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EDUCATION SESSIONS AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT YOU WITH THE RESOURCES FOR SUCCESS!
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Click here to see photos from last year's Out for Business! Conference.
Agenda (tentative):
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
12:30 - 7:00 PM - Upper Lobby
Registration
1:00 – 4:30 PM - Massachusetts Room
Council of Chambers & Business Organizations (CCBO) Leadership Meeting (by Invitation)
2:00 – 3:30 PM - Capital Hilton
Corporate Advisory Council Meeting (by Invitation)
4:00 – 6:00 PM - Capital Hilton
Procurement Council Meeting (by Invitation)
4:00 – 5:15 PM - California Room
First Time NGLCC Conference Orientation & SDI 101
This orientation session, crafted for anyone new to the NGLCC family or Out for Business!, is an overview of the NGLCC’s robust programming and benefits, and explanation of the upcoming conference events. Highlights of the orientation include how and why businesses get certified, maximizing your new affiliation, partnership, lingo you’ll hear in the days ahead, and the various audiences in attendance. The session will include time for Q&A and will conclude in just enough time to catch the shuttle to the Welcome Reception on Capitol Hill.
6:00 – 8:00 PM - Capitol Hill
Welcome Reception
Thursday, November 18, 2009
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM - Upper Lobby
Registration
9:00 – 10:30 AM - Presidental Ballroom
Opening Breakfast
10:30 – 10:45 AM - Break
10:45 AM – 12:00 PM - Business SessionsSession 1 - Pan American Room
LGBT Supplier Diversity Certification 101 - What LGBT Business Owners and Entrepreneurs Need to Know:
Is your business missing out on the millions of dollars being spent with certified LGBT suppliers? This session will give LGBT business owners and entrepreneurs the background and understanding on how to become a certified LGBT vendor to some of America’s top corporations and other LGBT Business Enterprises (LGBTBE)™. Come hear perspectives from top corporate decision makers and certified LGBT business leaders to discover how you can grow your customer base by becoming a certified LGBT supplier.
Session 2 - Massachusetts Room
Maximizing Your LGBTBE Certification:
Going Green:
Are you a small business looking to start green practices for your company? Is your corporation looking to source producst and services from LGBTBEs that are green in their business practices? This session is designed to address both audiences in providing advice and tips on the trends and best practices driving green initiatives at small businesses and large corporations. Hear from LGBTBE Certified Suppliers that have gone green as well as corporations that are going green and seeking green suppliers.
Session 4 - California Room
Going Global - How to Find Customers and Finance International Growth:
This session is for LGBT-owned businesses of all sizes who wish to learn how to "find and finance" foreign buyers to increase their sales. Attendees will learn how to find international buyers, access valuable trade information, obtain working capital loans, protect against risk of nonpayment, and offer buyer financing with the government's assistance through the U.S. Export-Import Bank. During the session results from the first annual NGLCC Business and Cultural Exchange to Buenos Aires, Argentina will be shared with the audience. Learn how you may participate in future exchange trips as well.
Session 5 - Statler A&B Rooms
CCBO Session - Corporate Partnerships and Strategic Growth:
Corporate partnerships are an essential element in the strategic growth strategy of healthy sustainable chambers and business associations. In this session, Chamber Leaders and representatives will discuss various strategies in attracting, cultivating and serving this critical constituent and strategic relationships that can help you serve all of your membership.
12:00 – 1:45 PM - Presidential Ballroom
Plenary Luncheon - Communities of Color Business Initiative:
This lunch plenary session is designed for all conference attendees to learn more about the NGLCC’s recently launched Communities of Color Business Initiative and hear from LGBT business leaders of color about their experiences in the marketplace. Panelists will share success stories demonstrating how entrepreneurs can help break down barriers and seize opportunities to work with other diverse businesses.
1:45 – 2:00 PM - Break
2:00 – 3:15 PM - Business Sessions
Session 1 - Pan American Room
Federal Procurement and Your Business:
Looking to do business with the federal government? With the backdro of Washington, D.C. attendees to this session will learn the ins and outs of establishing client relationships with the federal government. Learn how LGBTBEs are navigating federal procurement systems and consider how you too may be eligible to do business with the government. LGBTBEs with years of experience working with the federal government will share insight, dispel myths, and answer questions about federal opportunities.
