MBA Matters, July 2010 by Jason Holstein

July 2010

Volume I, Issue I

MBA MATTERS A Newsletter for the Central Florida LGBT Business Community

SLAYMAKER HONORED WITH DEBBIE SIMMONS SERVICE AWARD P. 10

WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S INSIDE? What the Prez Sez Upcoming Events Chewing the Cud RED Update

p. 5 p. 6 p. 7 p. 8

Slaymaker Honored Membership New at The Center Back To Nature PRIDE Update

p. 10 p. 12 p. 16 p. 18 p. 20

LOV

THE ARTS

@ OLV Café

Join the MBA

Wednesday, July 7th 6:30 - 9 as we head to SoDo, where a crazy little thing called OLV Cafe combines a unique mixture of food & drink making it a second home for SoDo people.

Come join MBA members & guests for a wonderful evening of light bites, drinks, the incredible MBA raffle, three member minutes & Special Guest Speaker:

Alexis Jackson

VP of Communications, Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center MBA Members FREE, Guests $10

Located in the new SoDo shopping district

25 W. Crystal Lake St., Orlando between ORMC & Michigan Ave. Park in front of OLV Cafe or in the SoDo parking deck

MBAOrlando.org

ORLANDO’S LGBT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Board Bites 2010 Board of Directors President Dr. David Baker-Hargrove BHC Assessment & Consulting Vice President Gina Duncan Wells Fargo Branch Manager

MBA welcomes to the Board of Directors several new members:

Membership Director Ayr Poucher

Board Member at Large Nayte Carrick

Business Development Dir. Mikael Audebert

Board Member at Large Rose Marie Gamba

Marketing Dir. Jason Fox Holstein Foxy Cow Advertising & Marketing President

On behalf of the entire board, we are looking forward to working with you!

Secretary Susanna Garcia Verizon Wireless Account Executive Treasurer Scott Pruitt Risk Transfer, LLC National Accounts Executive

Membership Dir. Ayr Poucher Walt Disney Travel Co. Sales Agent Programs Dir. Don Williams Watermark Account Executive Technology Dir. vacant Member-at-Large vacant Member-at-Large Nayte Carrick Carrick Marketing President Member-at-Large Rose Gamba CPA

Andre Brouusard resigned last month from his position as Membership Director. MBA would like to wish Andre the best of luck in his future endeavors.

Marketing Director Jason Holstein is looking to put together a committee of several people to work on marketing endeavors for MBA. To help, call 407-949-2111 or e-mail MarketingDirector@MBAOrlando.org Are you an energetic, committed professional looking for opportunities to further develop and utilize your leadership skills? The MBA is currently looking to fill our vacant Technology Director position on the board. Find out more by e-mailing Dr. Dave at President@MBAOrlando.org.

What the Prez Sez

Buddha State of Mind I have an app on my droid that I like. It’s simply called, “Buddha”. If you click on it, you get an inspirational message based upon Buddhist philosophy. It’s a great “go to” app to help get you in the right frame of mind when you need it. I recently received a message that read:

“Virtue is persecuted more by the wicked than it is loved by the good.” I love this message because it reminds me that everyday, while I’m out there trying to achieve my goals in life, I am going to face negativity. On top of that, I have to accept the fact that I am going to face negativity.

MBA President Dr. David Baker Hargrove

Negativity exists all around us from supposedly benign sources: our family members, friends, coworkers, or even people we come into contact with who don’t know us very well. That, I think, is the most unfortunate aspect of negativity. If often comes from people who don’t necessarily intend us harm.

