building partnerships worldwide - national lgbt chamber …nglcc.org/sites/default/files/global year...

Implementing Partners

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NGLCC Global promotes the growth of LGBT entrepreneurs around the world as a means of global economic development and LGBT community empowerment

2014 Year in Review Global Connect

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Economic Development

NGLCC Global has expanded the NGLCC Supplier Diversity Initiative reach by identifying LGBT-owned businesses based outside of the United States

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Supplier Diversity

Building Partnerships Worldwide

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Affiliate Chambers

New and existing NGLCC Global affiliate chambers have been forces of innovation in their business communities

NGLCC Global orchestrates an historic public-private partnership between NGLCC, USAID and corporate partners

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2015 Opportunities

7 Get a quick insight into the NGLCC Global events you can take advantage of next year as you seek to grow your business

CONNECTING WITH A GLOBAL COMMUNITY

As the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Co-Founder and President, Justin Nelson, noted at the NGLCC National Business & Leadership Conference in Las Vegas this year, nearly 96% of the world’s consumers live outside of the United States, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. Nelson said, “Put another way, if you are a small business owner and are only selling your product nationally across the U.S.—much less if you are selling locally—you are only tapping into some 4% of your earning potential.”

The simple fact is that we are living in a globalized world, where people are more connected than ever before. Therefore, in the spirit of innovation, NGLCC launched its international division this year—NGLCC Global™—as a way to connect U.S. certified LGBT Business Enterprises (LGBTBEs) with markets abroad and to assist in fostering a truly worldwide LGBT business community.

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Issue #: [Date] Dolor Sit Amet

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In addition to making the connection between businesses in diverse markets, NGLCC Global also promotes the growth of small businesses internationally and provides a quick and effective path to broad-based economic advancement and empowerment of the global LGBT community. Through a variety of resources, NGLCC Global brings together LGBT-owned and -allied companies, multinational corporations, and international affiliate chamber leaders and members to help grow local LGBT businesses and encourage a vibrant and prosperous global community.

DEVELOPING PROSPEROUS ECONOMIES

Part of the impetus for NGLCC Global’s new international work comes from the innovative public-private partnership between NGLCC, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and corporate partners. Commencing in December 2013, this cooperative agreement under the LGBT Global Development Partnership provides funding over the four years for NGLCC Global to provide entrepreneurship development in a number of emerging economies around the world. Through the partnership, NGLCC Global will offer business training to LGBT entrepreneurs, promote supplier diversity within corporations abroad, and build the capacity of local LGBT business organizations.

The partnership between USAID and NGLCC was first announced publically by National Security Advisor Susan Rice during the 2014 White House Forum on Global LGBT Rights on June 24, in which Ambassador Rice explained that “thanks to a new partnership between the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and USAID, we will provide business development training and build new networks to help economically empower the LGBT community.”

Last month, in November of 2014, USAID announced the findings of a particularly groundbreaking report, which the Williams Institute, an organizational ally in the LGBT Global Development Partnership, published this year. The report’s findings provided concrete evidence for what NGLCC Global and our partners knew all along—that there is a strong interconnection between human rights and economic prosperity and that a greater inclusion of LGBT people in emerging economies has a positive link with a country’s overall economic development.

“We will provide business development training and build new networks to help economically empower the LGBT community.”

- Susan Rice


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NGLCC Global could not carry out this important work without the generous support from many close corporate and organizational partners. In addition to the grant funding from USAID, NGLCC Global receives financial support and in-kind contributions to fund these efforts from visionary corporate partners who believe in the immense potential of sharing the message of supplier diversity and connecting an international network of LGBT suppliers. Aside from USAID, Wells Fargo has been the biggest contributing partner to NGLCC Global’s work under the Global LGBT Development Partnership.

Wells Fargo not only joined the USAID partnership but also showed their commitment to diverse business growth as the benefactor of the NGLCC Supplier Innovation Center powered by Wells Fargo in Washington, DC. With a ribbon-cutting ceremony last month, NGLCC Global will be able to utilize the new facility to provide high-value educational programming for LGBT entrepreneurs around the world.