Session 2 - Massachusetts Room
From Contacts to Contracts - Doing Business with Corporations:
LGBT-owned businesses trying to “crack the code” in working with major corporations will find this series of panel discussions, featruing a cross-section of industires, a must-attend. Panels of supplier diversity professionals from the over 115 corporate partners of the NGLCC will provide useful insight into the unique needs of their specific industries and companies. America’s top corporations collectively purchase millions of dollars in goods and services from certified LGBTBEs each year. During this series of sessions, panelists will provide an in depth look into the expectations and sourcing needs of major corporations while offering applicable advice and tips for securing new business. Corporate representatives will represent industries including:
- Travel, Tourism, and Hospitality
- Financial Services and Insurance
- Technology
- Retail and Consumer Products
- Pharmaceutical
- Professional Services
Session 3 - New York Room
Capturing the Market - Using the Gay Ad Network to Reach the LGBT Consumer:
Whether you are a Fortune 500 or a small business with five or fewer employees, if reaching the LGBT market is a part of your business model, then you will want to attend this session. You will hear from the Gay Ad Newtork regarding online advertising strategies that are not only working, but extremely affordable. Learn what online sites are best for reaching your target audience and how to best design an online campaign that gets the desired results.
Session 4 - California Room
International Trade - The U.S. Commercial Service and You:
Whether you’re looking to make your first export sale or expand to additional international markets, the U.S. Commercial Service, a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration, offers the trade counseling, market intelligence, business matchmaking, and commercial diplomacy you need to connect with lucrative business opportunities. This session will explore these tools available to you to reach particular business objectives and help you complete your export transaction.
Session 5 - Statler A&B Rooms
CCBO Session - Org Management #1 - Embracing Budget & Finance to Bring Peace of Mind:
Budgeting is not a once-a-year exercise. A well thought out budget and timely tracking can make or break any organization. Explore critical budget considerations, build a better smarter budget and track your financial results to stay ahead of the curve. However, a great budget is only one part of your organization’s financial success – even if we wish there were simply more income (and who doesn’t?). Nonprofit executives (staff & volunteers) place their organizations and themselves at risk by ignoring compliance issues. Understanding financial compliance issues can keep your organization in the black and out of the press. Learn to embrace compliance and governance. Develop an understanding of IRS Form 990 and UBIT (unrelated business income tax).
3:15 – 3:30 PM - Break
3:30 – 4:45 PM - Business SessionsSession 1 - Pan American Room
Corporate Employee Resource Groups and the LGBT Supplier Diversity Initiative:
This session specifically for corporate representatives will inform attendees of a host of opportunities for members of corporate employee resource groups to get involved nationally and locally in the LGBT business community though the LGBT Supplier Diversity Initative. Certification for LGBT-owned businesses is helping to empower the LGBT community and increase access to contracts as well as business development opportunities with corporations across the country and around the globe. Learn how corporate employee resource groups and their members play a vital role in this progress and find out how you can make an impact in expanding opportunities for LGBT businesses and entrepreneurs. Attendees can expect to hear an overview of the NGLCC's certification process as well as ways to engage your company’s employee resource group members in LGBT supplier diversity.
Session 2 - Massachusetts Room
Doing business with corporations - From Contacts to Contracts, Part 2
Session 3 - New York Room
Beyond the Corporate Contract - Growing Your Business Through B2B and Tier 2 Opportunities:
Working with other LGBT Business Enterprises can result in valuable opportunities and strong partnerships and alliances. Learn how you might expand or strengthen your LGBTBE customer base by capitalizing on Business-to-Business (or B2B) and Tier 2 opportunities. Hear success stories and have your questions answered by businesses actively working with and for the LGBT business community.
Session 4 - Statler A&B Rooms
CCBO Session - Org Management #2 - Understanding Risk Management for Your Chamber:
Risk may be a fact of life, but it is important to create internal controls and understanding of the liabilities (risks) that nonprofit organizations may encounter to avoid any potential problems. Proper preparedness can make all the difference when times get challenging for our chambers. Determine if structure or policy changes are necessary to avoid risks and ethical conflicts, i.e. policies, procedures, insurance/bonds, etc. While slightly different in scope, this session will relate with the topics discussed in the budget and finance session as well.