Perhaps it would help us to remember that while we have to accept the existence of negativity, we don’t have to accept its message. Oddly enough, the very next message on the app read:

“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared”. Enough said. Have a great summer! With Pride,

Dr. Dave 5

Upcoming Events Jul 7

RED Group South Meeting 11:30 - 1 p.m. @ IKEA

Jul 7

MBA Networking Social 6:30 - 9 p.m. @ OLV Cafe 25 W. Crystal Lake Street

Jul 8

Branding Yourself Pink 11:30 - 1 p.m. @ Comfort Suites

Jul 12

Branding Yourself Pink 6 - 7:30 p.m. @ Comfort Suites

Jul 13

RED Group Central Meeting 11:30 - 1 p.m. @ The Center

Jul 14

Mayoral Candidates Forum 6:30 - 9 p.m. @ the Downtown Sheraton

Jul 16

Verizon始s Scoops of Hope 11:30 - 1 p.m. @ 1340 W Osceola Pkwy

Jul 21

RED Group South Meeting 11:30 - 1 p.m. @ IKEA

Jul 27

RED Group Central Meeting 11:30 - 1 p.m. @ The Center

Aug 7

MBA Netrorking Social 6:30 - 9 p.m. @ Orlando Fringe Festival

Your Ad Here! Have your ad, web banner and logo grace MBA communications and reach thousands of LGBT business professionals throughout the year.

Contact our Marketing Director for more details: Jason Fox Holstein (407)-949-2111 MarketingDirector@MBAOrlando.org

Your Ad Here! Have your ad, web banner and logo grace MBA communications and reach thousands of LGBT business professionals throughout the year.

Contact our Marketing Director for more details: Jason Fox Holstein (407)-949-2111 MarketingDirector@MBAOrlando.org

Chewing the Cud Count to Three We saw it on TV all of the time while growing up. The character is really nervous to do something that we all know will be good for him, but he’s still apprehensive. Ripping off a band-aid. Taking his medicine. Asking his crush to prom. They count aloud and they go for it. One... Two.. Three...

“Dad, I’m gay.”

I made this brief statement aloud a few short months before my first MBA Networking Social in April 2009. I still hadn’t come out to my family. All of my friends in Orlando knew, but I hadn’t demonstrated the courage with my own kin. Everything went over smoothly, eventually, and the bonds with my relatives are stronger now from that weight being lifted off my shoulders.

Jump forward some 18 months and you would never know. I shot out of that closet faster than Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt off the starting blocks of the 50 meter dash. In addition to being Marketing Director, I’ve started our RED Group program as a way for LGBT friendly businesses to pass referrals to one another and helped give this very newsletter that you’re reading a much needed face lift. But it just goes to show you that change, though often tumultuous at times, can very often lead to positive

Jason Fox Holstein

results. Something similar can be said about our own MBA. After a few quiet years, we knew that it would be anything but muted with Dr. Dave at the helm. Under his guidance and leadership, Come Out With Pride has blossomed into a $150,000 event, the second largest in Florida. Now the focus is shifting to MBA. Our networking socials have gotten better and better with larger crowds and a renewed focus on conducting business. RED Group has expanded to a second group and has passed more than $39,000 in commissions to its members. The MBA and Come Out With Pride sites will undergo a rather dramatic “nip-tuck” this summer in preparation for beach season. Plus, new events are being planned through our Diversity Committee. MBA has its proverbial hand on the door handle ready to reemerge as a different, more focused organization intent on bringing together the LGBT friendly business community. Are you ready to run with us on the count of three?

One... Come to the next MBA social and see what’s changing... Two... Invite a friend to come with you... Two and a half... Let us know what MBA can do for you... Two and three quarters... Friend us on facebook... THREE!

Thinking RED...

RED Group Director Jason Fox Holstein

...will have your business seeing GREEN! RED Group - Central Meets @ 11:30 a.m. @ The Center Second & Fourth Tuesdays: July 13 & 27 August 10 & 24 Contact Carolyn Taylor 407-704-9764 Ctaylor@murrayinsurance.net

FACT: Many members in MBA have occupations that are incentivized with bonuses where they make more money if they close more deals. FACT: Most sales positions rely on cold calling in order to close those deals. FACT: The likelihood of closing a cold lead is usually between 0-5%. CONCLUSION: Cold calling is a waste of time!

