Stars Shining Bright: NGLCC Back to Business Summit

from Embrace Magazine — The Luxe Issue

Housed by Versace

The NGLCC convened in Hollywood, Fla. to get Back to Business. It wouldn’t have been an LGBTQ summit unless it emanated fabulousness and illuminated brilliantly.

BY JOHN SOTOMAYOR

Members of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce gleefully gathered from all over the nation and some from abroad on Nov 17-19, 2021 into The Diplomat Beach Resort Hollywood, Curio Collection by Hilton in Hollywood, Fla. after a yearlong hiatus caused by COVID for the eagerly awaited NGLCC Back to Business Summit.

The convention center of the luxurious beachfront resort consisting of North and South Towers overshadowing the row of other deluxe hotels along Ocean Drive, boasting 1,000 rooms 36 stories tall, two overlapping pools, and several restaurants and lounges, served as the meeting place of the B2B Summit, comprised of three days of networking, education, and celebration of the LGBTQ+ business community and their allies’ many accomplishments over the year.

The Summit commenced with the Best-of-the- Best Awards luncheon recognizing outstanding achievement in the promotion of cross-segment diversity, equity and inclusion from the National Business Inclusion Consortium (NBIC), a coalition of national diverse business organizations led by NGLCC since 2012.

**Paul Shay, Jonathan Harmata & Jim Akers**

**Cindy Chase & Nathan Bruemmer; Chance Mitchell**

An emotional and often comedic speech was delivered by keynote speaker, country singer Chely Wright. She then led an insightful panel which included Noah Brodsky, president of Travel + Leisure Group; Charlene Vickers, Johnson & Johnson; and Alexis Adamson, Onshore Wind Procurement Manager of BP.

Recognitions during the NBIC Best-of-the- Best celebration included the following winners: NBIC Program or Initiative of the Year: Lowe’s NBIC Courage in Government Award: Mark Madrid, Associate Administrator, US Small Business Administration.

Afterward throughout the day, the Summit delivered cutting-edge leadership programs in addition to networking and engagement opportunities for LGBTQ+ and allied business leaders. Innovative educational programs included an affiliate chamber educational track and one-toone Matchmaker meetings between suppliers and Fortune 500 companies.

**Sean Honesty, Jason Shadix & Michael Culdoage**

**John Sotomayor, NGLCC Pres Justin Nelson & Orlando Pride Chamber Pres Kellie Parkin**

**Mark Madrid, Nancy Conner, Justin Nelson & Leroy Cavorzos- Reyna**

**Bill Kapfer, Ying McGuire & Fernando Hernandez**

**Ryan Mohland, Rob Volpe & Andy Seibert**

**Chely Wright, Noah Brodsky, Charlene Vickers & Alexis Adamson**

The second day commenced with a star-studded array of speakers including a surprise guest. Businesswoman, educator, ambassador, author, and mentor Janice Byrant Howroyd (AKA “JBH”) kicked off the luncheon with an energetic, motivational speech. Howroyd, the founder and CEO of The ActOne Group, the largest privately held, minority-woman-owned personnel company in the United States, who is known for being the first African American woman to build and own a billion-dollar company, spoke with conviction. The kind of conviction that begins movements.

**Mark Bertolini, Bill Gunn, Clint Grimes & Nedra Dickson**

**Janice Bryant Howroyd, Roxanna Rocky Daniel & Erica Fields**

On the importance of LGBTQ+ businesses, partners and allies confronting the wave of Anti-LGBTQ+ legislation seemingly in retaliation for the election of Joe Biden in November 2020 and the passage of the Equality Act in February 2021, Howroyd said, “Stars shine brightest in the darkness.” On what it means to her looking out into the 350+ in attendance at the B2B Summit and attending many NGLCC conventions and summits over the years, Howroyd said, “I don’t know you, but I love you, because I see you showing up.”

Howroyd led the first panel of three during the luncheon. Her panelists included Roxanna “Rocky” Daniels, president of Taj Development Company Inc., and Erica Fields, president of Brooks Grain LLC. Leading the way herself, Daniels was introduced by Howroyd as the first woman-minority-LGBTQ-owned business in Chicago. Fields is a trailblazer herself, as a trans business owner, public policy maker, and legislator. Daniels empowered the audience quoting, as she said, the African proverb “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

**Janice Bryant Howroyd & John Sotomayor**

The second panel of the luncheon was hosted by Mark Bertolini, the former CEO of Aetha Inc., the Director of Verizon Communications Inc.; and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, and a member of the NGLCC Board of Directors. His panelists included Bill Gunn, Chief Procurement Officer at Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health; Clint Grimes, SVP/Chief Procurement Officer at Capitol One; and Nedra Dickson, Global Supplier Diversity and Sustainability Managing Director for Accenture.

Sabrina Kent, the Executive Vice President at NGLCC had the honor to present and interview the special guest of the Summit — Tobagonian- American actress, author, model, and reality TV personality, Dominique Jackson. Jackson who starred in Strut and more recently Pose, spoke candidly on her difficult experiences as a transgender woman, who was homeless shortly after arriving to the United States and had to turn to sex work for survival. She spoke powerfully on what we need to do to help one another.

**Dominique Jackson & Jonathan D. Lovitz**

Regarding someone approaching her and announcing themselves as an ally, Jackson said, “Don’t tell me, show me.” She received a standing ovation. A quick wit, she said as the crowd sat down, “If you really want to be an ally, stand up for me when I am not in the room.” Powerful point that hit its mark. The Summit concluded with the cocktail fabulous Awards Gala, which celebrated another year of economic and social progress for the global LGBTQ+ and allied business community. And the NGLCC 2021 winners were:

LGBT Supplier of the Year: Kelli Henderson and Elise Lindborg, Brand PrideChamber Leader of the Year: Tracy Dean, Utah LGBTQ Chamber of CommerceExtra Mile Award from American Airlines: Dominique JacksonSupplier Diversity Advocate of the Year: Charlene Vickers, Johnson & JohnsonAffiliate Chamber of the Year: Marquita Thomas, Los Angeles LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce (LAGLCC)Corporation of the Year: Bill Gunn, Johnson & JohnsonAn after party followed with music, dancing, and of course, stilt walkers. NGLCC knows how to party.