5:00 – 6:00 PM
Womens Business Initiative (WBI) Networking Reception:
LGBT and allied women conference attendees are invited to enjoy the fifth annual WBI Networking Reception. This year attendees will spend time discussing current events and the current political climate with out lesbian officials in the Obama Administration. Attendance is open to all women conference attendees.
6:00 – 8:00 PM - Federal A&B, Foyer 2 & South American A&B Rooms
Presenting Sponsor Reception in the Marketplace Expo
8:00 PM
Dine Out DC
Enjoy dinner at one of the many OUT or ALLIED restaurants in Washington, D.C. while networking with colleagues and friends - old and new. Conference attendees will receive special discounts at participating restaurants.
Friday, November 19, 2010
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM - Upper Lobby
Registration
8:30 - 9:30 AM - Upper Lobby
Continental Breakfast
9:30 - 10:30 AM - Presidential Ballroom
Keynote Plenary and Chamber Awards:
Join us as hear insights to the Nations "State of the Business Union" from U.S. Commerce Secretary, Gary Locke. Following we will recognize excellence among NGLCC's local LGBT chamber affiliates. Honerees for Chamber of the Year, Rising Star Chamber, Chamber, Chamber Leader of the Year, Best Publication, Most Unique or Innovative program, and Community Outreach Award will be recognized.
10:30 AM - 3:00 PM - Federal A&B, Foyer 2 and South American A&B Rooms
Marketplace Expo
10:45 AM - 12:00 PM - CCBO Business Sessions
Session 1 - Statler A&B Rooms
CCBO Session - Org Management #3 - Board Governance:
Self governance is one of the greatest responsibilities of the non-profit board. Understanding how IRS Form 990 is related to organizational policies and procedures including ‘duty’ statements (Duty of Care, Duty of Loyalty, Duty of Obedience and Duty of Management of Accounts). Discuss the different types of Boards and develop a sustainable board recruitment/orientation process. Further discussion will involve the skill sets and personalities for optimal board composition, retaining board members through active-yet-not-overwhelming engagement, and the critical concept of seamless board succession.
Session 2 - Pan American Room
CCBO Session - Chamber Communications:
How you communicate to your members and how often they hear from you can mean the difference between membership renewal or attrition. This session will discuss the current member communication trends, as well as the most effective and simple techniques that will make your members feel valued, important and personally engaged in the work your organization undertakes day to day.
Session 3 - Massachusetts Room
CCBO Regional Session
10:45 AM - 12:00 PM - New York Room
College Business Session - The Next Generation
10:45 AM - 2:30 PM - Presidential Ballroom
Pre-Scheduled One-on-One Matchmaker Meetings:
If you are looking to become a supplier to some of America’s top corporations, you do not want to miss this opportunity. This event will allow certified LGBT businesses the opportunity to meet one on one with decision makers, purchasing representatives, and supplier diversity professionals from NGLCC Corporate Partners. Use this time to gain valuable insights on bidding for contracts and to build direct relationships with potential clients. As we all know, time is money and this will be time well spent!
12:00 - 1:30 PM
Lunch on your own
12:15 - 1:15 PM - Statler A&B Rooms
CCBO Luncheon Session (by Invitation) - Supplier Diversity and Other NGLCC Programs and YOUR Membership:
As an Affiliate Partner of the NGLCC, your organization has a unique opportunity to add value to your membership with the suite of benefits offered by the NGLCC. Discuss how to use the NGLCC’s Supplier Diversity Initiative and other programs to add value to your members’ benefits, and to increase the opportunities for outreach in your own community. Hear from NGLCC departmental leaders as they explain the ins and outs of LGBT supplier diversity, member benefits and other programs.
1:30 - 2:45 PM - Break Out Sessions
Session 1 - Pan American Room
WBI Roundtable:
NGLCC Women’s Business Initiative (WBI) members and other interested attendees will have the chance to hear from top women in business and politics about what they have done to shatter the lavender glass ceiling. Panelists will share compelling insights about what it takes to succeed in today’s competitive world and how they have become leaders in their respective industries.
5:00 - 7:00 PM - Capital Hilton Main Entrance
Motor Coach Transportation to the National Building Museum
5:30 - 10:00 PM - National Building Museum
NGLCC National Dinner: An Evening of Courage!