RED Group Director

FACT: RED Group members have passed out more than 100 referrals to fellow members since starting in January. FACT: RED Group members are closing 39% of the referrals. FACT: 39% is a lot better than 2-5%.

Jason Fox Holstein 407-949-2111 MarketingDirector@MBAOrlando.org

CONCLUSION: Chances are that with the close of just one or two sales, you will earn back the $100 membership fee.

www.MBARED.org RED Group - South Meets @ 11:30 a.m. @ IKEA First & Third Wednesdays: July 7 & 21 August 4 & 18 Contact Susanna Garcia 407-692.9137 Secretary@MBAOrlando.org

FACT: The Referral Exchange Development (RED) Group was created to help local businesspeople generate more business by creating relationships that most other networking groups cannot provide. FACT: This is achieved through a concept called category exclusivity where only one business from each profession is allowed into each group. FACT: RED Group has now expanded to two chapters on different days and times to be more convenient for our MBA members. CONCLUSION: If you are looking for a way to help meet your 2010 goals while supporting LGBT friendly businesses, use the information on the left to find your RED Group!

The Metropolitan Business Association Presents

Branding 101 SOCIAL MEDIA CREATIVE

DIRECT MARKETING PRODUCTION

BRAND IDENTITY D E S I G N MEDIA PLANNING VALUES

MARKETING BRANDING ADVERTISING

E-MAIL CAMPAIGN GROWTH PROFITS PUBLIC RELATIONS MARKETING STRATEGY V I S I O N And what it all means to you and your business! Thu. July 8 @ 11:30 a.m.

Mon. July 12 @ 6 p.m.

Comfort Inn & Suites 2416 North Orange Avenue

Select the presentation time convenient for you and RSVP by contacting JasonFHolstein@gmail.com or call 407-949-2111.

Slaymaker Honored Bio edited by Jason Fox Holstein Michael Slaymaker's neighbors will tell you "He only sleeps here." With exception for a few hours during the dead of night, Michael is never at home. He is out in the community seven days a week working to make it a better place. And it’s for precisely that reason that the Metropolitan Business Association’s Board of Directors voted to honor Michael with the Debbie Simmons Service Award. Named after our organization’s founder and president for 15 consecutive years, the award is given each year to an individual who goes beyond the call of duty in service for the LGBT community. Past honorees are Debbie SImmons, the first recipient for whom the award was named, and PFLAG President Pat Padilla. "Michael understands that while we work to achieve equal rights, inspiring others to stay involved in the process is crucial,” said MBA Past President Debbie Simmons. “ H e deserves recognition for his many years of service to the lgbt community! Michael’s involvement with the LGBT community began from the moment he moved to Central Florida in 1995 from Iowa (you know, one of those states with legalized gay marriage). He took on the job of Executive Director for the financially troubled Hope & Help Center. After one 10

year, the signature event, Headdress Ball tripled in revenue, a new Ryan White grant was secured and the first ever AIDS Walk Orlando was created. He nearly doubled their annual budget from $600,000 to $1.1 million leaving them financial secure. In 1998, Michael joined the Orlando Gay Chorus as a volunteer singer. He was quickly recruited to help with fundraising. For ten years he served as OGC's Development Director increasing their annual budget from $28,000 to $189,000.

Although he has tur ned over the fundraising duties to other volunteers, Michael is singing with them in their 20th anniversary concert on May 22 & 23 at the Plaza Theatre on Bumby Avenue. Michael has served as the volunteer Treasurer of the Association of Fundraising Professionals since 2002. He has been instrumental in making sure all of their Diversity in Philanthropy events include the LGBT community.

Debbie Simmons, Michael Slaymkaer and Dr. David Baker-Hargrove at at the May Social at NY Life.

