NGLCCNY News Blog

1st Annual Social Enterprise Awards & Wine Tasting Honoring HIV Law Project

2012-03-07T11:15:00.009-05:00

March is Colorectal Awareness Month

2012-03-07T10:25:00.014-05:00

MAIN STREETS GO BLUE

Community event provides FREE colorectal cancer screenings for men and women

New York, NY (February 29, 2012) - It’s not just NY Giants fans seeing blue these days. You may have noticed that downtown has changed colors – that’s because March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. The American Cancer Society and New York State Cancer Services Program have joined forces with this month’s “Main Street Goes Blue” campaign.

Blue is the universally recognized color for colorectal cancer, thethird leading cause of cancer death in the United States. “Main Street Goes Blue” is a community-wide event that raises awareness about colorectal cancer and provides free screenings to both men and women with little or no health insurance.

“This is an incredible opportunity to remind men and women over age 50 to get screened,” said Myrna Duarte, director for the American Cancer Society. “Early detection is critical. When colorectal cancers are detected at an early stage, the 5-year survival is 90%. However, fewer than 40% of colorectal cancers are diagnosed at this stage, in part because pe

ople are not being screened. That’s why an awareness effort like Main Street Goes Blue is so important.”

In addition to encouraging community members to wear blue and spread the message about the importance of regular screenings to save lives, local businesses are being asked to turn their storefronts and streets blue using lights, balloons and window displays. This year alone, an estimated 141,000 new colorectal cancer cases will be detected.

"We're dedicated to bring attention to the second leading cause of cancer death in the US. We’ll be dressing in blue at all 39 New York and New Jersey branches to kick off the campaign,” explains Brian F. Doran, regional executive for Banco Popular. “We'll also inform people about screening and prevention options, the devastating effect this cancer can have, and what we can do to help find a cure. We are proud to be part of this Community effort."

"Get your butts checked! It saved my life, it could save yours too,” says NYS Senator Bill Perkins, a colon cancer survivor. “Your family and community will appreciate it."

“It has been reported that only 58.6% of Americans are getting screened for colorectal cancer. Blacks, Hispanics and Asians get screened even less,” explains Karen Schmitt, director for the NYS Cancer Services Program. “Screening for colorectal cancer saves lives and is available for New Yorkers with or without insurance.”

“NGLCCNY is thrilled to stand with the American Cancer Society as we 'Go Blue' in March,” says Richard Oceguera, president of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce NY. “We are committed to leveraging our resources to rally the business community to make a profound impact on New Yorkers' lives through this important initiative."

Men and women, age 50 and older, without health insurance are encouraged to call New York State Cancer Services Program at 1-866-442-CANCER (2262). According to the American Cancer Society, if all adults 50 and older were screened, death rates for colorectal cancer would be cut in half.

American Cancer Society Colorectal Cancer Screening Guidelines:
Beginning at age 50, both men and women at average risk for developing colorectal cancer should use one of the screening tests below:

Tests that find polyps and cancer
Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years*
Colonoscopy every 10 years
Double-contrast barium enema every 5 years*
CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years*
Tests that mainly find cancer
Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) every year*,**
Fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every year*,**
Stool DNA test (sDNA), interval uncertain*
*Colonoscopy should be done if test results are positive.**For FOBT or FIT used as a screening test, the take-home multiple sample method should be used. An FOBT or FIT done during a digital rectal exam in the doctor's office is not adequate for screening.

For information on colorectal screening guidelines, or if you have been diagnosed and need assistance, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org

The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing about $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

Member Insider: Blue Peach Media

2012-03-02T15:29:00.005-05:00

Like the entire world, Gavin Grace had no idea his life would be dramatically changed when he woke up the morning of September 11, 2001. But unlike the entire world, he used the tragedy of the events as an impetus to redefine his professional priorities and begin an entirely new entity from scratch. Please join me for this inspiring interview about one member's struggles and triumphs, the range of services he offers through his Blue Peach Media company, as well as some very special work opportunities for NGLCCNY members.

Damon L. Jacobs: Tell me how Blue Peach Media came about.
Gavin Grace: I went to Art School here in New York, and became an intern at a film production company. Then I got into shooting film and video, editing, and graphics. After 9/11 the company kind of splintered. Our offices were across the street from the World Trade Center in the Century 21 building. The company limped along for a bit, but then I decided to start my own company, Blue Peach Media, in 2003.

Damon L. Jacobs: Were you in your office when the attacks happened?
Gavin Grace: I was on a train on my way there. I was a little late that morning. They kept having us change trains, which was very unusual. We were in the station and they announced, “This train is not going downtown anymore.” It happened two or three times. I had no idea what was happening until I got above ground. I don’t remember where I was, I just remember the smoke. It was fairly traumatic.

Damon L. Jacobs: How did that experience contribute to starting Blue Peach Media?
Gavin Grace: Before that I had spent a lot of time working weekends and all nighters. Although we had done some interesting projects, I was basically working all the time for someone else. I decided after 9/11 I was no longer going to work weekends and late nights as a staff person. It was too big of a trade off. When you’re working all the time you are trading off your personal life. I wasn't building anything for myself; I was building a business for someone else. I thought, okay, I need to build something for myself.

Damon L. Jacobs: Since 2003 Blue Peach has grown tremendously. Tell me about the services you offer.
Gavin Grace: We do the full range of production and post-production packages. Over the course we’ve learned to translate the client message into a compelling and interesting visual presentation, whether it’s in the form of a video, or in 2D or 3D animation graphics. A lot of it is just making it concise. Often there is a lot more information than you can possibly present, information people won’t remember. So a lot is editing, honing the message down to something clear and succinct.

Damon L. Jacobs: When a client first comes to you, how do you decide what the look and feel of the final product will be?
Gavin Grace: That’s the big question. Always, I do a needs-analysis. We sit down, I ask a lot of questions, and figure out what they need, what they need to say, what they need to do, who do they need to say it to, how have they said this in the past, and what is different now?

Damon L. Jacobs: How do these ideas come to you? Is it just the artist in you?
Gavin Grace: Through trial and error. And it comes from the clients. Often the clients will have ideas, but more often the client, as a corporate entity, has an image they want to portray. It also depends on the context. If you’re doing something for an investment relations department, those guys are very serious. They want information, not a lot of flash. But the same group may want something with a different personality. A lot of things that go into the message, the tone of the message, and what the visual style will be.

Damon L. Jacobs: One thing I like about the Blue Peach Media reel is how crisp and welcoming your work is. You make technology seem fun and inviting.
Gavin Grace: That is something we are working toward. To make the product lively and entertaining, but effective. That is the goal. We want it to be fun to watch.

Damon L. Jacobs: What has been the greatest struggle you have faced professionally these past eight years?
Gavin Grace: The marketing part of it. I feel comfortable saying that I am good at the work. I have never been marketing / networking type of person. It has fallen on me to do that...it’s not my forte. That’s the struggle.

Damon L. Jacobs: Then what made you want to join NGLCCNY?
Gavin Grace: While running my own business as a gay man, in a world that is predominantly straight, there are times I have felt a bit awkward, out-of-place, alienated from the group of straight business people I’m interacting with. Or often time it’s even from clients I have. You become friendly and the conversation naturally moves toward talk of girlfriends and wives, and I find myself going silent. It’s an awkward feeling. It often serves as a wedge between me and a client, or a potential client. It’s not always something that is spoken, but it’s something that is there, something I feel.

