May 31, 2023 | Volume 66

In This Issue

  • Pride in Business Announcements
  • TGX Scholarship Opportunity
  • Championing the Work of the Chamber
  • The 713 Newsletter
  • NGLCC Conference
  • Update Your Chamber Directory Listing
  • LGBTQ+ Workplace Alliance
  • Chamber Job Board
  • Pay It Forward Fund
  • Arts + Business Member Highlight
  • 2023 Sponsor Opportunities
  • Member Benefit Highlight
  • Advertise in Business Intersections
  • President’s Circle Featured Member
  • OUT & About
  • Recent Chamber Events
  • LAMBDA NextGen
  • Engage with the Chamber
  • New Member LinkedIn Group
  • Upcoming Events
  • Member Spotlights & Anniversaries
  • New & Renewing Partners and Members
  • LGBTBE® Certified Members

Upcoming Events


June 1 - Rainbow Dumpling Making Extravaganza (SOLD OUT)


June 2 - First Friday Meet & Eat - PRIDE Edition


June 3 - Show Your Pride Open Studio Photo Shoot


June 15 - PRIDE EDITION! 3rd Thursday Breakfast - Community & ConnXions


June 23 - Pride In Business Celebration & Awards Luncheon


Visit the event calendar for more events and information.

Join Today!

Dear Houston LGBT,


Tick tock! We are are ONE DAY away to Pride Month! As we countdown the hours to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, we have been gearing up! In this issue, learn more about upcoming events and some of the plans for Pride Month. Also, did you catch the Pride Month Preview email that was sent yesterday? It's a great overview of everything Pride + Chamber!  


While we are looking ahead to Pride Month, this issue of the Chamber Connection highlights the past month and it’s been busier than ever! Check out the photos from recent events and so much more.


In this issue, we also highlight some great opportunities including the TGX Scholarship Opportunity for transgender and gender expansive businesses and a way to give back the Pay It Forward Fund. Plus, check out the Member Spotlights, new members (the Chamber is GROWING!) and so much more.


Enjoy this issue of the Chamber Connection! We look forward to seeing you during Pride Month! 


With Pride,

Tammi Wallace (she/her/hers)

Co-Founder and President & CEO

Whether a small business, large company or professional or young professional - you are welcome at the Chamber!


Select your membership type below to get started!

Business Level Membership (99 employees or less)
Corporate Partnership (100 employees or more)
Individual / Professional Membership
Lambda NextGen (Young Professionals)

Pride In Business Announcements!

The Chamber is excited to announce that our Special Guest for Pride In Business will be Francisco Sánchez Jr., Associate Administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) Office of Disaster Recovery & Resilience (ODR&R).


We are honored to have Associate Administrator Sánchez Jr. join us for a fireside chat with Cheryl Mercedes, Reporter & Anchor, KHOU 11, where he will share his inspiring journey to government service, his personal background, and his LGBTQ+ journey.

Francisco Sánchez Jr. (he/him)

Associate Administrator, Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience

VIP Reception Presenting Sponsor Announced

We are excited to announce the VIP Reception Presenting Sponsor for the Pride In Business Celebration is......Shell USA!


Thank you to Shell USA for your generous support of the Pride In Business Celebration! Shell USA has been a longtime Chamber Corporate Partner and champion for the LGBTQ+ community. We appreciate Shell USA's support!

HBJ Joins Pride In Business as a Media Sponsor

We are proud to announce the Houston Business Journal as the newest Pride In Business Media Sponsor!


On June 23, 2023, the Houston Business Journal will print the “Business of Pride” section in partnership with the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce to celebrate Pride Month and the Pride In Business Celebration and Awards. As part of our partnership, HBJ is offering a special ONE TIME rate for first time, non-contracted HBJ advertisers. For details on advertising in the HBJ Business of Pride issue, contact Traci Pelter, Vice President of Sales at 832.316.4550 or tpelter@bizjournals.com.

Special Hotel Pride Rate

As part of our partnership with the Hyatt Regency Houston, the hotel is offering a special PRIDE rate for Pride Weekend, June 23 - 25. Book your hotel room for a Pride Weekend staycation or getaway.


In order to reserve the special 10% off rate, you MUST use the link provided below. This discounted rate is only available the weekend of June 23rd. A one (1) night deposit is required at time of booking with 72 hour cancelation for reservations booked.


Deadline to reserve: June 2

Book Your Hotel

Individual Ticket Sales Now Open -

Early Bird Rates Ending Soon!

