Like so many LGBT chambers of commerce, Minnesota's Twin Cities Quorum started out as a networking venue. Which was nice. But also like many chambers of commerce, members eventually wanted more.
And they got it.
Sam McClure is the executive director of Quorum, the chamber's first full-time staff member. Her journey to the director's office mirrors Quorum's own growth—much of which McClure shepherded as a board member and president.
"We had less than 100 members a few years ago. Now we have over 250," she says. "We used to have no corporate partners, but now we do, and the list is growing every day."
McClure says that she and other board members tried to capture the "full vision" of what their chamber could be, beyond the purely networking functions, as vital as those are.
Visibility, community economic development and new opportunities for members are some of the "musts" that Quorum continues to work for.
For example, the chamber now conducts an in-depth workshop series on a variety of business topics—LGBT financial empowerment, business law and others—with the support of corporate partner Wells Fargo.
The group also launched a newsletter, Q!, that not only raises its profile in the Twin Cities, it also brings in new members. "It's often a place where we launch a relationship" with people, says McClure.
"We wanted to say to the community, this is who we are, this is what we're doing," she continues. "We wanted to reach out and touch people. And it gets a lot of hits [on our Web site]. People are very interested in it."
Oh, and remember networking? It still goes on, with four different networking opportunities a month, one of which is devoted to young LGBT professionals. Also for young people is a scholarship fund that made its first award this year in the amount of $4,500.
Quorum has assumed the responsibility for running the area's National Coming Out Day festivities as well, giving the organization a valued platform in the community. "We're really proud," McClure says. "It's a huge opportunity for us, but the event really belongs to everyone."
McClure also makes it a point to include nonprofit groups under Quorum's umbrella.
"We make an effort to connect the business folks and the nonprofit folks. Nonprofits are in business too," she says. "It's just a different kind of business. It has been my goal for a long time for us to be an organization that works well with other ones, and as a result, we have a high level of participation from nonprofits in the community, many of which are members."
Future plans include a push to increase the number of chamber members receiving NGLCC certification as LGBT-owned businesses.
"There's a correlation between the supplier diversity program and local economic development," explains McClure. "We want to help each person find their path, whether in business or in their personal development—whatever helps us live more successful lives."