In January 2007 Michael was voted in as Board President of the Orlando Youth Alliance an organization helping LGBT youth ages 13-20. Michael helped the organization secure 501(c)(3) IRS nonprofit status, started a new chapter in Polk County called the Lakeland Youth Alliance and increased OYA's annual budget from $1,900 to $40,000. Nearly 60 kids got to

experience their first LGBT Homecoming Dance and 30 attended Gay Day at the Magic Kingdom for the first time. Supporting the youth of our community is paramount to Michael and the OYA organization. For the past ten years Michael has been the Chairman and driving force behind the highly successful volunteer group called the Orlando Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Committee (OADO). One of his first recruits was Debbie Simmons. They tackled the monumental task of updated Chapter 57 for the City of Orlando. They also have accomplished adding antidiscrimination coverage in the personnel policies of the City of Orlando, Orange County, the Sheriff’s Office, and the Ethics Code of the Orange County Public Schools. In 2006 OADO orchestrated a unanimous vote for adding sexual orientation, gender identity and expression into the Orange County Housing Ordinance. OADO is currently working on expanding that language to employment and public accommodations throughout the County. "Each year this award is given to honor a person or an organization that truly embodies the spirit of volunteerism and community involvement and development,” said MBA President Dr. D a v i d B a k e r- H a r g r o v e . “ M i c h a e l Slaymaker is certainly representative of that." Congratulations Michael! Well done!

New Members! The Cooking Craft Jerry Craft, Chef www.thecookingcraft.com 20% off for all MBA Members!

Affordable Trophies www.AffordableTrophiesFL.com

Good To Go Event Management Dana Plumtree, Office Manager Dana@g2gevents.com

Innovative Title Services Michael Day www.ITSFla.com Orlando Vista Hotel Sara Honrohan www.the-pineapple.net Special $54 / night rate for MBA Members!

Stone Specialists Group Donald Wallace www.StoneSpecialistsGroup.com

Jeff Miles, Sales Manager JMiles@CPOrlando.com 407-781-2169

Want To Join?

Membership Report It始s only $75 for the year! Become a part of the Central Florida LGBT Business Community Contact our Membership Director for more details: Ayr Poucher (321)-438-6333 Ayr@MBAorlando.org

Your Ad Here!

Have your ad, web banner and logo grace MBA communications and reach thousands of LGBT business professionals throughout the year.

Contact our Marketing Director for more details:

Jason Fox Holstein

(407)-949-2111 MarketingDirector@MBAOrlando.org

Your Ad Here!

Have your ad, web banner and logo grace MBA communications and reach thousands of LGBT business professionals throughout the year.

Contact our Marketing Director for more details:

Jason Fox Holstein

(407)-949-2111 MarketingDirector@MBAOrlando.org

Renewals!

Need to Renew?

Rose Marie Gamba, C.P.A., P.A. www.RoseGCPA.com 20% off tax / accounting services for all MBA members.

Hard Rock Live Jeff Jones, Sales Director Jeff_Jones@hardrock.com

Membership Report

Carey Hand Cox Parker Funeral Home Richard Owens www.carey-handcox.com

It始s only $75 for the year!

Gary Tucci GTucci@MetLife.com Complimentary Initial Consultation, 10% Off Written Financial Plan

Is it time to renew your membership to MBA?

Seifert Miller LLC, Attorneys at Law Jeffrey Miller 407-423-0008 www.seifertmiller.com

Debbie Kleinberg, Business Banker 407-359-4319 Debbie.Kleinberg@suntrust.com Free financial fitness kit & free financial analysis to save money on bank fees.

Contact our Membership Director for more details: Ayr Poucher

Joshua Hoskins Come Out With Pride Logistics Director 407-948-0615 Logistics@ComeOutWithPride.com

(321)-438-6333 Ayr@MBAorlando.org

Reboot Orlando! The best way to describe what the GLBT Community Center is going through is to use a computer term we are all too familiar with Reboot.