10:00 PM - 12:00 AM - National Building Museum North Entrance
Motor Coach Transportation to Capital Hilton
Saturday, November 20, 2010
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM - Upper Lobby
Registration
9:00 - 10:00 AM - Upper Lobby
Coffee Hour
10:00 - 11:15 AM - Business Sessions
Session 1 - Pan American Room
Bringing Your Business To Scale:
Is it time to expand your business? Find out ways you can bring your business up to scale to handle larger contracts and more customers. Hear from other LGBT business owners on topics from hiring staff and investing in your growth to effectively marketing your business to the right clients.
Session 2 - Massachusetts Room
Healthcare Reform and Your Business - What You Need to Know:
This session will explore the 2010 healthcare reforms signed into law by President Obama and what it means to you as a small business owner. This session will look at items such as access and affordability, preexisting conditions and tax incentives for offering coverage. Session attendees will hear from legislative and business experts that will be able to break down the opportunities and benefits available to small business owners and their employees through the Affordable Care Act while cutting through the rhetoric and debunking myths surrounding the new law.
Session 3 - New York Room
CCBO Regional Session
Session 4 - California Room
CCBO Regional Session
Session 5 - Statler A&B Rooms
CCBO Session - Membership:
Regardless of other details including size, location and access to staff, a core component of all chamber success is membership. Providing consistent value to businesses and professionals with a variety of needs and expectations is a must for any successful chamber. This session will focus on the key motivations of business owners and professionals in joining a business organization, as well as the importance of translating membership value into benefits. Attendees will take part in a discussion of member development best practices and hear success stories from chambers across the country.
11:15 - 11:30 AM - Break
11:30 AM - 12:45 PM - Business Sessions
Session 1 - Pan American Room
All businesses face challenges from time to time—perhaps now more than ever in recent years. This session will focus on traditional small business finance, with emphasis given to the state of current credit markets. Presenters will discuss how to secure capital to enable the continued growth of existing small business and options for structuring financing while facing economic downturns.
Session 2 - Massachusetts Room
Running for Office - Opportunities for LGBTBE's in the Political Arena:
There is no better way to influence public policy then by being a part of making it. The NGLCC is teaming up with the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund for this informative session about running for office and why -- as LGBT business owners -- you are uniquely qualified to address many of the toughest issues facing our businesses and communities. Don’t just get mad. Get elected!
Session 3 - New York Room
Planning to Protect Our Future:
Confused by how changes to National healthcare, individual state marriage rules and gains in LGBT rights are helping to equalize your rights and safeguard you and your family? Do you know what steps to take to protect yourself and your loved ones? With National organizations pushing for our equal rights, and publicly scoring healthcare and corporations on equality; we are slowly seeing progress being made to consider the needs of LGBT people in our nation’s laws and our company’s benefits package. This panel of out professionals will discuss where inclusive employee benefits compensate for current law, how to navigate healthcare, the difference of growing older as a LGBT adult and other planning methods to protect your future for yourself and those you love.
Session 4 - Statler A&B Rooms
CCBO Session - Chamber Publications:
Chamber publications are important and can arrive at your members’ doorsteps in a variety of ways. In this session, attendees will explore the business case for Chamber publications in various print and electronic media. Regardless of whether your organization has created publications for years or is considering its publication options, this session has information for your consideration. Take this opportunity to talk about maximizing your resources, your members, your relationships and building community partners to improve your bottom line – all through the publication options before you. By the end of the session you will be able to evaluate your organization’s needs to create a plan that fits.
12:30 - 2:00 PM - Presidental Ballroom
Luncheon Plenary Session - Politics and Pros:
Attendees will hear from the leaders of national LGBT advocacy organizations as they discuss the recent midterm elections and what they mean to the long term prospects for LGBT equality legislation. This interactive session will also explore the top policy priorities for each organization throughout 2011 and looking toward the 2012 presidential and congressional elections.
3:30 - 5:30 PM
B2B Networking Reception:
This event has become one of the most popular of the conference and this year will be no different. This is your last chance to squeeze your last bit of networking into the conference before enjoying the Closing Party and going home to put all you have learned and everyone you have met to work growing your business. Join other LGBT and allied entrepreneurs to cement new business relationships and strengthen existing ones at this final networking reception.
9:00 - 11:00 PM
Closing Party - Hosted by CAGLCC
