National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
Encyclopedia
The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) is a U.S. not-for-profit advocacy organization specifically dedicated to expanding the economic opportunities and advancements of the LGBT
business community. The NGLCC headquarters is located at 729 15 Street, NW in Washington, D.C.
They are the national certification body for LGBT-owned businesses and leading advocates for LGBT supplier diversity
.
The NGLCC works with state and local chambers and business groups on various issues and is an advocate on behalf of LGBT owned businesses, professionals, students of business, and corporations that share in the desire to expand the gay community
's financial opportunities, economic growth, continued innovation, and equality. It supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act
. The NGLCC is affiliated with 62 local, state, and international LGBT chambers of commerce, and serves to represent their interests.
The Board of Directors includes several national business leaders.
Chris Crespo, LGBTA Inclusiveness Strategy Leader at Ernst & Young
(Chair)
Mark Bertolini, President of Aetna, Inc
.
Irwin Drucker, Program Director, GLBT and International Program for IBM
Gregory Morey, Founder and CEO of ZeroTouchDigital, former CFO of Providence Capital
Catherine Pino, Co-founder and Principal of D&P Creative Strategies
Mark Ng, Vice President, LGBT Segment & Integrated Marketing Manager, Diverse Segments at Wells Fargo & Company
Michael S. Fuller, Chief Operating Officer, International, at OptumInsight, part of United Health Group
Steven Wozencraft, CEO at John O'Donnell Associates
NGLCC Co-Founders Justin G. Nelson and Chance Mitchell also serve on the Board of Directors.
people. This certification helps vendors source from LGBT-owned products and services, also known as supplier diversity
. The NGLCC has certified 245 businesses across the U.S.. Certification is a multi-step process involving an application and supporting documents, a site visit, and final approval before regional certification committees.
In June 2005, the NGLCC and the US Department of the Interior signed a Memorandum of Understanding
to increase opportunities for LGBT-certified small business seeking to contract with the department. In August 2007 the NGLCC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Women's Business Enterprise National Council to provide opportunities for dual-certification as both a women-owned, and lesbian, bisexual or transgender-owned, business. In 2011 the Human Rights Campaign
announced it would include active sourcing of LGBT certified businesses as part of the Corporate Equality Index
, a national directory of gay-friendly workplaces.
. The NGLCC recognizes 10 companies as founding corporate members.
It was first held in November to celebrate progress in the LGBT business community. It was first held in 2003 and has been held at the National Building Museum
in Washington, DC since then. It is attended by national and international business leaders, LGBT equality advocates, small business owners and political figures alike.
On November 3, 2011, the NGLCC announced it would be honoring U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis
, with the NGLCC/American Airlines
ExtrAA Mile Award for her outstanding contribution to LGBT equality. Previous winners include LGBT activist and sportswoman Martina Navratilova and Academy Award-winning director Cynthia Wade
.
Every summer the NGLCC holds a National Business and Leadership Conference. The conference brings together corporations and small business owners to share best practice in supplier diversity
, to offer networking opportunities, and provide learning tools for small businesses. The Conference also features an exhibition event to advertise services and provide networking opportunities. It has previously been held in Washington, DC, Minneapolis, Seattle, and Las Vegas. It will be held in Chicago
in 2011.
Since 2007 the NGLCC has held an annual Diversity in Financial Services awards dinner at the New York Stock Exchange
to celebrate diversity in financial services. In 2007 the event was held in honor of U.S. Senator Barney Frank
.
The NGLCC stopped national membership options in 2011, and all membership is now routed through affiliated chambers. Membership of an affiliated chamber infers membership of the NGLCC. Certain benefits are afforded for membership, including a waiver of the fee requried for supplier diversity
certification. NGLCC corporate partners also offer benefits to members of affiliated chambers.
Relations between affiliated chambers, the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, and the LGBT business community are overseen by the Council of Chambers and Business Organizations (CCBO).
to Argentina
, joined by U.S. LGBT businesses. The trade mission met with government officials and business counterparts and formalized relations with the Argentine LGBT Chamber of Commerce. In October 2011 the NGLCC traveled to Bogota
to lay the groundwork for a future U.S. certified LGBT trade mission to Colombia
.