Photo by Kay Brady

The Center is Rebooting! Besides a new Interim Executive Director, The Center has re-branded with a new look and logo to go along with a new web site that we are hope to have up and later in July.Â With this new logo and web site is a NEW ATTITUDE. As we expand, we plan to provide relevant, new and needed programs to the LGBT community. We are continuing many of the long standing and vital programs at The Center. We offer free HIV Rapid testing with results in 10 minutes.

HOURS

TESTING

MON

12 - 9 p.m. 12 - 4 p.m.

TUE

12 - 9 p.m. 12 - 7 p.m.

WED

12 - 9 p.m. 12 - 7 p.m.

THU

12 - 9 p.m. 12 - 4 p.m.

FRI

12 - 5 p.m.

SAT

12 - 5 p.m.

SUN

12 - 5 p.m. 12 - 5 p.m.

Randy Stephens Interim Executive Director for The Center

We host several 12-step programs (including AA, Narcotics Anonymous, Crystal Meth Anonymous, and Co Dependency Anonymous) and provide weekly support programs for HIV, women, men, and transgender groups. There is also a variety of social, business and political groups who call The Center home.Â With the assistance of Harbor House of Central Florida, The Center is proud to announce that we have received a grant of $4,500 from the Florida Bar Association. This grant will go toward funding same sex domestic violence awareness workshops and training local law enforcements to recognize the signs of domestic abuse within

Randy Stephens

same sex relationships. This program not only includes providing aide and shelter to victims of such abuse, but also educating the community and local law enforcement agencies of the signs identifying domestic abuse. The Center is also very proud to be working with a myriad of local organizations in developing a program to protect the most vulnerable in our community – homeless LGBT youth. The Zebra Foundation for Youth will provide various resources to assist the LGBT youth with their various needs and The Center is very proud to participate in this important program. We are in the process of putting together a Health and Wellness Fair (HWF) in early November at The Center. We plan to include a wide variety of resources concentrating on health issues within the LGBT Community. Besides having health care consultants on hand to answer questions, the HWF will also include cancer screening, HIV testing, and

inoculations with Hepatitis vaccines. We are also scheduling representatives from local gyms and fitness programs, along with other experts dealing with smoking cessation, weight control, nutrition, and mental health. At the HWF we will be announcing the creation of a new program addressing the needs and advocacy for the elder members of our community. We will be participating with a national program to help those of us who are moving into a new adventure in our lives. We have many other future events scheduled at The Center that we will announce in the coming weeks. If you have any questions or comments please don’t hesitate to contact me at director@glbcc.org. Stay tuned and be a part of the rebooting of Orlando. Oh and BTW, you may have heard that someone recently stole our mannequin legs from the roof….. If you find them, please do not return them…..consider them a gift. I’m sure they’ll help reboot your living room decor. 17

A Call From The Wild! July marks Parks and Recreation Awareness Month. Rather than tell you about Lake Eola or mention some park several hours away that you aren’t likely to visit, we thought that we would share with you a little bit about a great place in the area that would be perfect for a day trip! Not far from the noise and crowds of the theme parks, and just outside of the city limits, is the real Central Florida. Trees outnumber cars and parking lots are made of sand. Boiled peanuts and honey are sold at roadside stands and Central Florida wildlife is abundant. Our area has a rich natural ecosystem that is as diverse as its people – and it is as exciting, if not more than, as the dolphins and exotic animals in theme parks. It has its own wild creatures that, unless you venture outside of the city, you may never know about. And sometimes, the animals and the city collide in ways that are detrimental to the animals and they need our help. Welcome to Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge, located in Orlando, FL. Back to Nature is the largest non-profit 501(c)(3) wildlife rehabilitation facility in Central Florida. They are dedicated to the rescue, raising, and rehabilitation of over 2,000 injured and orphaned Florida native wildlife each year. Their full intention is to release them back to their wild homes. In addition, they permanently house 48 resident wild, 18