I was talking to a friend about this back home. He said, “I wonder if there is some sort of gay organization that you could belong to.” We looked online, and were very happy to see that there was a Gay Lesbian Chamber of Commerce here in New York. I was thrilled to find the group and become a part of it. It was a big deal for me both professionally and personally. It was a sort of coming out for me.

Damon L. Jacobs: Did you find the group to be understanding of your professional experiences and struggles?
Gavin Grace: Very. The several times I met with Thomas Koveleskie and Richard Oceguera, they were very pleasant, very nice, very warm and welcoming. I got pinned, I gave my five word awkward stuttering speech (laughs), and it was nice. As my business grows I would love to draw from a pool of smart and intelligent people who share my same experience, and to work with me to produce these projects. The GSA contracting schedule potentially has a lot of work.

Damon L. Jacobs: Tell me about the GSA contracting schedule?
Gavin Grace: It stands for the General Services Administration contract schedule with the Federal government.

Damon L. Jacobs: And what does that mean for Blue Peach Media?
Gavin Grace: It means we have been fully vetted and approved as a pre-approved vendor for video production, post-production, and animation services to the Federal government. It’s really great. It’s a five year contract with three options to renew for up to twenty years.

Damon L. Jacobs: And who from NGLCCNY are you looking to hire for these projects?
Gavin Grace: We need writers, videographers, and people with film and video production experience, post production editing, 2D and 3D animation, graphics, photographers, even musicians. Plus I’m looking for people with marketing experience. It has become evident that marketing is a very big part of the picture. We will need to find marketing people.

Damon L. Jacobs: If someone is reading this and is interested in working with you, what’s the best way for them to reach you?
Gavin Grace: They can just email me at Gavin@BluePeachMedia.com . They can send a resume, send a note. We may have things soon, or in the future, we don’t exactly know how or when it will come together.

Damon L. Jacobs: If you could go back to 2003, knowing what you know now, what advice would you give yourself starting Blue Peach Media?
Gavin Grace: Don’t freak out! Have a little more faith. Things have a way of working out. Things have a tendency to get better, even better than you might think they will.

Damon L. Jacobs is a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist seeing individuals and couples in New York City. He specializes in issues related to grief and loss, HIV related concerns, gay/lesbian issues, stress management, depression, addiction, ageism, bullying, caretaking fatigue, as well as couples in non-traditional arrangements. He is also the author of "Absolutely Should-less: The Secret to Living the Stress-Free Life You Deserve." To have him speak with your group, or to schedule a counseling visit, call 347-227-7707, or email at Shouldless@gmail.com. An initial complimentary consultation is offered to NGLCCNY members, or people who are referred by NGLCCNY members.

Member Insider: New York Life

2012-03-02T15:22:00.008-05:00

When we think of longstanding financial institutions, many of us typically don't automatically associate "humanity, warmth, and spirituality" as descriptions. Yet as I learned from Angela Daniels, Assistant Vice President of Women's Markets, LGBT Initiative and Young Professionals Market, at New York Life Insurance, these are exactly the values that infuse her hard work and commitment every single day. Please join me for this enlightening Spotlight with a community leader who synthesizes heart, compassion, and integrity with insurance marketing.

Damon L. Jacobs: Tell us about your work with New York Life.
Angela Daniels: In June I will celebrate twenty-five years with New York Life. I work as a Market Manager for three of our target markets: Women’s Market, LGBT Market, and the Young Professionals Market. I help our field management recruit, develop, and educate our agents in providing the best financial products for our clients.

Damon L. Jacobs: What are some of the unique needs of your target markets? Starting with the Women’s Market?
Angela Daniels: In regards to women clients we work in stages. We target the middle market mom, the pre-retiree, and the retiree. One of the challenges for women is that women often outlive their money. The life expectancy of an average woman can be into her 80s. Women tend to live seven to eight years longer than men do. So planning for retirement is essential. Plus, there are a lot of years women can be out of the workforce because of child bearing, taking care of parents, or taking care of children. They can have a lot of catching up to do. We offer a Lifetime Income Annuity that provides a stream of income or as we call it, a guaranteed lifetime income, for as long as you live.

Damon L. Jacobs: What are the unique needs of the LGBT community?
Angela Daniels: For the LGBT community there are tax implications, particularly if a couple is married or Domestic Partners. A lot of our products allow them to protect themselves in retirement and estate planning issues. It’s very important for couples to make sure they have the proper legal advice, the proper tax advice, and proper financial planning.

Damon L. Jacobs: So right now if a same-sex couple gets married in New York and think they don’t have to worry as much about financial planning and protection, what would you say?
Angela Daniels: There are many rights that same sex couples don’t get that straight couples do get. As far as protecting each other if someone dies - it is very important for all couples to have a life insurance policy that one partner owns, and lists the other as the beneficiary. So if something happens, they are both protected and can stay in the lifestyle they are accustomed to.

Damon L. Jacobs: How have changes in the economy in recent years affected the way you market these products?
Angela Daniels: One of our cornerstones at New York Life, other than humanity and integrity, is financial strength. We are extremely strong; we have been in business for over 167 years. I think our financial strength speaks for itself. People are looking for safe financial institutions to invest their money and protect their families. So we are doing great.

Damon L. Jacobs: When you started at this job twenty-five years ago, was there any attention given to the LGBT market?
Angela Daniels: I don’t think anyone was thinking about this community twenty-five years ago.

Damon L. Jacobs: So how did this shift in attention come about?
Angela Daniels: I have to tell you, New York Life is a company of the community. Whether it is Asian-Indian, African-American, Chinese, or LGBT, we are a company of this community. Like these ethnic markets, we realized there was a growing need for products and agents that addressed the LGBT community specifically, and we began to develop materials, resources and train agents that serve this market. It’s important for people to feel that they are speaking to an agent that understands their situation and see themselves when they look at brochure, or a website.

Damon L. Jacobs: How did you become interested in this field of marketing and financial planning?
Angela Daniels: I majored in marketing in college. But for an African-American woman, who is gay, who is dyslexic, from the South, I cannot tell you how great it is to come to work every day. This is a company that embraces all of my markets. To help people in each one of those markets is very special for me. And to work with people who have a passion for working in those markets is fantastic.

Damon L. Jacobs: What are some of the struggles you have faced in your career?
Angela Daniels: I come from a very supportive family. It didn’t matter what I was to do, I was to be the best at it. So that has been my work ethic no matter where I have been. It was important for me to be with a company that respects individuals and what they bring to the table. That has been my experience with New York Life. I have been here twenty-five years for a reason. I can’t say I’ve had a lot of challenges here career-wise. But as a woman, it is about integrating lots of things. You’re going to work, having a life, and integrating these two.

Damon L. Jacobs: What do you consider to be your greatest successes in this career?
Angela Daniels: Being on the forefront of developing relationships with organizations like NGLCCNY and introducing New York Life to the LGBT community. I had a great opportunity to do that last year as part of “The 100 Women We Love” at GO Magazine.” I also had the opportunity to create our “LGBT website.” It was major for me to have the company support this effort, and put their energies and talents behind it. There was also one specific incident I’ll tell you about. During an Employee Networking Group party, I had the opportunity to talk directly with our CEO about the LGBT initiative. He was very excited about it. That was one my highs.

Damon L. Jacobs: What keeps you motivated and inspired to do this work?
Angela Daniels: Again, I came from a very supportive family, with a very spiritual background. I am a Deacon in my church. In my career, I support the people that change others' lives. It might sound corny, but think about what these people do. At the end of the day, when something devastating happens to a family, New York Life agents are the ones who walk in with a check instead of a bill. I help them develop these relationships. So yes, I am passionate about what I do. New York Life people are very passionate about what we do because everything we do feeds into that one moment.

