Chamber Looks Forward to Busy, Eventful 2019
By Joe Woolley | Photo Courtesy Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce
Happy New Year — 2018 was quite the year for the Nashville LGBT Chamber! It was a major anniversary year, a year of transition, a year of growth, a year of change and a year of accomplishments. We can’t wait to see what 2019 has in store for the chamber.
I am honored to be the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the chamber. I started as CEO this past August when our longtime CEO, Lisa Howe, relocated her family to Texas. I was president of the board for two years before this and have been on the board and involved with the chamber for the last five years. I love this organization and its members.
We are so excited that Focus® asked us to contribute to the magazine by talking about what the chamber is working on at the moment and anything you need to know about related to the chamber and our work!
We pride ourselves as being the “connector” within the community. We help connect the LGBT community within itself; we connect the ally community to the LGBT community; and we connect individuals and organizations to opportunities. We hope you are already familiar with the chamber, but if not please look at our website nashvillelgbtchamber.org and follow us on social media to see what else we are doing. We would love for you to join as a member as well.
Membership Campaign — New Year, New You
This year we are hosting membership drives to bring even more diversity and value to our members. We are kicking off 2019 with New Year, New You. We are focusing on members that can help make 2019 your best yet: mental and physical health, fitness, beauty, food prep, massage therapy, etc.
Brewing Up Business — Clean Eatz
In conjunction with our new year membership drive, we are hosting our first Brewing up Business on Thursday, Jan. 17 at Clean Eatz in Green Hills. Come enjoy food prepared by Clean Eatz. Beverages will also be served. Brewing up Business is our monthly networking mixer, which is free for members and first-time guests. Come give the chamber a test drive!
Predators Pride Night
For the fourth year, we are partnering with the Nashville Predators and presenting Predators Pride Night! The National Hockey League (NHL) and Predators invite the LGBT and ally community to Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 5 to watch the Predators take on the Arizona Coyotes. We will help turn Smashville blue and gold but with lots of rainbows. Chamber members are invited to attend a pre-game reception sponsored by our members: Postmates, Dell and Nissan. Predators Pride Night is Sponsored by AllianceBernstein and everyone that attends will get a pride-themed Predators shirt.
Brewing Up Business — Adventure Science Center
In February, we are excited to be at the Adventure Science Center on Thursday, Feb. 28 for our monthly networking mixer. Come play and explore while you do business and network.
LGBT Certified Businesses
We certified five LGBT Business Enterprises in 2018, bringing our total certifications to 30. Certification is a great way to level the playing field for LGBT businesses through the procurement process. Certification is normally $400 but waived if you are a chamber member. Contact me to get certified.
More exciting news coming soon
We will be unveiling a huge policy initiative with Metro Nashville in January. We have been working on this for the last five years and you will be hearing and seeing much more about this. I wish I could tell you more, but as I am writing this in December, I can’t give any details yet. I will tell you all about it in the next issue of Focus®!
Get involved
Of course, none of this would be possible without the support of our members and our community partners. We are currently forming committees for 2019 and welcome your participation. Contact me at joe@nashvillelgbtchamber.org.