Early Bird Rate Individual Tickets are now OPEN! Secure your tickets by Friday, June 2 to get the early bird rate. 

Purchase Tickets
Reserve Your Sponsorship

LAST CALL TO SPONSOR!

You still have time to secure your Pride In Business sponsorship! Sponsoring Pride In Business is a great opportunity for brand visibility and employee engagement during Pride Month. Not to mention supporting the Chamber and its mission focused on LGBTQ+ economic inclusion. Reserve your sponsorship TODAY - deadline to secure your sponsorship is Friday, June 2!


Sponsor Opportunities

Keep an eye for another BIG Pride In Business Celebration announcement TOMORROW!

TGX Scholarship Opportunity!

Are you a Transgender or Gender Expansive (TGX) business owner?


TGX business owners can apply for a scholarship to have their local membership dues sponsored and get LGBTBE certified. The scholarship is open to any TGX business owner who is not currently certified or a member of the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce.


Thank you Chamber Corporate Partner, Wells Fargo, for the generous support for the scholarship program. The program is a collaboration of the NGLCC and Wells Fargo.

Scholarship Application

Championing the Work of the Chamber!

Co-Founder, President & CEO, Tammi Wallace, was interviewed on the B2G Victory Cast to talk about the work of the Chamber. We are proud to call B2G Victory one of our Chamber Corporate Partners.

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HOUSTON IN JUST 5 MINUTES 

The 713 – named for Houston’s OG area code – is a weekly email like no other. It’s the start of your day with a five-minute read that puts you ahead of everyone else and cuts to the chase about what’s hot in Houston. 


Thank you to the Houston Chronicle for your marketing partnership.

Join The 713 Newsletter

Registration Now Open!

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. 

Learn More

Advertise in the Fall 2023 issue of

Business Intersections

Reserve Your Ad Now

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!

Reminder! Update

Your Chamber

Directory Listing

We encourage members to review and update your membership information on the Chamber Directory.


If you haven't updated your membership information lately in the Chamber Directory, please log into the Info Hub and make any changes. 

 

The public accesses the Chamber Directory looking for LGBTQ-supportive businesses so make sure your listing is up-to-date.


If you have any questions, please contact the Chamber Office at 832-510-3002 or info@houstonlgbtchamber.com.

Are you working to plan events for your ERG/BRG? Just a reminder to use Chamber events to augment your ERG/BRG calendar!  


The Chamber is active twelve months out of the year and it’s a great way for your employees to engage.

Event Calendar

Members are Hiring!

Case Manager: Provide culturally competent and trauma-informed support services to engage LGBTQ+ youth up to age 25. Responsible for minimizing the psychological, physical, and social barriers that may deter LGBTQ+ youth from seeking and accepting needed services and resources.


Program Coordinator: Supporting and empowering at-risk LGBTQ+ youth. Provides case management services for LGBTQ+ youth. Plans, implements, and evaluates programs, projects, and events. 

Program Manager, Business Development: a member of the Inclusive Procurements division at the Harris County Department of Economic Equity & Opportunity, responsible community outreach and trainings, developing programs and partnerships, and working one-on-one with County contractors to build M/WBE capacity and improve safety conditions for construction workers.

Pay It Forward Fund

Support Diverse & LGBTQ+ Owned Businesses


Make a donation to the Pay It Forward Fund to underwrite an annual membership for businesses in the community. The Pay It Forward Fund places a priority on minority, trans and women-owned businesses. These are diverse-owned businesses who do not have the financial means to join the Chamber but can greatly benefit from programming, including learning opportunities to grow their business, and networking, to support their businesses. 


Over the years, through the Fund, the Chamber has been able to support many diverse owned businesses including helping get businesses LGBTBE® Certified. These businesses have been able to connect with the Chamber and received valuable training and networking to help their businesses grow and thrive.


At the Chamber, we believe that this is what community is all about!

Learn more about the Pay It Forward Fund
Donate to the Pay It Forward Fund

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, Houston Symphony


Mission: The mission of the Houston Symphony is to inspire and engage a large and diverse audience in Greater Houston and beyond through exceptional orchestral and non-orchestral performances, educational programs and community activities.

 

Learn more about the Houston Symphony at www.houstonsymphony.org.

 

Did you know that Chamber Members receive special discounts from the Houston Symphony? Learn more here.

President's Circle Featured Member!

