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 NowSummit 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 NowSummit Sponsors
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Small Business
Production
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.