In addition to Wells Fargo, Miller Coors has also has helped make this project a reality. The undertakings of NGLCC Global this year would not have been possible without the joint efforts and resources of so many partners who have contributed to its success. For example, Marriott International, NGLCC’s 2014 Corporation of the Year, served as the official host venue for many of NGLCC Global’s major events this year, including WE TRADE in Colombia, the FME-LGBT Road Show throughout Mexico and Chamber Launch in Mexico City, as well as the in-country evaluation in Peru. Moreover, Vice President for Multicultural Affairs Apoorva Gandhi traveled to Mexico City to speak about Marriott’s comprehensive policies of LGBT inclusion at the FME-LGBT launch in September.

IBM, Delta, Google, Accenture, American Airlines, Pfizer, Southwest, and countless others also provided essential resources to make these projects possible.

The public-private partnership also owes a great deal of gratitude to its in-kind partners: 1st Choice Financial Group, American Language Technologies, GayHills, JTraczDesigns, L7z Group, LinguiSearch, Neil Cerbone Associates, and Site, Search & Select.

Working in Partnership


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Registration Benefits: The NGLCC Global Supplier Diversity Initiative offers a wide array of benefits to its registered members, such as:

• Introductions to supplier diversity and procurement professionals, including one-on-one Matchmaker Meetings to see if your services are right for our corporate partners

• Emails about relevant sourcing opportunities for your business from the NGLCC and our corporate partners

• The opportunity to participate in continuing education events hosted by the NGLCC, our corporate partners, and allied organizations that include regular Business Enterprise Teleconferences

• Verification of diverse business status when competing for corporate contracts

• Use of NGLCC registered International Supplier logo on marketing materials

Supplier Diversity has been the flagship program of the NGLCC for several years. Under NGLCC Global, NGLCC has expanded it reach to now provide lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender owned businesses based outside of the United States with the opportunity to supply multinational corporations, government agencies, and local companies with their good and services.

The initiative is driven by U.S. based certified LGBT Business Enterprises® (LGBTBEs) looking to export there their goods and services abroad, in addition to the growing demand from our corporate partners. The 2014 Annual Corporate Partner Survey shows that 74% of NGLCC corporate partners are purchasing goods and services outside of the U.S., 46% of which are actively seeking international LGBT suppliers. As we identify more international LGBTBEs, they in turn want to do business with U.S. companies; it’s a clear win-win!

The emergence of the NGLCC Global Supplier Diversity Initiative and diversity in our annual conference attendance and programming has led to the official name change of our annual conference to NGLCC International Business & Leadership Conference. We are look forward to welcoming delegates from across North America, Asia, Europe, and Central and South America at our next conference, taking place August 11 - 14 in sunny Ft. Lauderdale, Florida!

For more information on the NGLCC GLobal Supplier Diversity Initiative and the many benefits offered, you can visit NGLCC Global’s website and register online.

Launching International Supplier Diversity

BUILDING A SUPPLIER NETWORK

In 2014, NGLCC announced that it would be extending its renowned Supplier Diversity Initiative globally by offering Registration for international LGBT businesses. Businesses that are majority LGBT-owned can now connect with the NGLCC community by registering online and joining the NGLCC Global’s growing network of suppliers. NGLCC Global has already accepted applications from a few dozen international suppliers from seven different countries. By extending supplier diversity overseas and creating a registry of international LGBT suppliers, NGLCC Global not only facilitates domestic corporate partners in meeting business needs via international procurement, but also enables international small businesses to access new markets, clients, and partners, which leads to widespread economic growth.


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Canadian Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce

Canada As the host country for the 2014 World Pride celebration, which brought together thousands of celebrators from around the world to Ontario from June 20 to June 29, 2014, the Canadian Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce was set for an outstanding year. The 2014 World Pride festivities provided CGLCC with the ideal forum for launching the organization’s LGBT Supplier Diversity Program in Canada, which will certify LGBT-owned businesses throughout Canada. CGLCC also signed an official memorandum of understanding and formalized international supplier diversity cooperation with the NGLCC during the 2014 Pride events.

NGLCC Global Affiliate Recaps

Cámara de Comercio Gay y Lésbica de Argentina

Argentina The Argentine Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (CCGLAR) had a highly successful year in 2014 with the organization’s seventh iteration of the signature conference, Gnetwork360, which took place at the Alvear Art Hotel in Buenos Aires from August 6 to 8, 2014. Corporate partners included IBM, Accenture, and Delta, among others. True to CCGLAR’s mission, the conference placed a great deal of emphasis on the importance of the LGBT tourism market in Argentina. In addition to tourism, conference programming in 2015 will extend to corporate diversity and inclusion best practices, including supplier diversity.