Open Daily 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. 18515 E. Colonial Dr. Orlando, FL 32820 407-568-5138 www.btnwildlife.org non-releasable animals that serve as educational ambassadors for the facility. BTN has been in existence for over 20 years and is open to the public daily from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. As you enter the gate, the first resident you will see is Oliver, a young Florida Bobcat. Oliver was just a few weeks old

Back To Nature Vice President Debbie Kleinberg when a large field mower ran over his den, killing his siblings. Orphaned, he was found and brought to Back to Nature where he now lives. Due to his young age when he was found, he never learned the hunting skills he would need to survive in the wild so he is now a permanent resident.

Oliver

Next to Oliver is Zema, a Western Cougar. Zema was part of a federal investigation and was confiscated in South Carolina when he was a few months old. He had been bought on the black market. He was outgrowing the place he was being held and Back to Nature was called in to take him before they had to euthanize him. Zema is an educational ambassador now and can often be seen basking in the shade.

Winnie

Zema

So, take a stroll around the refuge for Parks and Recreation Awareness Month to learn about the refuge and its mission. Along the way, you will see owls, ringtailed lemurs, a bald eagle named Winnie, gopher tortoises, an Arctic fox, deer, an emu, and many other residents – exotic and nonreleasable native species who live permanently at the refuge. You’ll learn why they live at the refuge and about things that you can do to make a difference.

A Perfect 10!

Mikael Frank Audebert Executive Producer of Event Development, Come Out With Pride, Inc.

Orlandoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best event of the year... 10-10-10!

No, I am not referring to the grand opening of the new Amway Arena even though it is quite an event to welcome into the City Beautiful the first of 3 projects that will improve our entertainment life. I am actually talking about the most amazing event of the year for our LGBT community: Come Out With Pride. I have the honor and privilege to be entrusted with the development of this event and our team is working diligently around the clock to make sure we put together a show you will remember for years to come. We have listened to your suggestions and comments and are excited by this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s changes. First, let me give you a brief description of what Come Out With Pride is and what it takes to put something like this together. With a strong team of 24+ volunteers including 7 board members, Come Out With Pride became a 501(c)(3) non profit earlier this year thanks to the very well written application submitted by our MBA President and Come Out With Pride Senior Executive Producer Dr. David Baker-Hargrove. Our volunteers take time away from their job and other obligations to bring pieces together that will complete the puzzle by October 7, 2010 when our opening ceremonies will take place. The production of our event starts in February with the first meeting of the team. From that point on, wheels are put in motion by the Development team which includes Marketing, S p o n s o r s h i p , Te c h n o l o g y , P u b l i c Communications, Fundraising, Logistics and Allied Events. By October 10, 2010 an estimated 10,000 combined hours of

Not a sponsor yet? Our packages start at $500 and provide your business the opportunity to become a valued supporter of a community that knows no recession as well as to introduce your product and services to an estimated 55,000 individuals strolling through our festival area on Sunday October 10. Contact us at Sponsorships@ComeOutWithPride.com to learn more about what we can do for your organization.

volunteer service will have been put into the delivery of this event. Our work does not stop on October 10. Come Out With Pride strives to not only bring to Central Florida a celebration everyone will remember but to also manage a budget that allows it to provide grants to 12 deserving local LGBT organizations year round. These grants and other outreach activities are all part of a 12-month long process through our program Pride Gives Back. This year, we are proud to bring back the 4day long celebratory weekend we have started in 2009. With the opening ceremonies kicking the festivities on Thursday October 7 followed by a series of events on Friday and Saturday all leading to the Sunday traditional celebration to include the parade, the festival and the main stage entertainment. So make sure to stay up to date by following the latest news on facebook or by going to www.comeoutwithpride.com and signing up to receive our bi-weekly newsletter starting July 10.