Damon L. Jacobs: What might you say to someone who has joined NGLCCNY and isn’t sure how to make the most of the organization?
Angela Daniels: I’d say that you get to meet such an eclectic mix of people that are genuinely interested and passionate about what they do, and it fuels your fire. Sometimes when you are starting a business you go through a low. When you are around other business owners you start thinking about new ideas. When you are around corporate people you think about what you can do on a larger scale. It’s a continuous learning experience. My experience of going to M3s (I assume readers know what this is) and talking with Richard Oceguera is that it is a supportive community. People are serious about growing the community and putting the economic strength back in our community.

Damon L. Jacobs: If you could go back to twenty-five years to when you started at New York Life and give yourself a piece of advice, what would that be?
Angela Daniels: I would say, “Keep energized, keep motivated, and find a couple of mentors. One that knows you and one that doesn’t.”

Damon L. Jacobs: Is there anything else you would like the NGLCCNY to know about you?
Angela Daniels: I would like them to know that I am very proud of working here. If you knew me intimately, you would know that it is a big thing for me to say. I love my company because I respect my company. I respect the financial decisions the company has made. I genuinely feel comfortable here because of the commitment to diversity. It is a company that has shown me that it lives its values of humanity, integrity, and financial strength. These are not exactly things you would think would go together, but we do it.

Damon L. Jacobs is a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist seeing individuals and couples in New York City. He specializes in issues related to grief and loss, HIV related concerns, gay/lesbian issues, stress management, depression, addiction, ageism, bullying, caretaking fatigue, as well as couples in non-traditional arrangements. He is also the author of "Absolutely Should-less: The Secret to Living the Stress-Free Life You Deserve." To have him speak with your group, or to schedule a counseling visit, call 347-227-7707, or email at Shouldless@gmail.com. An initial complimentary consultation is offered to NGLCCNY members, or people who are referred by NGLCCNY members.

Member Insider: Lookit Design

2012-02-10T14:19:00.003-05:00

When you look at a website, what do you see? After talking with Graham Murray, I learned that the websites created through Look-It Design contain a heart and a pulse that beats full of excitement, activism, and resilience. Please enjoy this Spotlight with Graham Murray to learn more about the passion behind the web pages that are helping to change how we see the world. What can you do maximize web traffic for your business? Are you making the most common mistake in Internet marketing? Find out below.

Damon L. Jacobs: Tell me about Look-It Design.
Graham Murray: I started this company about eight years ago with my partner, Joe York. He was the creative force; I was on the business side. Unfortunately, he then passed away from cancer. So I carried it on and built the company. Now we have eight employees and about one hundred clients. We offer a complete set of services for small businesses up to large corporate accounts. Anything that anyone needs on the Internet, whether it is a custom site or programming, we offer creative web and mobile applications. We do custom web design, the programming around that, the hosting, and the technology. We have a package for small businesses called “The Quick Site” which offers a very cost efficient way to create a professional website for smaller companies or start-ups. Then we also offer the search engine optimization. Once we build this beautiful website for you, and all is functional and working, the challenge is getting traffic. There’s no point in having this brilliant website without people looking at it. So we allow you to get more customers, members, or whatever it is you are trying to get, and build that into your businesses.

One of the things we are really excited about in the future is the advent of mobile devices. There are two aspects of that. We optimize our websites so they can work on mobile devices. It’s not just about having a website that looks good on your laptop anymore. If you are walking around on the street and need information, you want to be able to quickly see that on your mobile device as well. There are going to be more people using mobile handsets than computers in the next twelve to eighteen months.

Damon L. Jacobs: So someone like me, who has a website that is not yet mobile compatible, is it getting lost in the dust?
Graham Murray: I can tell you already that we track how people are accessing our customer’s websites through Analytics. Over 10% are accessing websites via iPhones, Androids, etc. So having a properly displayable and optimized site is important. This is especially useful for anyone who is selling products to the younger generation. Teenagers and twenty somethings want information instantly; they don’t want to wait until they get to their laptops.

Damon L. Jacobs: What kind of businesses do you service?
Graham Murray: Our key markets are financial services, health care, and legal. Beyond that it is entertainment, hospitality, consulting firms. It is a wide array. The other thing that has become important is the apps. When you have a website that is mobile enabled you capture a good part of the market. But now if you want to make it an exciting experience for a user, you create an app. You see this now in corporate sites or even Facebook as an example. You see the website, the website that works on a mobile device, then the app that works on a particular device. It gives the customer more control.

Damon L. Jacobs: And they get all of this with Look-It Design?
Graham Murray: Yes, all this plus the advantage of marketing. There are huge amounts of dollars spent in search marketing. It’s something like a 500% increase in recent years. Advertising agencies increase the amount they are spending on these kinds of search marketing programs. It’s not just about a search on a Google. There are also ad placements on affiliate sites and other ad placements that will enhance revenue for our customers.

Damon L. Jacobs: What’s the most common mistake you see people making on their website?
Graham Murray: Too much content, and not enough relevant content. The hardest thing about a website is sharing the right content. Our focus is on execution - taking the content and making it look good visually and functionally. The hardest part for businesses is to write their own content. When it comes to viewing websites you have to understand people are only going to give a second to a page. If they don’t see what they are looking for within 1-2 seconds they will move on to somewhere else. The big challenge is keeping and retaining the interest. It’s about drawing them in, making it an interesting story, finding how to connect with your customer, and how you enhance that relationship. Don’t think of it like you’re just putting up information, that’s the old fashioned way. This is an interactive two-way conversation. You want to cultivate that interest, and then make a call-to-action.

Damon L. Jacobs: How did you decide to make Look-It Design a Certified Diverse Supplier?
Graham Murray: I was introduced to NGLCCNY by a friend who invited me to a social media seminar. That’s when I first heard Richard Oceguera talking about the mission of NGLCCNY and that clicked with me. I thought this made a lot of sense. If I want to actualize the potential of my business from individual businesses to corporate partners, then I am going to have to find a way to get in the door. This seemed like the best chance for that. I also wanted to do something to help the community. I had just lost my partner, and I didn’t feel I could go out at that time and actively pursuit marriage equality. But as a business owner I felt proud of what I was doing. Because I had been subjected to discrimination over the years, this was a chance to level the playing field.

Damon L. Jacobs: Has it worked out?
Graham Murray: It certainly has. I was Certified two years ago. My advice to anyone joining NGLCCNY is this: the first year you’re not going to see results. You have to plan to be in it longer, this is not an instant process. I began working with the local members, people I met at the M3s. As I developed those relationships, we got business, good contracts, just the kind I was looking for. It enabled me to move up with my business planning and product offering. Being part of a group where other members are Certified does hold weight, I think it makes a difference. They know you are not a fly-by-night business, that it is serious. Then to my surprise I started getting calls from the corporate partners because of being on the Certified list. There is activity there, they are trying to reach out and connect. In financial services and health care there is a lot of activity. They are looking for LGBT suppliers.

Damon L. Jacobs: Is it safe to say that becoming a Certified Diverse Supplier allowed you access to corporate contacts that you would not have had otherwise?
Graham Murray: It is fair to say that. It’s getting in the door that can be the problem. With small businesses, the buyers don’t have any time for you. If you’re a large company they’ll talk, but if you’re a small business owner like me they will not. This Certification provides an entry. They will give you a chance. That has been a surprise to me. Without the Certification I wouldn’t expect to be able to knock on those doors.