Cámara de Comercio LGBT de Colombia

Colombia Colombia marks the first focus country for 2014 under NGLCC Global’s public-private partnership with USAID and corporate partners. This year the Colombian LGBT Chamber of Commerce (CCLGBTco) expanded their reach outside of the capital, Bogotá, by hosting the signature #ActivatingLGBT event in April in the Caribbean costal city of Barranquilla. CCLGBTco has quickly become one of the most respected LGBT organizations in Colombia, as evidenced by founder and CEO Felipe Cárdenas speaking alongside the Colombian Vice President on Human Rights Day. From November 5 to 7, CCLGBTco held their first annual WE TRADE, a signature conference that with such incredible success will be held annually, bringing together members from across the Colombian LGBT business community for workshops, networking, and education. Speakers included the Ambassador from the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá, officials from the Swedish Embassy, and corporate representatives from Accenture and Delta, among others. The sold-out, three-day event concluded with meetings at the Colombian Congress building with remarks from the openly lesbian Congresswoman Angélica Lozano.


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Along with Colombia, Mexico is the second of the two focus countries for 2014. Projects in Mexico began in March of 2014 with NGLCC Global’s LGBT Summit of the Americas and Trade Mission to Mexico City, where entrepreneurs from across the Americas gathered in Mexico’s capital city to discuss trade relations and opportunities for new business. In June, NGLCC Global participated in LGBT Confex’s 2014 LGBT Business Expo in Puerto Vallarta to provide training on supplier diversity and introduce the Mexican Federation of LGBT Entrepreneurs (FME-LGBT) as NGLCC’s exclusive national affiliate chamber for Mexico. In September, FME-LGBT and NGLCC Global took to the road for an informational outreach tour to four major cities—Mexico City, Monterrey, Cancún, and Guadalajara. At each stop, NGLCC and FME-LGBT met with potential new members and registered suppliers, in addition to LGBT leaders in the communities. All of the efforts culminated in the successful launch event for FME-LGBT in Mexico City from October 22 to 23, 2014. With two days of educational programming and high-level attendees from corporate partners, including Google, IBM, and Marriott, as well as the Deputy Chief of Mission from the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, FME-LGBT is off to a bright start.

Federación Méxicana de Empresarios LGBT

Mexico

Breaking New Ground In addition to implementing projects in both Colombia and Mexico in 2014, NGLCC Global began preparing to break new ground for 2015 in the third focus country, Peru. Members from team NGLCC Global conducted an in-country evaluation in September of this year, meeting with LGBT entrepreneurs, activists, and stakeholders to gauge the feasibility of an LGBT business organization. The team discovered immense local support and enthusiasm from business owners and allies, the U.S. Embassy, corporations, including corporate partner IBM, and local leaders, including openly gay Congressman Carlos Bruce. NGLCC Global is excited to announce that it will be partnering with its newest official affiliate chamber, the Peruvian LGBT Chamber of Commerce (CCGLPe), to create programming for the Peruvian LGBT business community in 2015.


Contact NGLCC Global National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce 729 15th Street, NW, 9th Floor Washington, D.C. 20005 P: 1.202.234.9181 F: 1.202.234.9185 www.nglcc.org/global [email protected]

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Opportunities for Engagement in 2015


• CGLCC Strategic Planning Board Meeting - Toronto, Canada January • NGLCC Financial Services Diversity Leadership Awards at New York Stock Exchange - New York, USA

• CCGLPe Leadership Training - Lima, Peru February

• CCLGBTco #ActivatingLGBT - Medellín, Colombia March

April • NGLCC LGBT Summit of the Americas and CCGLPe Chamber Launch - Lima, Peru May

• CCLGBTco #ActivatingLGBT - Cali, Colombia • CGLCC Supplier Diversity Forum - Toronto, Canada • CCGLAR Gnetwork360 - Buenos Aires, Argentina June

July • NGLCC International Business & Leadership Conference - Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA August

•  CCGLPe Roadshow - Cusco, Arequipa, Trujillo, and Piura, Peru

• CCLGBTco #ActivatingLGBT - Bucaramanga, Colombia September

• CCLGBTco WE TRADE Business Summit - Bogotá, Colombia October

• NGLCC National Dinner - Washington, DC, USA November

December

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