The NGLCC considers itself the umbrella body for several international LGBT chambers of commerce.
Closing Bell
on June 20, 2005. It rang the bell again on June 5, 2009 and January 10, 2011.
In 2005, the NGLCC launched with Wells Fargo & Company the NGLCC/Wells Fargo LGBT Business Owner of the Year Award to small LGBT business owners; the award includes a cash prize of $5000, a promotional video, and a chance to be recognized at their annual dinner party. The award is no longer offered.
In 2010 the NGLCC began international work (see above).
In November 2011 the NGLCC unveiled a new Supplier Innovation Center covering a second floor in the building that houses their offices. The Supplier Innovation Center is designed to facilitate training opportunities and develop best practice for small businesses, and provide a space for local start-ups to operate. The NGLCC is offering scholarships to LGBT business owners in partnership with the Tuck School of Business
at Dartmouth, to be held at the Supplier Innovation Center.
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
business community. The NGLCC headquarters is located at 729 15 Street, NW in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
They are the national certification body for LGBT-owned businesses and leading advocates for LGBT supplier diversity
Supplier diversity
Supplier Diversity is a business program that encourages the use of: minority-owned, women owned, veteran owned, LGBT-owned, service disabled veteran owned, historically underutilized business, and SBA defined small business vendors as suppliers...
.
Overview
The NGLCC was co-founded in 2002 by Justin G. Nelson and Chance Mitchell.. Nelson has served as President since the NGLCC was founded, and Mitchell has served as CEO over the same period. In 2002 the pair were named to OUT Magazine's Top 100 Success Stories for their role in founding the NGLCC. Instinct Magazine named Nelson as one of their 25 leading men in 2006.The NGLCC works with state and local chambers and business groups on various issues and is an advocate on behalf of LGBT owned businesses, professionals, students of business, and corporations that share in the desire to expand the gay community
Gay community
The gay community, or LGBT community, is a loosely defined grouping of LGBT and LGBT-supportive people, organizations and subcultures, united by a common culture and civil rights movements. These communities generally celebrate pride, diversity, individuality, and sexuality...
's financial opportunities, economic growth, continued innovation, and equality. It supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act
Employment Non-Discrimination Act
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act is a proposed bill in the United States Congress that would prohibit discrimination against employees on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity by civilian, nonreligious employers with at least 15 employees.ENDA has been introduced in every...
. The NGLCC is affiliated with 62 local, state, and international LGBT chambers of commerce, and serves to represent their interests.
Structure
The NGLCC offices are located over two floors at 729 15th St., NW, Washington, DC, employing approximately 15 full time staff. The NGLCC runs an internship and fellowship program to support operations.The Board of Directors includes several national business leaders.
Chris Crespo, LGBTA Inclusiveness Strategy Leader at Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is one of the largest professional services networks in the world and one of the "Big Four" accountancy firms, along with Deloitte, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers ....
(Chair)
Mark Bertolini, President of Aetna, Inc
Aetna
Aetna, Inc. is an American health insurance company, providing a range of traditional and consumer directed health care insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmaceutical, dental, behavioral health, group life, long-term care, and disability plans, and medical management...
.
Irwin Drucker, Program Director, GLBT and International Program for IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
Gregory Morey, Founder and CEO of ZeroTouchDigital, former CFO of Providence Capital
Catherine Pino, Co-founder and Principal of D&P Creative Strategies
Mark Ng, Vice President, LGBT Segment & Integrated Marketing Manager, Diverse Segments at Wells Fargo & Company
Michael S. Fuller, Chief Operating Officer, International, at OptumInsight, part of United Health Group
Steven Wozencraft, CEO at John O'Donnell Associates
NGLCC Co-Founders Justin G. Nelson and Chance Mitchell also serve on the Board of Directors.
Supplier Diversity Initiative
Since 2004 the NGLCC has offered certification to businesses owned by LGBTLGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
people. This certification helps vendors source from LGBT-owned products and services, also known as supplier diversity
Supplier diversity
Supplier Diversity is a business program that encourages the use of: minority-owned, women owned, veteran owned, LGBT-owned, service disabled veteran owned, historically underutilized business, and SBA defined small business vendors as suppliers...