Damon L. Jacobs: Tell me about your partner’s contributions to the starting of this company?
Graham Murray: He was the creative part. He was a big force in theater. We fell in love and started this business together. He took his creativity in performing arts and applied it to visual arts in order to come up with these beautiful websites. I had a background in graphic design so we were doing a modern version of graphic design and print on the web. We produced some great initial websites, and that gave us a portfolio to sell. We built it from there.

Damon L. Jacobs: After he passed away did you question whether or not to continue Look-It Design?
Graham Murray: No. This is continuing his memory. He came up with the name. It would be a shame not to continue that. There is a piece of Joe in all this. It is a wonderful tribute to him.

Damon L. Jacobs: What keeps you going and inspired to keep Look-It Design growing?
Graham Murray: I’m constantly excited about taking new technologies and making them work for people. So when I get in front of a client, I can make a difference. It’s more obvious in a smaller business, but I can see the impact in a larger company. When I can do that it is fulfilling. I take technologies that may be underutilized or hard to manage and make it simple, elegant, easy to use, and deliver a result. That gives me satisfaction.

And for me it’s about relationships. It’s not just about sitting back there programming. It’s getting out, meeting with business owners, helping them realize their objectives. Do you remember what it felt like the night Marriage Equality passed in New York? It’s like that; it’s like getting on the cusp of something cool and exciting. Like this is our time. I know a lot of the political stuff going on is frustrating. But think about what we are doing in our community, what we could do, and the power we have. Money talks. If we can get out there as a force in business, as proud LGBT members of our businesses, it makes a big difference. It changes discrimination, it changes attitudes.

Damon L. Jacobs: Is there anything else you want NGLCCNY members to know about you and Look-It Design?
Graham Murray: I’m also inspired by my loving French bulldog named Buddy. I bought Buddy for Joe as a present. He’s been an inspiration; he makes sure everything is running smoothly in the shop. He keeps me in line.

January's Monthly Mixer at Proscenium

2012-02-09T13:40:00.003-05:00

NGLCCNY kicked-off its busy 2012 calendar on January 18 with a highly successful M3: Members’ Monthly Mixer held in the playful office space of event planning group Proscenium, the Chamber’s newest Platinum Business Member. Ninety crisply suited and well-healed professionals representing LGBT and allied companies convened for spirited conversation and to show support for the work of NGLCCNY.

Midway through the evening, Chamber President Richard Oceguera inducted new members, non-profits and corporate partners, presenting them with the official NGLCCNY lapel pin. Debevoise & Plimpton, Focus Events & Catering, JP Morgan Chase, Leslie/Lohman Museum of Gay & Lesbian Art and Proscenium were among those welcomed into the Chamber community. Guests then returned to making new connections, discussing business opportunities and enjoying the hors d’ouvres and libations so generously provided by the host.

View photos from this exciting evening here http://flic.kr/s/aHsjyrkzKe!

Join us at the next M3 on Wednesday, February 15, from 6:30-8:30pm at Slate NY in Chelsea. Register now at www.nglccny.org. Interested in serving as a Business Community Host for a future M3? Please contact Events Chair, Jay Dellacona, at jay@nglccny.org.

5th Annual Gay and Lesbian Marketing Conference

2012-02-05T15:15:00.001-05:00

We are proud to partner with Community Marketing and Pink Banana media on the 5th Annual Gay & Lesbian Marketing Conference at the Eventi Hotel in New York City on Friday, May 18th. We think you will find attending this session a valuable use of time.

Industry-leading presenters will discuss the latest in gay and lesbian consumer research and focus groups, successful advertising and PR approaches, social media marketing strategies, etc., as well as case studies representing a variety of industries and segments. Whether you are new to the market or a "veteran," the new information and insights, plus the networking connections, will be of great value to all attendees.

Early registration is open for NGLCCNY members with a $50 discount, including lunch. There’s no reason to miss this important opportunity to initiate, or update, your LGBT market program.

Space is limited to 100 participants, so please register soon. Use this link for more information. (Enter discount code nglccny)

http://www.communitymarketinginc.com/education-and-conferences/new-york-lgbt-marketing-conference/

Or register directly using the discount rate with this link:

http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1832492033?discount=nglccny

3rd Annual Indie Soap Awards

2012-02-05T14:37:00.004-05:00

Are soaps dead? If you base the answer from coverage on CNN or major news outlets, then you could believe that serialized story telling has gone the way of the typewriter or vinyl records. Here at We Love Soaps TV (welovesoaps.com) we know different. Continuing stories in and around New York have only proliferated in recent years, and are now being developed exclusively for viewing on the Internet. For the third year in a row, We Love Soaps TV is honoring the very best in excellent achievements in serialized content developed exclusively for the Internet during the annual "Indie Soap Awards."

This year's live event will be held on Tuesday, February 21st, at New World Stages (on 50th between 8th/9th), in Manhattan. There will be a full Stand & Repeat red carpet ceremony beginning 7pm sharp, followed by the award presentations between 8pm-10pm, and a networking reception afterward at the venue. Many of the nominees are members of the GLBT community, including Sebastian La Cause, Tom Gregory, Anthony Anderson, and Susan Miller. We would love for NGLCCNY members to attend the event, celebrate innovations in creativity, and enjoy the awards.

If people wish to attend, they can purchase tickets at http://welovesoaps.com/isa. Sponsorship opportunities are available for businesses who wish to be listed in the program, the red carpet Step & Repeat, and during the ceremony. Contact Jacobs@welovesoaps.net for more information.

American Cancer Society presents ENCORE For Hope

2012-02-03T12:15:00.005-05:00

American Cancer Society presents ENCORE For Hope
February 13^th 2012 6:30 – 10:30
Providence NYC - 311 West 57^th street

Tickets on sale now for NGLCCNY members
Lower Level Tickets: $150 (regularly $175), Upper Level Tickets: $75
Tickets include access to pre-show cocktails reception with open bar and passed hors d'oeuvres and gift bag for lower level seated ticket purchasers.

Please join us for an evening of cocktails and cabaret style performances from some of NYC’s greatest talent – to benefit the American Cancer Society’s efforts within the LGBT community. Hosted by Judy Gold, featuring Joey Arias with additional performances and appearances by New York City Gay Men’s Chorus, Sherry Vine, The Ben Allison Band, 2 to Fly Aerial, Manila Luzon, Sahara Davenport and Choimatic (celebrity DJ)

For more information please call 212-237-3882

Standard Non-Profit Retreat

2012-01-26T18:29:00.005-05:00

The NGLCCNY Non-Profit Industry Council is presenting a special leadership summit designed exclusively for current and past members of the Boards of Directors of LGBT tax-exempt organizations to discuss the future of New York City-based social services, political and community-based corporations.

If you, or someone you know, would like to be considered to represent your non-profit organization as a delegate for this special weekend gathering on Saturday, February 4, please contact NGLCCNY co-founder, Thomas Koveleskie, at trk24@cornell.edu. There is a formal application process for nominations, for which current Chamber members will be given preference; however, directors from non-NGLCCNY non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply as well.

Hosted by the Standard Hotel, this convening of past and current board directors will take place over a half day of networking, coffee/lunch receptions, briefings, and working sessions of debate and discussion. It is limited to a total of 20 participants.

Thank you for taking a moment to consider your or a friend’s nomination, which must be received by 5:00 pm on Friday, January 27.