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 Presidents Circle member, PromoPrint

PromoPrint Group has 30+ years of experience in the Promotional Products and Print Media industries with a specialty in corporate marketing. That experience enables us to focus on learning about your marketing goals and making recommendations for the most effective custom branded products and printed communications to meet your needs.


Servicing companies nationwide, we enjoy a diversified customer base in the areas of medical, education, real estate services & management, construction, legal, hospitality, museums, restaurants and more.

Learn More About PromoPrint

Thank you to PromoPrint for your support of the Chamber and the LGBTQ+ & Allied Business Community!

View Photo Album

Women’s History Month Luncheon with Commissioner Lesley Briones – Chamber Board Chair, Shenice Brown, participated in a luncheon hosted by Commissioner Briones celebrating the women of Harris County Precinct 4. 

Resiliency to Success Event – Hosted by Strategic Partners, HCC and the U.S. Small Business Administration as well as the Minority Business Development Agency. The event connected small businesses with critical resources and information to address post-pandemic barriers impacting the success of their business, develop economic resiliency, and create business opportunities. 

View Photo Album
View Photo Album

Houston Hospitality Alliance (HAA) Launch Party – Chamber Leadership participated in the Houston Hospitality Alliance’s launch event held in late April. 

Recording for Houston Public Media Series – Chamber Co-Founder, President & CEO, Tammi Wallace, recently recorded a segment for Houston Public Media’s Texas-wide public media Pride Month coverage. Keep an eye out for more details!

View Photo Album

King Charles III Coronation – Chamber Leadership joined His Britannic Majesty’s Consul-General Richard Hyde for and event to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III and the Queen Consort at the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center.

View Photo Album

Pride Town Hall Breakfast with Congressman Al Green – Chamber Leadership joined Congressman Al Green for his annual Pride Town Hall Breakfast. The event was held at Chamber Member, Urban Eats. We appreciate Congressman Green’s longtime support and advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community. 

View Photo Album

The Big Help Out! – To mark His Majesty King Charles’ Coronation thousands of organizations across the UK & the world got together to help out local communities. The Chamber joined the British Consulate Houston and the Buffalo Bayou Partnership along with tons of other volunteers to help clean up Buffalo Bayou. Check out the photos here.

View Photo Album

Chamber of Commerce Breakfast hosted by Commissioner Lesley Briones – Chamber Co-Founder, President & CEO, Tammi Wallace, participated in a breakfast hosted by Commissioner Briones to visit with chamber leaders across Precinct 4 and to explore potential partnerships. 

View Photo Album

And so much more... Check out all of the photo albums from recent events on the Chamber's Facebook page.

Check out the Photos from Recent Chamber Events

View Photo Album

May 3, 2023 - National AIDS Memorial - Bank of America Opening Reception

May 4, 2023 - Pride@5

in Galveston

View Photo Album

Thank You to MarMo Plaza for hosting this event!

Thank you to Eatcetera for sponsoring the light bites!

Thank you to Tom Schwenk with Chamber Member Coldwell Banker, TGRE, for providing dessert!

View Photo Album

May 5, 2023 - First Friday Meet & Eat at Landry's - The Woodlands

May 5, 2023 - Chamber Drop In at Conduit Coffee

View Photo Album

May 11, 2023 - LGBTQ+ Workplace Alliance Happy Hour at Cadillac Bar

View Photo Album

May 18, 2023 - 3rd Thursday Breakfast - Community & ConnXions at Harold's

Thank you to our event sponsor and Chamber Corporate Partner, Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty!

View Photo Album

The Chamber is proud to partner with Chamber Member, Eureka Heights, for Drag Bingo at the brewery in 2023!

View Photo Album

May 25, 2023 - Pride Night Drag Bingo at Eureka Heights

New Corporate Partner


Welcome to new Bronze Level Corporate Partner Garcia Hamilton & Associates, L.P. We appreciate your support of the Chamber!


Garcia Hamilton & Associates, L.P. (GH&A) was founded in 1988 and is located in Houston, Texas. We offer high-quality fixed income strategies for institutional clients through separate accounts, a mutual fund, a collective trust, and a commingled fund. Our client base includes public funds, jointly trusteed plans, endowments, foundations, and corporations. The Firm is an ESG/RI Manager, Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) signatory, and Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) supporter. Learn more at www.garciahamiltonassociates.com.

LAMBDA NextGen

Supporting LGBTQ+ Young Professionals

LAMBDA NextGen is Houston's first young professionals networking group, ages 21-35, focused on bringing LGBTQ+ professionals together to build a strong connection in an ever-changing community.