. The NGLCC has certified 245 businesses across the U.S.. Certification is a multi-step process involving an application and supporting documents, a site visit, and final approval before regional certification committees.
In June 2005, the NGLCC and the US Department of the Interior signed a Memorandum of Understanding
Memorandum of understanding
A memorandum of understanding is a document describing a bilateral or multilateral agreement between parties. It expresses a convergence of will between the parties, indicating an intended common line of action. It is often used in cases where parties either do not imply a legal commitment or in...
to increase opportunities for LGBT-certified small business seeking to contract with the department. In August 2007 the NGLCC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Women's Business Enterprise National Council to provide opportunities for dual-certification as both a women-owned, and lesbian, bisexual or transgender-owned, business. In 2011 the Human Rights Campaign
Human Rights Campaign
The Human Rights Campaign is the United States' largest LGBT advocacy group and lobbying organization; according to the HRC, it has more than one million members and supporters...
announced it would include active sourcing of LGBT certified businesses as part of the Corporate Equality Index
Corporate Equality Index
The Corporate Equality Index is a report published by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation as a tool to rate American businesses on their treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees, consumers and investors. Its primary source of data are surveys but researchers cross-check...
, a national directory of gay-friendly workplaces.
Corporate Partnerships
The NGLCC offers corporate membership. Over 120 companies are recognized as corporate partners of the NGLCC. Membership provides benefits such as access to certified suppliers, recognition as supporters of the LGBT business community and opportunities to share best practice in supplier diversitySupplier diversity
Supplier Diversity is a business program that encourages the use of: minority-owned, women owned, veteran owned, LGBT-owned, service disabled veteran owned, historically underutilized business, and SBA defined small business vendors as suppliers...
. The NGLCC recognizes 10 companies as founding corporate members.
- IBMIBMInternational Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
- Wells FargoWells FargoWells Fargo & Company is an American multinational diversified financial services company with operations around the world. Wells Fargo is the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by assets and the largest bank by market capitalization. Wells Fargo is the second largest bank in deposits, home...
- JP Morgan Chase & Co
- American ExpressAmerican ExpressAmerican Express Company or AmEx, is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Three World Financial Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Founded in 1850, it is one of the 30 components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The company is best...
- Intel
- Wyndham WorldwideWyndham WorldwideWyndham Worldwide is the holding company for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Group RCI and other lodging brands. It was spun off from Cendant Corporation in July 2006....
- American AirlinesAmerican AirlinesAmerican Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
- Ernst & YoungErnst & YoungErnst & Young is one of the largest professional services networks in the world and one of the "Big Four" accountancy firms, along with Deloitte, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers ....
- AetnaAetnaAetna, Inc. is an American health insurance company, providing a range of traditional and consumer directed health care insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmaceutical, dental, behavioral health, group life, long-term care, and disability plans, and medical management...
- MotorolaMotorolaMotorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...
Signature Events
The NGLCC National Dinner, An Evening of Courage, is an annual awards event held in November to celebrate progress in the LGBT business community.It was first held in November to celebrate progress in the LGBT business community. It was first held in 2003 and has been held at the National Building Museum
National Building Museum
The National Builders Museum, in Washington, D.C., United States, is a museum of "architecture, design, engineering, construction, and urban planning"...
in Washington, DC since then. It is attended by national and international business leaders, LGBT equality advocates, small business owners and political figures alike.
On November 3, 2011, the NGLCC announced it would be honoring U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis
Hilda Solis
Hilda Lucia Solis is the 25th United States Secretary of Labor, serving in the Obama administration. She is a member of the Democratic Party and served in the United States House of Representatives from 2001 to 2009, representing the 31st and 32nd congressional districts of California that include...
, with the NGLCC/American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
ExtrAA Mile Award for her outstanding contribution to LGBT equality. Previous winners include LGBT activist and sportswoman Martina Navratilova and Academy Award-winning director Cynthia Wade
Cynthia Wade
Cynthia Wade is an American television and film director, producer and cinematographer based in New York City. She has directed documentaries on social issues including Shelter Dogs in 2003 about animal welfare and Freeheld in 2007 about LGBT rights....