NGLCC White House Conference Call on Small Business

2012-01-24T17:18:00.001-05:00

On Wednesday, the NGLCC will meet with Vice President Joe Biden and a team of senior officials at the White House, joining a select group of community leaders to discuss President Obama’s major economic and small business priorities for 2012 as announced in the State of the Union address. Following a conversation with the Vice President, Justin Nelson will be dialing into a conference call with you, directly from the White House. We want to invite you to join Justin as he shares information and background to new policies and initiatives announced by President Obama, and what this means to the LGBT and allied business community.

The conference line will be available at roughly 6:45pm ET, 3:45pm PT, on Wednesday, 25th January.

1.800.920.7487
Participant code: 57575743#

Member Insider: Neil Cerbone Associates (NCA)

2012-01-05T20:01:00.011-05:00

Our New York chapter of NGLCC is filled with individuals changing and shaping our world in important ways. Neil Cerbone's contributions may not be immediately known to you, but it is quite possible that you or your partner are one of the thousands who have benefited from his trailblazing and innovative approaches to improving integrity, commitment, and satisfaction in the workplace through Neil Cerbone Associates. Please read on to learn more about this ebullient, engaging, and inspiring leader of our community, and how he can bring more satisfaction, fulfillment, and "optimism" to your every day work.

Damon L. Jacobs: It is such an honor to speak with you and share more about the impact of your work. Tell us about Neil Cerbone Associates.
Neil Cerbone: We help employees become more effective, more engaged, and more committed to the work that they do, and recognizing the importance of the work they do. A lot of what we do is kindle and ignite that connection. Our approach to learning is a practical approach. All our work has been developed from experience with men and women working in corporate America. We do not take an academic approach to learning, it’s hands-on. Our programs are always tied to business results. People outside of this business often say, “If the employees enjoyed the program we were successful.” And while it always nice for people to enjoy a program, that is absolutely not a criteria that we put a lot of value on. What needs to happen is for them to be able to be more productive, to represent the firm, and we are the catalysts for that.

Damon L. Jacobs: Many people feel disconnected and alienated from their work these days. How do you help people find a connection to something they care little about?
Neil Cerbone: There is always something to care about. Where we put a great deal of our attention is to the skeptics in an organization. I think the skeptics are the great untapped fuel. In order to be a skeptic, you have to care. You cannot be an apathetic skeptic. Skeptics see incongruity. So the way to engage is to be clear, aligned, transparent, and candid. Hiding information from employees for their protection, or keeping them from things that might be seen as negative, turn people skeptical, and can turn people apathetic. If you ask people what the most important thing is about their job, most will say “money.” But what they really care about is feeling engaged and important.

Damon L. Jacobs: That sadly runs contradictory to the way I have seen most non-profits operate.
Neil Cerbone: I’ve heard that. The notion of learning in an organizational culture is often seen by them as superfluous and nothing they can spend their money on. But having a committed workforce requires more than just a cause. There are many things non-profits can do, and many do them, that recognize that their workforce needs nurturing beyond just the cause.

Damon L. Jacobs: How have changes in the economy affected the culture of the companies your serve?
Neil Cerbone: It affects them on several levels. Budgets have been slashed, so everyone is price conscious. That is a good thing for me, because we want to be hired because we produce business results. Every dollar is being scrutinized; companies have a much lower risk threshold. They are looking for us to be able to improve the return on their investment or at least have an evidence-based impact, i.e., a way you can see that an outcome would not have happened were the training not in place. From an employee point-of-view, they tell us they are hearing “do more with less, do more with less.” Part of what we do is to help them do more with less and see things as challenges instead of pessimism. Pessimism will not help, so we figure out where the optimism can be. “Optimism” meaning that we are strongly connected to finding the opportunity in what has just happened. When you ask the right questions, you find the right answers.

Damon L. Jacobs: How did you decide to get a Diverse Supplier Certification through the NGLCC?
Neil Cerbone: I really have to credit my clients for that. One large financial service organization called me from their head of procurement. She said, “Neil, why aren’t you guys certified?” I said, “I am sorry to admit this, but I don’t know what you mean!” So of course, because we are so client driven, I made the phone calls immediately, got in touch with the national chapter, and we became certified in about 30 days. Then we met Richard Oceguera, Thomas R. Koveleskie, and Robyn Streisand, and we decided to join and get involved with our local chamber NGLCCNY. People at both national and local levels are amazingly open as far as explaining, engaging, and listening. I began to understand the importance of Supplier Diversity. You asked me earlier about the changes to the economy. Another huge change I didn’t mention is that you used to make contacts directly through a business, and the next day we had to work. Now instead of getting to work, it has to go through procurement, and procurement goes through Supplier Diversity. So the timing was excellent. Procurement was taking on a huge new role in managing prices and budget.

Damon L. Jacobs: How has the Diverse Supplier Certification enhanced your business model?
Neil Cerbone: So many ways! One of the biggest ways is that we have access to several hundred of the largest firms in America. They know who we are. We have allies inside those firms who are helping to make connections, helping to make introductions. The most important thing is accessibility. Thanks to the Diverse Supplier Certification, people know who we are. Also, we have made many important partnerships with other organizers. They have brought to our firm a capacity that did not have prior to meeting them.

Damon L. Jacobs: What would you recommend to someone who might want go the route of becoming Certified?
Neil Cerbone: It’s like two parallel roads. The government is watching how all these companies spend their dollars. They are looking to make sure they are spending these dollars by employing diverse firms. Whether they are minority owned, women owned, LGBT owned. So for any company that is selling to larger companies, it is extremely important that they can see you are a Certified Diverse Firm. I can’t imagine why anyone would not do this.

Damon L. Jacobs: You were recently honored with the NGLCC’s first “Supplier of the Year” Award. What was that like for you?
Neil Cerbone: That was wildly exciting. When you’ve been around a long time, you hear about some awards, and even if you get one you have to buy it. This is nothing of that. You had to be nominated; the award is a crystal gorgeous thing. It was really meaningful to be acknowledged by the people in supplier diversity that I have come to know and care so much about over the past four years. It had to be voted on, it had to be approved, and it really was a show of support from people who I really do care tremendously about. I have to tell you, it was an emotional moment. I don’t work looking for recognition, it doesn’t occur to me. But when you take a pause and look out there...it was really something.

Damon L. Jacobs: So what keeps you motivated to come to work and inspire others year after year?
Neil Cerbone: I think its two things. The first is that my favorite thing to do is figure stuff out, especially around human interaction. After thirty-two years this never gets boring, it’s always unique. Figuring out exactly how to address a challenge, make a difference, and see a result, is something that remains ever intriguing and exciting. And the other thing is that I have always wanted to impact the life of others. Early in my life I thought about medicine. It didn’t take long to realize that I was not a good fit for medicine. So I went in to theater for a long time, almost ten years. But things in the theater were too transient, that was also not a good fit. I literally stumbled into this industry. I met somebody who said to me, “Hey, while you’re figuring out what you want to do, why you don’t take a look at this?” This seemed to be the way that I could make people’s lives better. We have so many people who take this information home, they use it to raise their children, it helps their relationships, and it helps their family. I’ve gotten a dozen letters from people who have changed careers because of something they learned in one of our programs, or being challenged in one of our programs. So if you ask me, “Why are you on this planet?” I’d say that anything I can do to make somebody’s life better is why I’m here.

