Power of Connect: 2021 LGBTQ+ Business Summit

Power of Connection: OUT Georgia’s 2021 LGBTQ+ Business Summit

June 23-24, 2021

OUT Georgia Business Alliance is proud to invite Georgia’s LGBTQ+ and ally community to the virtual Power of Connection: 2021 LGBTQ+ Business Summit to be held June 23-24, featuring welcomes from Stacey Abrams and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, and keynotes from actress, advocate, and CEO Angelica Ross and Georgia State Representative Sam Park.

“Exploring the theme Power of Connection, this year’s LGBTQ+ Business Summit underscores the importance of collaboration, visibility, intersectionality, inclusion, access to resources, and institutional- and peer-support as our LGBTQ+ community grows its impact here in Georgia and beyond,” said Chris Lugo, OUT Georgia’s Executive Director.

“This year, we’re honored to open on Wednesday, June 23 with a welcome from Stacey Abrams leading into our featured keynote speaker Angelica Ross, actress, advocate, and founder & CEO of TransTech Social Enterprises,” Lugo added. “Then, we’ll dive into our final day of Thursday, June 24 with welcomes from Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and NGLCC’s Justin Nelson before leading into a special keynote delivered by Sam Park, the first openly gay man and the first Asian American Democrat elected to the Georgia State Legislature.”

Your Summit Registration Benefits the OUT Georgia Impact Fund!

Register Now

Summit Agenda

Wednesday, June 23

11:00am | Virtual Expo Hall
1:00pm | Day 1 Opening Plenary

Stacey Abrams
Keynote Interview w/Angelica Ross

2:00pm | Future of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Roundtable

Nathan Regan, SVP Economic Development, Invest Atlanta

Chloe Myshel Burke, Public Policy, AirBnB

Matt Keith, SVP, Business Strategy & Initiatives Executive, Bank of America

Ken Grandlund, Inclusion & Diversity Leader, Cox Enterprises

3:00pm | BEYOND the Rainbow: Intentional Connections with Multicultural LGBTQ+ Communities

Eshena Roman, EVP Marketing, Authentique Agency

Jonathan Gist, Director of Multicultural Publicity, Universal Pictures

Calvin Pegus, DE&I ERG Program Manager, Papa John’s

3:00pm | Navigating Effective Partnerships and Collaborations

Jim Farmer, Festival Director, Out on Film

Craig Hardesty, Board Chair, Out on Film

Lynn Barfield, Operations Manager, Atlanta Pride Committee

Mary Anne Adams, Executive Director, ZAMI NOBLA (National Organization of Black Lesbians on Aging)

Steven Igarashi-Ball, Assistant Event & Teams Manager, AID Atlanta

4:00pm | Engaging Equitably with Gender Diverse Employees and Entrepreneurs

Gabrielle Claiborne, Co-Founder & CEO, Transformation Journeys Worldwide

Dr. Elijah Nicholas, Founder, Dr. Elijah Nicholas, LLC

Jamie Harell, Business Intelligence & Analytics Lead, Emory University Goizueta Business School

Sybastian Smith, National Organizer, National Center for Transgender Equality

Timothy Bussey, Associate Director, Office of Diversity, Equity, &
Inclusion, Kenyon College

4:00pm | Savannah’s Growing Commitment to the LGBTQ+ Community

Dusty Church, Board Chair, First City Pride Center

Alderman Kurtis Purtee, City of Savannah

Erica Backus, Dir of Public Relations, Visit Savannah

Geoff Repella, President, Byrd Cookie Co.

Pastor Candace Hardnett, Agape Empowerment Ministries

Austin Hill, President, Austin Hill Realty

Dr. Ray Martins, Starland Family Practice 

Thursday, June 24

11:00am | Virtual Expo Hall
1:00pm | Day 2 Opening Plenary

Justin Nelson, National LGBT Chamber of Commerce

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, City of Atlanta

Keynote Address w/Georgia State Representative Sam Park

2:00pm | Activating Georgia’s Small Businesses for Advocacy

Hillary Thomas, Assoc. State Director, Advocacy & Outreach, AARP Georgia

Jeff Graham, Executive Director, Georgia Equality

DeMarcus Beckham, Southern Field Organizer, Georgia Equality

Scott Mitchell, Owner, Travis Jean Emporium

2:00pm | Entrepreneurship: From Ideation to Reality

Brian King, Founder & CEO, MODIV

Bonita Doster, Small Business Loan Officer, Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs

Dana Dickson, Trademark Attorney, Dana Dickson Law

James Wheeler, Founder, J. Wheeler Designs

3:00pm | Power of LGBTBE Certification

Sabrina Kent, Senior Vice President, National LGBT Chamber of Commerce

Gary L. Young, II, Sr. Procurement Specialist, Bank of America

Latasha M. Griffin, Supplier Diversity Manager, UPS

Carlton A. Brown, President/CEO, Occasional Occasions by Carlton

3:00pm | Growing your Business OUTSIDE of Atlanta; Resources for Rural Georgia

Vanessa Wagner, Director of Business Development & Strategic Programs, Golden Isles Development Authority

Michelle Shaw, Director, Existing Industry & Regional Recruitment, Georgia Department of Economic Development

David Lewis, Area Director, UGA Small Business Development Center

Cadence Kidwell, Owner, Fuzzy Goat

4:00pm | Power of Connection: Relationships to Referrals

Michael Maher, Best Selling Author, Coach, and Speaker

Your Summit Registration Benefits the OUT Georgia Impact Fund!

Register Now

Summit Sponsors

About OUT Georgia Business Alliance

OUT Georgia Business Alliance proudly serves as Georgia’s only LGBTQ+ and Allied Chamber of Commerce.

Since 1994, OUT Georgia Business Alliance (formerly the Atlanta Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce) has served the LGBTQ+ and Allied business community by advocating for the most inclusive and equitable business environment; providing support and resources to fuel economic growth; and driving meaningful community connections and impact across the State of Georgia.

OUT Georgia Business Alliance is a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., and is a proud affiliate of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce. For more information, contact us at OUTGeorgia.org or info@OUTGeorgia.org.