Corporation of the Year | Bristol-Myers Squibb
Recognizes a corporation for their outstanding support and dedication to ensuring fairness and equal opportunity for LGBT suppliers, customers and employees.
Supplier Diversity Advocate of the Year | Salvador M. Enríquez, Supplier Diversity Manager, Wells Fargo
Recognizes a leader who has demonstrated commitment to outreach and inclusion of LGBT suppliers in the diverse supply chain at their company.
Salvador’s tireless advocacy and a strong commitment to train small and diverse business advocates, has helped make the Chamber Leadership Development Program (CLDP) possible, bridging the NGLCC and its partners to train the next generation of chamber leaders and diverse business advocates. For the Wells Fargo work with diverse chambers, the bank was recognized in 2017 and 2018 by the National Business Inclusion Consortium with a “Best of the Best” recognition, also resulting in Sal’s recognition as the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s 2018 Advocate of the Year.
NGLCC Affiliate Chamber of the Year | GSBA – Washington State’s LGBTQ & Allied Chamber of Commerce
Recognizes an NGLCC Affiliate Chamber for their local community leadership, support and promotion of LGBTBE certification, advocacy initiatives and innovative programming that supports the LGBT business community.
GSBA – Washington State’s LGBTQ & Allied Chamber of Commerce was previously awarded Chamber of the Year in 2008, and is the largest NGLCC affiliate chamber in the network, serving over 1,400 members throughout Washington. Supported by the Wells Fargo chamber development grant from the NGLCC, GSBA developed a series of workshops on how to educate small businesses about certification, how to successfully compete for contracts, and other vital business development skills. Beyond helping connect and certify businesses, GSBA worked closely with NGLCC on critical advocacy work that led to successful recognition of LGBTBE certification by King County, Snohomish County, the City of Seattle, and the Port of Seattle. Ongoing discussions continue with other governments like Pierce County, the Port of Tacoma, and the State of Washington.
LGBT Supplier of the Year | Eck, Collins & Richardson, PL
Recognizes an exemplary Certified LGBT Business Enterprise® (Certified LGBTBE®) for their outstanding contributions to the growth and development of LGBT supplier diversity.
Eck Collins & Richardson is the first certified LGBTBE to become a National Legal Partner. As a National Legal Partner, the firm has enjoyed being active with the Procurement Council and Corporate Advisory Council. Since becoming certified in 2013, the firm has been actively engaged in NGLCC’s National Legal Industry Council and has participated in every NGLCC Conference over the last six years. They are also actively engaged with local affiliate chambers where the firm practices, including The Pride Chamber of Orlando and Richmond Business Alliance In 2018, Eck, Collins & Richardson was honored for their engagement with The Pride Chamber’s Small Business of the Year award.
NGLCC / American Airlines Extraa Mile Award | Deborah “Debbie” Gibson
Recognizes an LGBT or allied person, persons or organization that have gone the extra mile to support LGBT equality.
For 30 years, Deborah “Debbie” Gibson has proven she’s an entertainer of immeasurable talent and tremendous heart. Gibson burst on the Billboard Pop Charts at 16 with the self-penned “Only In My Dreams.” The “Original Pop Princess” quickly became the youngest artist ever to write, produce and perform a No. 1 hit song, “Foolish Beat,” and entered the Guinness Book of World Records. To date, she is still the youngest female to hold that record. Gibson has sold more than 16 million albums worldwide, performed for British Royalty and hosted “The American Music Awards,” produced by friend and legend Dick Clark. Deborah has been a staunch supporter of the LGBT community, performing at numerous Pride and charity events around the globe. Losing close friends early in her career led to her deeply personal participation to HIV charity events for more than 20 years — a cause she insists will never shake her love.
NGLCC Pinnacle Award | The Washington Blade
Recognizes an LGBT or allied person, persons, or organization, that has been a trailblazing leader in the promotion and support of the LGBT community.
Since 1969, the Washington Blade has covered the LGBTQ community of the metro D.C. area, nationally, and internationally and has been an ardent supporter of the NGLCC’s mission to create economic inclusion and prosperity for the LGBT business community. As a longstanding Certified LGBTBE®, the Blade is a role model to LGBT-owned and operated companies throughout the nation.In the nearly 20 years that the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) has been the business voice of the LGBT community, the Washington Blade has been by our side telling our story and the stories of our communities’ successes. The Blade’s profiles on our signature events, on our advocacy positions, and on the heroes of our business community have not just helped ensure our community’s place at the table of opportunity, but has elevated the discussion of the role LGBT people play in business, government, and society by ensuring our voice is present at every major event in DC. The Blade’s exceptional journalists and editors have amplified the message of NGLCC in White House and Hill briefings, leading to powerful commitments from government leaders to recognize, include, and promote our community’s economic interests.
Courage in Government Award
Recognizes government officials who have elevated the LGBT business community and ensure that LGBT issues are a vital part of their legislative priorities.
The Honorable Ritchie Torres, New York City Council, accepting on behalf of:
The Honorable Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles
The Honorable Lori Lightfoot, Mayor of Chicago
The Honorable Jane Castor, Mayor of Tampa
The Courage in Government Award has been given a mere four times in NGLCC’s history, honoring those who champion the LGBT business community in the public sector. Progressive and inclusive leadership, like that of the elected officials honored tonight, are helping provide greater access to the American Dream for every American by ensuring Certified LGBTBE® companies are welcomed to create jobs, grow tax revenues, and innovate industries through government contracting where they live. In August 2019, openly LGBT Mayor Jane Castor of Tampa announced an executive order to include Certified LGBTBE® companies in her city, following Mayor Eric Garcetti’s historic announcement to do the same in Los Angeles just days before. In 2018 and early 2019, NGLCC won the inclusion of Certified LGBTBE® companies in Nashville, TN; Baltimore, MD; Jersey City, NJ; and Hoboken, NJ, while also advancing statewide bills in New York and New Jersey. Currently, California, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania also include certified LGBT-owned businesses, along with major cities like Seattle, Newark, Columbus, and Philadelphia. A bill was introduced in both the Chicago and New York City Council to include Certified LGBTBE® companies in the largest economies in America.