Damon L. Jacobs: If someone is joining NGLCCNY as an individual, how would you advise them to make the most of the membership?
Neil Cerbone: I think there are two different answers. If you are an individual who works for a company, there is such tremendous camaraderie, there is such generosity of spirit. I have never been in an organization where the actual norm is to help make connections, write an email, and make a phone call. It is so atypical in my experience. It is truly a group that embraces new people. If you do own a company, and it’s a consumer company, you will be plugged into a network that is pretty significant. You have people from all walks of life in the New York and New Jersey area, and then from there are connected to affiliate chambers. You open your network exponentially. I don’t think there is another chapter with such commitment to supplier diversity as the New York chapter. "Networking" is one of those words that are really overused, and for many it is really intimidating. It has such negative associations. But there are people you are meeting who want to meet you. They are looking forward to meeting you. I have never had an experience that compares to that ever. There is no downside. I can’t think of one other thing that has no downside.

Interviewed by:

Damon L. Jacobs is a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist seeing individuals and couples in New York City. He specializes in issues related to grief and loss, HIV related concerns, gay/lesbian issues, stress management, depression, addiction, ageism, bullying, caretaking fatigue, as well as couples in non-traditional arrangements. He is also the author of "Absolutely Should-less: The Secret to Living the Stress-Free Life You Deserve." To have him speak with your group, or to schedule a counseling visit, call 347-227-7707, or email at Shouldless@gmail.com. An initial complimentary consultation is offered to NGLCCNY members, or people who are referred by NGLCCNY members.

Chamber Seeks Presenters and Speakers

2012-01-05T19:01:00.018-05:00

Request for Presentations

The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce NY (NGLCCNY), seeks individuals to provide presentations geared towards education in areas of interest to our members. We are looking for a broad range of appealing topics for any section of our membership - from employees to employers, associations and non-profits to small business owners. We are also looking for a variety of formats including individual presentations, panel discussions, webinars, workshops and use of multimedia and other interesting formats.

Specifications

Provide the following information:

A short description of the proposed topic and/or relevant documentation
A working title for the presentation
A statement of the value each attendee will receive
The top 5 reasons someone should attend your session in a quick bulleted format
The types of materials (if any) anticipated to be handed out at the presentation
A short bio or list of credentials for the proposed speaker(s)

General Guidelines

Speakers are asked to provide a program of approximately 45 minutes to one hour in length, including Q&A.

Direct sales presentations will be automatically disqualified. Speakers may provide collateral marketing material only if such speaker is also the Sponsor of the presentation. Contact Richard Oceguera (richard@nglccny.org) for information.

Speakers are expected to be present at the venue for the particular presentation at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time of the event, end promptly at the scheduled conclusion of the speaking portion of the event, and be available to speak informally to participants for an additional 30 minutes after the event. Specific details and schedule will be provided to speakers at least one week in advance of the scheduled program.

Acceptance of a Request for Presentations is at the sole discretion of the Executive Chair Committee of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce NY.

NGLCCNY Welcomes New Events Chair, Jay Dellacona

2012-01-05T18:49:00.011-05:00

Jay Dellacona, owner Focus Events and Catering

www.FocusEventsNY.com Jay@FocusEventsNY.com

347-324-9450

With two decades of experience, Jason (Jay) Dellacona has become one of the go-to event planners and caterers for corporate and social events nationally.

Jay started his career at the high end boutique catering firm, Mark of Excellence Catering , located in the greater NYC area. Jay started his career as a bus boy and was continually promoted to eventually become the Director of Operations and Events. His client list read like a “Who’s Who” of the New York social and business scene.

Jay then joined a premiere staffing agency in the Hamptons, At Your Service Staffing, where he organized staffing resources for large corporate, social and political events. For the prominent East End high society staffing agency, Jay also drove business development securing large exclusive staffing contracts allowing the company to branch out into additional regional markets which included Boston , Washington DC, as well as, a sister company in London.

In 2005, Jay launched Focus Events & Catering - a full service catering and event management firm based in New York City. Focus Events & Catering has successfully partnered on events, with many well known local full service event caterers such as Robbin’s Wolfe Eventeurs and Restaurant Associates, as well as, local boutique caterers such as Catering by Framboise.

On the corporate side, Jay has planned high-profile events for Range Rover, GE, Jaguar, Target and Carnival Cruises - just to name a few. He also has a long and loyal list of private clients in both the tri-state and nationally.

In addition to his corporate and client projects, Jay has worked, and is currently still working, as a strategic consultant for major sporting events such as the ultra prestigious Masters Golf Tournament and US Open. Jay also managed all front- of- the -house operations for USA House in Turin, Italy during the 2006 Winter Games while consulting with Culinary Expressions International.

Jay is always busy with the events industry but his passion for philanthropic works drives his free time. Jay has been instrumental in the non-for profit area planning events for the YMCA helping inner city kids and is a lead supporter of their “Strong Kids” campaign across the entire tri-state area and still maintains strong support today. He has also assisted the local chapter of The March of Dimes - raising funds for awareness to help babies. He also supports grass roots organizations such as Live out Loud which reaches out to young LGBT youth and empowers them to live their lives openly and freely as well as ECHO- Emergency Children’s Health Organization in their effort to help families with real financial assistance in challenging economic times for children in extreme situations.

NGLCCNY is proud to have Jay as our Events Committee Chair. We hope that you are too!

19th Original GLBT Expo

2012-01-04T10:55:00.008-05:00

National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce New York will Collaborate with the Expo to Sponsor an Educational Series and a spectacular Meet & Greet Reception

The 19^th Original GLBT Expo

March 17-18, 2012 ● Javits Center in New York

Rated by Crain’s Business as one of NYC’s Largest Events

This historical event is back for the 19^th year and has a proven track record of unprecedented attendance and show excellence. Last year over 22,000 attended the Expo. A record number of exhibitors recognized the buying power and loyalty of the GLBT Community. All businesses are invited to participate.

If you are interested in branding your company’s products and image and wish to exhibit at or sponsor this event, please:

email info@rdpgroup.com

call 1-800-243-9774 or visit our website www.originalglbtexpo.com

Gay City News: Big Gains In Gay Chamber (NGLCCNY)

2011-12-08T13:34:00.006-05:00

Big Gains In Gay Chamber

BY PAUL SCHINDLER

The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce New York (NGLCCNY) is boasting 79 new members in 2011, representing a 56 percent growth for the business and professional group founded in 2008.

NGLCCNY officials said that most of the new members are small businesses, but noted that some among the recent recruits are global corporations –– including Avon Products, Inc., JP Morgan Chase, and the Debevoise & Plimpton law firm.

The organization includes both LGBT-owned and focused companies and allied partners that serve a broader customer base.

“Companies large and small are seeking innovative and strategic ways to maintain or increase growth,” said Richard Oceguera, the group’s founding president. “NGLCCNY members have discovered the power of community in developing new business connections, leading to sustainable sources of profitability that are boosting bottom lines in this challenging economy.”

He added that the addition of so many new members is particularly notable given that a good many companies are looking to cut costs and might be inclined to shy away from new corporate memberships.

In fact, the organization has never known anything but an adverse economy, with the housing market dive already in full force at the time of its founding.

Jay Dellacona, the owner of Focus Events and Catering, said, "As a small business owner I thought it was more important than ever to join the NGLCCNY community. With the economic times as strained as they are, it makes sense to utilize a resource like the chamber of commerce to help me grow my business."

NGLCCNY events run the gamut –– from monthly mixers to educational programs that feature the wide array of skills the members bring to the organization.

Orignal press reslease can be found at : http://www.i-newswire.com/nyc-businesses-flock-to-lgbt-chamber/144266

To learn more about the chamber, please visit: nglccny.org

Member Insider: Peggy Marion of Rennert

2011-12-08T10:32:00.008-05:00

The name Peggy Marion may not immediately sound familiar but you are no doubt familiar with her work. From her work as a copy editor in trade magazines such as Variety, to the countless individuals with HIV/AIDS she has served, to her trailblazing work in both the NGLCC and NGLCCNY, Peggy has set an unrivlaled standard of compassion, contribution, and community. Please join me to learn more about this generous and devoted role model.