LAMBDA NextGen launched in 2013 as a social networking group in Houston to bring LGBTQ+ Young Professionals together to connect, mingle, and strengthen roots within the local community. The initial event grew from 35 people to over 300+ and LAMBDA NextGen leadership is working with the Chamber to reengage this impactful program and connect LGBTQ+ Young Professionals! 


With LAMBDA NextGen officially becoming a program of the Chamber, this opens up even more opportunities to continue building on the important work of the former organization to continue helping LGBTQ+ Young Professionals in the greater Houston region thrive and succeed.


We have some great events planned this year! Be part of LAMBDA NextGen!  

Learn More
Chamber Events Calendar

Are you are part of the Member LinkedIn Group?

There is now a new Member LinkedIn Group! Members can access the group to regularly post about their member business or organization. Members can request to join the group here.

The Member Facebook Group is still active! If you haven’t joined the Member Facebook Group, you can request access here.


We want to hear from our members!  Use the groups to share the latest about your member business or organization.


The Chamber Team will be processing Member LinkedIn Group requests as quickly as possible. We expect a large number of requests so we appreciate your patience. As a reminder, you must be a member to access the Member Facebook or LinkedIn Groups and listed on the member account.

2023 Sponsor Opportunities Flipbook

Did you know the Chamber has a variety of sponsorship opportunities throughout the year including events, programming and more?

View the Guide

Member Benefit!

HOW Water is a Local Houston company that manufacture, sell, and distributes hyperpure oxgenated water (HOW) bottled in infinitely recyclable aluminum bottles. We are the future of hydration!


MEMBER BENEFIT: Chamber members, LGBTQ+ community and allies can enjoy 30% off your first subscription delivery or 20% Off one-time orders of HOW Water plus FREE Delivery. HOW Water is committed to bringing the community together based on inclusion one neighborhood at a time. drinkhowwater.com

Learn More

Register for Upcoming PRIDE MONTH 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.



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!

For in-person events, please review the Chamber’s Health & Safety Policy and COVID Waiver.

Member Spotlights

Congratulations to our members who were selected as the Houston Business Journal honorees for its inaugural Family-Owned Business Awards. 

Congratulations to Kathy Vasquez, President of Chamber Member, Vettrus Supply, for being honored as a 2023 Women In Leadership Women Owned Business Honoree. Way to go Kathy! Check out her acceptance video at https://youtu.be/lGuUJy_CuVk

Hall of Fame! Chamber Member Coldwell Banker TGRE Owner and Broker, Tom Schwenk, was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the Realtor Political Action Committee (RPAC) in honor of his significant contributions.  

HUGE shout out to Joelle Bayaa-Uzuri Espuet, Director of Programming, with Chamber Nonprofit Member, The Normal Anomaly Initiative, for being selected to participate in the 2023 American Express Leadership Academy

Do you have good news to share about your member business of an individual member milestone? From time to time, the Chamber highlights significant accomplishments, big milestones and other good news about our Members and Corporate Partners. Please submit your news here.

Renewing Corporate Partners


Thank you to our Corporate Partners who have renewed their investment. We appreciate your continued support of the Chamber!

GOLD

Thank you to H-E-B and the Houston Dynamo and Dash for

their increased support this year!

BRONZE

Happy Chamberversary!

Thank you to the following members for their continued support of the Chamber!  

President's Circle

We are your one-stop solution for creative on-trend advertising specialties that highlight and elevate your brand. Print media is in our foundation, rely on us for everything from brochures & flyers to presentation folders, postcards, labels and envelopes. Learn more at https://www.promoprintgroup.com.

Business Plus

Business Connect

Welcome New Members!

We are thrilled to welcome our newest members to the Chamber!

Business Connect

The Chamber is growing! It’s a great time to be part of our growing and thriving Chamber community. Join today!

Congratulations to Our Newest LGBTBE® Certified Members!

Is your business 51% or more LGBT owned? Then check out the LGBTBE® Certification! Access the Chamber’s LGBTBE® Certification Resource Page here to learn more about the how your business can become LGBTBE® Certified.  

Stay up to date on the latest happenings - follow the Chamber on social media!

Facebook  Twitter  Instagram  Linkedin  Youtube  

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!

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!

Join Today

ADP

UPS

Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

Wells Fargo

KBR

Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce www.houstonlgbtchamber.com
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