business Opportunity – 9th Annual Champions of Diversity Awards Ceremony – This annual event celebrates a legacy of advancing sustainable economic inclusion. Mayor Sylvester Turner was recognized the Honorary Chair for the event. Eight individuals and organizations were recognized as 2023 Champions of Diversity Honorees. Ray Purser, Director of Government Affairs, represented the Chamber at the event. | |
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Progress & Inclusion! New LGBTQIA+ Advisory Board Approved by Harris County Commissioners Court – The Chamber participated in the Commissioners Court session in support of a new Harris County LGBTQIA+ Advisory Board. Ray Purser, Director of Government Affairs, represented the Chamber and share remarks on behalf of the Chamber.
In a 4-1 vote, Harris County Commissioners approved the creation of the County's first LGBTQIA+ Commission. Commissioner Lesley Briones introduced the motion, calling it an important step toward amplifying the voices of the LGBTQIA+ community.
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Roundtable with U.S. Small Business Administrator Isabel Guzman - In celebration of Pride Month, Chamber Co-Founder, President & CEO, Tammi Wallace, joined the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) for a roundtable with Administrator Guzman. | |
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Pride Panel with the McCombs School of Business – Chamber Co-Founder, President & CEO, Tammi Wallace participated on a panel with eQual student organization. The panel including Kim Cook, Chief Revenue Officer of Direct Gopher and was moderated by Christopher Stafford, Chair of eQual. | |
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Interview with Nick Natario, ABC 13 – Amegy Bank, LGBTQ+ & Allies Business Resource Group Co-Chair, Clay Melder, and Chamber Co-Founder, President & CEO, Tammi Wallace sat down for an interview to talk about LGBTQ+ Workplace Alliance and how large companies are engaging with the Chamber to support employees and the LGBTQ+ community. | |
Courageous Conversations Panel with Cadence Bank – Chamber Silver Level Corporate Partner, Cadence Bank, hosted their inaugural Pride Month Courageous Conversations Panel that included several Cadence Bank employees, who shared their personal stories, as well as Dan Rollins, CEO, and Jerrell Moore, Chief Diversity Officer. The panel was moderated by Chamber Co-Founder, President & CEO, Tammi Wallace. | |
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KHOU 11 iDEA Team (Inclusion | Diversity | Equity | Action) Lecture Series – Chamber Board Member, Jason Rocha, was the featured speaker for an internal Pride Month event with KHOU 11. KHOU 11 iDEA seeks to welcome and promote diverse perspectives, experiences, and conversations to ensure that the opinions and beliefs of everyone are shared, heard, and applied. The goal is to create a more inclusive and diverse KHOU. | | |
Houston Astros Pride Panel – The Houston Astros DEI Committee hosted an internal panel to talk about building and creating a safe and LGBTQ+ inclusive workplace. Panelists included Clay Melder, General Counsel for the Houston Rockets and Jaime Burnham, Growth VP for FOLX Health. The panel was moderated by Tammi Wallace, Chamber Co-Founder, President & CEO. | |
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Grand Unveiling of The Monica Roberts Mini Mural – The Chamber participated in the Grand Unveiling event and was represented by Tiffany Tosh, Board member. She joined Council Member Abbie Kamin, Rep. Jolanda Jones, Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus, Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT), UP Art Studio, Mini Murals and artists, Brad Pritchett and Katherine Ligon, for the unveiling. The mini mural honors the late community leader, transgender activist and icon, Monica Roberts. The mural is at the corner of Fairview and Montrose. | |
Fort Bend County’s Inaugural Pride Luncheon - Winding out Pride Month! Judge KP George hosted the inaugural Fort Bend County Pride Luncheon. Joining Judge George was Ray Purser, Director of Government Affairs. | |
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Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Host Pride Reception at the VP Residence - Vice President Harris hosted LGBTQ+ community leaders from across the country. Participating in the reception were Justin Nelson, Founder & President, National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), Chamber Co-Founder, President & CEO, Tammi Wallace, and other Affiliate LGBTQ+ Chamber Leaders from Florida and Texas where the LGBTQ+ has been under attack. | |
Check out the Photos from Recent Chamber Events | |
June 1, 2023 - Rainbow Dumpling Making with Dumpling Dudez at Sesh | | |
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June 10, 2023 - Talking with Pride Summit | |
June 10, 2023 - Houston Dynamo Pride Night Game | |
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June 11, 2023 - Houston Dash Pride Night Game | |
June 14, 2023 - Show Your Pride Official Launch | |
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June 15, 2023 - Pride Edition 3rd Thursday Breakfast Community & ConnXions | |
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June 16, 2023 - Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Visits Chamber Member Businesses | |
June 20, 2023 - Houston Astros Pride Night Game | |
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Register for Upcoming Events! | |
There’s plenty of upcoming opportunities to engage with the Chamber and make some great connections! | |
The Chamber events calendar is regularly updated so check back often and keep an eye out for event announcements. | | |
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Show your support for the LGBTQ+ community! The Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce offers numerous sponsorship and marketing opportunities throughout the year. This Sponsorship Guide outlines the various opportunities to increase your brand visibility with Chamber members and the LGBTQ+ community.
Click here to learn more and become a sponsor. Use this form to inquire about 2023 Sponsorship Opportunities!
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Thank you to the following members for their continued support of the Chamber! | | |
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Premier Wireless Business Technology Solutions, is a trusted partner, enabling innovation, communication, safety, and transformation through technology. With solutions focused on providing digital equity and access to underserved communities, Premier is committed to helping each person reach their full potential. | |
We are thrilled to welcome our newest members to the Chamber! | |
The Chamber is growing! It’s a great time to be part of our growing and thriving Chamber community. Join today! | |
Stay up to date on the latest happenings - follow the Chamber on social media! | Also, check out the Facebook and LinkedIn Member Groups where member can post information about their organizations. Are you a new Chamber Member? Post up an intro video and let us know about you and your member organization! | | |
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Make sure your business is included in the online Chamber Directory where the community finds LGBTQ+ supportive businesses. Show your support and get more visibility for your business in the LGBTQ+ community!
Don’t own a business? Join and take advantage of great networking through the Professionals Membership!
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Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas | |
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Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce www.houstonlgbtchamber.com
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