Damon L. Jacobs: Tell me about yourself and your work with Rennert.
Peggy Marion: I am the Director Of Marketing at Rennert, a position I have held here for six years, and prior to that I was in the Translation Department. But I started my career in Journalism with the Buffalo Evening News and the Daily News Record, a men’s wear trade publication. I developed a freelance business and worked for some pretty cool publications. Variety was my favorite. I did not interview movie stars, but I got to spend almost the entire day talking about movies for work purposes. I came into this job with Rennert after doing a lot of volunteer work in AIDS organizations. Somebody I met through an organization later became a business associate. He introduced me to a good friend of the president of the company, and that is how I made this transition.

Damon L. Jacobs: That reinforces how giving to others and making connections can enhance our professional lives.
Peggy Marion: That’s true. I was doing the volunteer work because I felt it was important and significant. And, I enjoyed the people who were volunteering with me. I met quite a lot of nice people while running a dinner for people with AIDS. Every minute I have ever donated to doing a kind act has not only been satisfying, but ultimately has come back to me.

Damon L. Jacobs: Tell us about Rennert.
Peggy Marion: Rennert is a language services company that started with just one room and the company owner who taught Spanish. It eventually grew to two buildings in New York, a site in Miami, and a partner school in Istanbul. We are also opening up in Panama. We have a large ESL (English as Second Language) school that attracts students from all over the world. We get students who believe in learning the nuances of language and living in New York City.

Damon L. Jacobs: One of the distinctions I noticed about Rennert was its emphasis on arts and culture as educational activities. It seems to take learning outside the classroom and into the streets.
Peggy Marion: That is an accurate description. That is our reputation globally. We have a dance sequence, film sequence, fashion, music, photography, culinary arts. Once you attract that core group of creative people, that in turn attracts people who like to be socializing in creative groups. I loved being in Journalism, but this is my favorite job. You get to make such an impact on people’s lives.

Damon L. Jacobs: New York is so filled with linguistic diversity. English is often spoken in different ways in different boroughs. Do your students learn the various dialects?
Peggy Marion: In addition to the classes we have workshops. Some of them tackle slang. Some of them cover hip-hop, song lyrics, and then there are certain terms that are difficult to pronounce for certain ethnicities.

Damon L. Jacobs: Rennert was one of the first businesses to receive a Diverse Supplier Certification through the NGLCC. How did that come about?
Peggy Marion: We've been certified for about four years now. In New York, two years.

Damon L. Jacobs: Why was it important to you to be certified?
Peggy Marion: It is important to support the community. Also, it’s a great marketing strategy. You already have something in common with the people you are networking with. I knew this was a loyal business clientele.

Damon L. Jacobs: How long has Rennert been certified?
Peggy Marion: We’ve been certified for about four years now. In New York, two years.

Damon L. Jacobs: How has it benefited Rennert?
Peggy Marion: It has helped in three ways. First, from a business perspective, I have met people who have given us business. I, in turn, have given them business. So jointly we’ve exchanged a couple hundred thousands of dollars in business. Second, the annual NGLCC meeting is not only enjoyable, but you get to meet and sit down with the diversity representatives from many major corporations.

And the third way is that it has helped us to focus on community relationships. In this way it helped strengthen the concept of giving back to the community for Rennert. We had only done it before in spurts, now we do it consistently, and that started with NGLCC. For example, we raised money for the AIDS Walk by sponsoring thirty-five students from around the world. We also lend space to a Bellevue Project providing English lessons for immigrant survivors of torture. We contribute to various arts and community organizations, and our students volunteer for Housing Works and a church soup kitchen. It made us focus on community service and made us look at our hiring practices. Four of our seven top managers are gay. It was always known and informal before, but then we became much more sensitive to diversity.

Damon L. Jacobs: So the Certification has really impacted Rennert on multiple levels?
Peggy Marion: Yes, it has definitely been an advantage.

Damon L. Jacobs: What would you say to a business owner now who is not really sure if a Diverse Supplier Certification is right for them?
Peggy Marion: I would first say do your homework. Look to see who the corporate sponsors are. Attend a few NGLCCNY meetings. And most importantly I would attend the annual conference. You can meet corporate vendors, see what products they are looking for, and have a great time. It’s the only trade show I’ve been to that plays dance music. I think it’s a worthwhile investment to attend that conference. You will walk away with more contacts and a more realistic perspective of what you can attain through the NGLCC.

Damon L. Jacobs: What advice would you give to someone just joining NGLCCNY about maximizing the experience and profits of being part of this organization?
Peggy Marion: I would definitely have them go to the events, start collecting cards, and get to know people. Then I would start to think about using your own procurement as a way to bolster and show loyalty to our community. By procurement I mean buying products and services from another company. For example, I have moved 95% of our printing to Maurice Danielson’s company “MAD,” and he is a leading supporter of the New York Chapter. We have a lot of graphic design and web services we purchase, and I have shifted those purchases from many different suppliers to an umbrella supplier, OmniDesign, which is in Washington DC, and designs the NGLCC annual dinner brochure. Both people in those businesses, Eileen of Omni, and Maurice of MAD, have mentored me and opened opportunities for me. When I attend meetings I always attend knowing what services and products I’m going to need down the road in my division. I can then call upon people within the chapter, or in the national organization.

Damon L. Jacobs: What is the most important lesson you have learned that to help you thrive professionally?
Peggy Marion: Have integrity and have commitment to your job and to your clients. That will help you when Murphy’s Law prevails.

Interview by:
Damon L. Jacobs is a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist seeing individuals and couples in New York City. He specializes in issues related to grief and loss, HIV related concerns, gay/lesbian issues, stress management, depression, addiction, ageism, bullying, caretaking fatigue, as well as couples in non-traditional arrangements. He is also the author of "Absolutely Should-less: The Secret to Living the Stress-Free Life You Deserve." To have him speak with your group, or to schedule a counseling visit, call 347-227-7707, or email at Shouldless@gmail.com. An initial free consultation is offered to NGLCCNY members, or people who are referred by NGLCCNY members.

Clinton Makes It Clear: Foreign Aid For LGBT Rights

2011-12-07T16:19:00.006-05:00

Clinton Makes It Clear: Foreign Aid For LGBT Rights

NGLCC Co-Founders Attend Historic Speech

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a bold and powerful statement at the United Nations in Geneva that the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people are as central to the U.N.’s founding principals of equality as race, gender, and religious affiliations. In addition, she vowed to use foreign aid to promote LGBT rights abroad—a strong reprimand to countries that support or flirt with criminalizing homosexuality.

Justin Nelson and Chance Mitchell, NGLCC co-founders, where invited to attend the speech as part of the organization’s work with the Council for Global Equality. They were among a select group of LGBT Americans invited to witness the groundbreaking speech and to meet with Secretary Clinton and U.N. human rights officials.

“As the economic advocate for LGBT business owners and employees in the U.S. and abroad, we are honored to have been asked to be part of such an important moment in the lives of LGBT people,” said Nelson, NGLCC President. “From the Caribbean to Nigeria to Russia, LGBT people face not only a struggle for civil rights, but a terrifying persecution because they dare to exist. For these people, Sec. Clinton continues to be a beacon of light in a very dark time.”