.
Every summer the NGLCC holds a National Business and Leadership Conference. The conference brings together corporations and small business owners to share best practice in supplier diversity
Supplier diversity
Supplier Diversity is a business program that encourages the use of: minority-owned, women owned, veteran owned, LGBT-owned, service disabled veteran owned, historically underutilized business, and SBA defined small business vendors as suppliers...
, to offer networking opportunities, and provide learning tools for small businesses. The Conference also features an exhibition event to advertise services and provide networking opportunities. It has previously been held in Washington, DC, Minneapolis, Seattle, and Las Vegas. It will be held in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in 2011.
Since 2007 the NGLCC has held an annual Diversity in Financial Services awards dinner at the New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located at 11 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies at 13.39 trillion as of Dec 2010...
to celebrate diversity in financial services. In 2007 the event was held in honor of U.S. Senator Barney Frank
Barney Frank
Barney Frank is the U.S. Representative for . A member of the Democratic Party, he is the former chairman of the House Financial Services Committee and is considered the most prominent gay politician in the United States.Born and raised in New Jersey, Frank graduated from Harvard College and...
.
Relations with Affiliated Chambers
The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce works with 62 local, state and international chambers. In 2011 the NGLCC appointed a full time position to oversee relations with affiliated chambers. The move is considered mutually beneficial to both local chambers and the national chamber.The NGLCC stopped national membership options in 2011, and all membership is now routed through affiliated chambers. Membership of an affiliated chamber infers membership of the NGLCC. Certain benefits are afforded for membership, including a waiver of the fee requried for supplier diversity
Supplier diversity
Supplier Diversity is a business program that encourages the use of: minority-owned, women owned, veteran owned, LGBT-owned, service disabled veteran owned, historically underutilized business, and SBA defined small business vendors as suppliers...
certification. NGLCC corporate partners also offer benefits to members of affiliated chambers.
Relations between affiliated chambers, the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, and the LGBT business community are overseen by the Council of Chambers and Business Organizations (CCBO).
International Work
In 2010 the NGLCC hosted the first ever LGBT trade missionTrade mission
Trade mission is an international trip by government officials and businesspeople that is organized by agencies of national or provincial governments for purpose of exploring international business opportunities. Business people who attend trade missions are typically introduced both to important...
to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, joined by U.S. LGBT businesses. The trade mission met with government officials and business counterparts and formalized relations with the Argentine LGBT Chamber of Commerce. In October 2011 the NGLCC traveled to Bogota
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
to lay the groundwork for a future U.S. certified LGBT trade mission to Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
.
The NGLCC considers itself the umbrella body for several international LGBT chambers of commerce.
Milestones
The NGLCC became the first LGBT organization to ring the New York Stock ExchangeNew York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located at 11 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies at 13.39 trillion as of Dec 2010...
Closing Bell
Closing Bell
Closing Bell can refer to two CNBC programs, the original Closing Bell on CNBC , and European Closing Bell on CNBC Europe.-About the show:...
on June 20, 2005. It rang the bell again on June 5, 2009 and January 10, 2011.
In 2005, the NGLCC launched with Wells Fargo & Company the NGLCC/Wells Fargo LGBT Business Owner of the Year Award to small LGBT business owners; the award includes a cash prize of $5000, a promotional video, and a chance to be recognized at their annual dinner party. The award is no longer offered.
In 2010 the NGLCC began international work (see above).
In November 2011 the NGLCC unveiled a new Supplier Innovation Center covering a second floor in the building that houses their offices. The Supplier Innovation Center is designed to facilitate training opportunities and develop best practice for small businesses, and provide a space for local start-ups to operate. The NGLCC is offering scholarships to LGBT business owners in partnership with the Tuck School of Business
Tuck School of Business
The Amos Tuck School of Business Administration is the graduate business school of Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, in the United States...
at Dartmouth, to be held at the Supplier Innovation Center.