Sec. Clinton’s speech anchors a year of unprecedented defense of LGBT rights by the Obama administration. In June, the administration supported a successful U.N. resolution, expressing “grave concern” at the violence and human rights abuses faced by LGBT people worldwide. President Obama also acknowledged the rights of gays and lesbians to be free of persecution regardless of whom they love in his speech to the U.N. in September.

Nelson and Mitchell are committed to leading international efforts to expand business opportunities. Following a successful trade mission to Argentina in 2010, NGLCC will conduct the first official U.S. Government-certified trade mission to Colombia in 2012. In addition to campaigning for economic development, Nelson and Mitchell will promote the rights of LGBT people.

“With the repeal of the discriminatory ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy and marriage equality in New York in 2011, it should be very clear to everyone, everywhere that Americans will not stand for anyone being victimized because of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” said Nelson. “Sec. Clinton’s profound statement to the world sets the stage for global dialogue and a movement in the right direction.”

What are your thoughts on this movement? Community is about "you," and we'd love to hear from you.

NGLCCNY Membership Survey

2011-12-06T07:58:00.004-05:00

The NGLCCNY is running a member survey that will be critical to our success in 2012.

This survey is expected to take you up to 10 minutes to complete, and we at the Chamber appreciate the time you will invest. The questions cover several topics, amongst the most important of which are about the details of your business, from finances to employees to business outlook.

ALL RESPONSES ARE COMPLETELY CONFIDENTIAL.

No one will be able to associate individual responses to you and your company. We are collecting this information so that we can report on the NGLCCNY members as a group, which will allow us to tell corporations and government WHO WE ARE and how much business we are responsible for generating. We will also be able to benchmark our LGBT business group to peer groups.

Our goal is to have 100% of our members respond to this survey. This survey will be an extremely valuable tool for NGLCCNY in 2012, and we look forward to sharing with all of our members the findings of this survey.

We want to have all responses collected by February 15, 2012.

To take the survey, please "click here."

Thanksgiving Wishes from NGLCCNY

2011-11-24T15:59:00.003-05:00

This past year has certainly given our community many major victories to celebrate. But the leadership of NGLCCNY wants to thank every one of our members, corporate partners and supporters for being a part of the Chamber family. Without you there is no NGLCCNY.

May your Thanksgiving be filled with an abundance of love, joy and health.

From our businesses to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!

Team NGLCCNY

Richard Oceguera, President

Curt Williamson, Membership Manager

Robyn Streisand, Executive Committee Chair

David Ricciardi, Supplier Diversity Chair

Gonzalo Araya, Media Communications Chair

A message from the White House on NGLCC

2011-11-23T22:35:00.009-05:00

"Across the Obama Administration, great work is being done to advance equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Last week, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan spoke to the National Center for Transgender Equality, where he emphasized the Administration’s ongoing commitment to the LGBT community, and how his Department is working to ensure that everyone has access to housing. Also last week, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis addressed the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, where she spoke about her Department’s commitment to workplace equality for LGBT people.The strong leadership and commitment to equality demonstrated by the Secretaries is reflected throughout the Obama Administration, and every day brings us closer to equality, dignity, and security for LGBT people."

Best regards,
Gautam Raghavan
Office of Public Engagement

The White House

NGLCC Unveils The Rebrand at the 2011 National Dinner

2011-11-21T19:41:00.008-05:00

NGLCC has a new logo and a new look, which was debuted at the 2011 National Dinner.

NGLCC's new logo represents their three main communities: 1. Corporate Partners, 2. Affiliate Leaders, and 3. Certified Suppliers - and how they work together to find opportunities.

NGLCC, practicing what they preach, hired The Mixx - a Certified Supplier and NGLCCNY local member. What do you think of the new re-brand?

See the NGLCC unveil video: CLICK

Support your Certified Suppliers. Become Certified. Support your Community.

Shining Stars 2011 Photos Are Finally In!

2011-11-21T19:11:00.006-05:00

Did you attend? Did you Experience? Did you sing along with Deborah Cox?

Most importantly...

DID YOU GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN?

Thanks to our great shining star photographer's themselves, Ryan Prado of Ryan Prado Photography and Gustavo Monroy of Monroy Photographs, we bring them to you!

Click here for: Slide Show

What do you think? We want to know.
Click on the photos, tag, share and leave comments.
Share the album. Personalize the moment and make it your own!

Pledge your support for Small Business Saturday®

2011-11-03T16:15:00.005-04:00

NGLCCNY is proud to support small businesses! The 2nd annual Small Business Saturday® is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year.

On November 26, we’re asking millions of Americans to shop small at their favorite local stores and help fuel the economy. When we all shop small, it will be huge.

You can find hundreds of metro NYC area small businesses right here.

Are you a small business owner? Get involved!

2011-11-03T15:24:00.006-04:00

ATTENTION SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS! Are you, your team, or one of your clients one of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2012 Small Business Person of the Year or Champion/Advocate of the Year winners? The deadline for complete nominee packages is November 23, 2011.

The SBA is seeking nominees in 25 different categories, including:

Small Business Person
Small Business Exporter
Young Entrepreneur, Family-owned Business
Entrepreneurial Success
Phoenix Awards (for disaster recovery)
Small Business Investors
Women in Business Champion/Advocate
Minority Small Business Champion/Advocate
and many more!

Visit www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com for a detailed list of awards and required documentation. Deadline for complete nominations is November 23, 2011. Apply TODAY!

Congratulations to our Shining Stars Winners

2011-11-01T21:07:00.014-04:00

We'd like to congratulate the following Shinning Stars Winners for joining us in celebration and their continued support...

Joseph Madonia, Geoffrey Gegenfurnter, Keith Dorsch and Brian Bachand.

Setai Hotel Package - Joseph Madonia (no image provided)
Mr. Madonia is a graduate of New York University and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. He is currently the Project Director of Brooklyn Treatment Court in New York State and the co-developer of the Brooklyn Treatment Court Training Academy.

Joseph Madonia, LCSW-R, CASAC, Project Director, Supreme Court, Brooklyn Treatment Court, 320 Jay Street 14th Floor, Brooklyn NY 11201, (347) 296-1133, Jmadonia@courts.state.ny.us

Washington Jefferson Hotel Package - Geoffrey Gegenfurtner

More than 13-years of specialized recruitment in the healthcare field. Currently at Village Care, Inc., a healthcare organization in New York City, servicing the elderly and people living with HIV/AIDS. Responsible for the full-cycle recruiting process for its facilities in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx.
Geoffrey Gegenfurtner, H.R. Employment Specialist, Village Care, Inc., www.villagecare.org, (212) 337.5896, geoffreyg@villagecare.com

Sheridan Tribeca Hotel Package - Keith Dorsch
A New York City native, Keith Dorsch is an experienced Video Editor, Filmmaker, and Model. Keith graduated with a B.F.A. in Film from Long Island University in 2008 and has worked at advertising production company Wee Beastie for over 3 years. As an Editor, Keith has completed several films, web series, and commercials for clients such as Audi, Clorox, Honda, and Warner Brothers; on networks including ABC, Discovery, HGTV, and National Geographic. An avid photographer, actor, and model, Keith was most recently seen in a series featured at Skylight Gallery in Chelsea.
Keith T. Dorsch, Assistant Editor, Wee Beastie, www.weebeastie.tv, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, keithdorschfilms@gmail.com

Broadway Tickets - Brian Bachand (no bio provided)
Executive Director, NYU Langone Medical Center / Faces, www.nyufaces.org, Brian.Bachand@nyumc.org