With the announcement of the 2021 Back to Business (B2B) Summit, the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) is both excited and proud to join the ranks of companies and organizations returning to small scale in-person events this year as more people receive their vaccinations. Taking place at the Diplomat Hollywood Resort in Hollywood, Florida this November, the B2B Summit will be comprised of three days of networking, education, and celebration of the accomplishments of the LGBT business community and allies.
Here’s what attendees can expect from the summit.
Safety comes first!
The B2B Summit is NOT the full scale annual NGLCC Conference, which will return shortly in 2022 for NGLCC’s 20th Anniversary. Registration for the B2B Summit will be capped at 400 attendees to account for COVID-19 protocols and CDC guidelines. Tickets will sell out FAST, so be sure to complete this interest form to be among the first notified when registration goes live in August. Please contact summit@nglcc.org with any questions about safety guidelines for the B2B Summit.
Rallies, awards, & celebrations
Anti-LGBT legislation has swept the nation in many states, harming LGBTQ+ business owners in the process. Aside from regular Summit programming, NGLCC and our partners will host a Solidarity Rally with Florida LGBTQ businesses to condemn this legislation and uplift the voices of transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary TGNCNB entrepreneurs from all across the country.
“This rally and Summit are further proof that NGLCC cares about my TGNCNB siblings and me, as well as our businesses, in these still very difficult times,” said Ashley T. Brundage, founder & author of Florida-headquartered Empowering Differences. “As a trans business owner in Florida, I look forward to meeting with NGLCC corporate partners and fellow Certified LGBTBE® suppliers to ensure my business and our community can survive and thrive.”
NGLCC’s signature celebrations will make their long-awaited return alongside events like the Solidarity Rally. Namely, the Best-of-the-Best Awards will be hosted at the B2B Summit, recognizing outstanding achievement in promoting cross-segment diversity, equity and inclusion. Only companies achieving industry-leading results across all diverse segments are eligible to receive the prestigious Best-of-the-Best designation from the National Business Inclusion Consortium (NBIC), a coalition of national diverse business organizations spearheaded by NGLCC since 2012.
LGBTQ+ business owners, corporate supplier diversity leaders, affiliates, and allies will once more come together at the Summit’s 2021 Awards Gala. The gala will celebrate another year of economic and social progress for the global LGBT and allied business community we represent. Honors presented at the gala will include the 2021 Corporation of the Year, Supplier Diversity Advocate of the Year, Chamber of the Year, and LGBT Supplier of the Year!
Impactful plenaries, breakouts, and matchmakers
The NGLCC Summit will deliver innovative leadership programming as well as networking and engagement opportunities for LGBT and allied business leaders. Cutting-edge educational programs include inspiring keynote speakers, an affiliate chamber educational track, one-on-one Matchmaker meetings between suppliers and Fortune 500 companies, and much more.
Business leaders in attendance will walk away with a newly strengthened network of personal and professional contacts, as well as a variety of tools and strategies for growing their businesses. The workshops and programs offered will help business leaders navigate an increasingly changed professional world, and to pave the way for increased diversity and inclusion in business across the country.
Enjoy Hollywood, Florida!
Nestled between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Florida is one of the hottest destinations in the state! Home to many LGBT-owned small businesses, Hollywood boasts a bustling array of restaurants, galleries, shops, and more – not to mention the beach! We encourage you to take advantage of everything Hollywood has to offer during your stay at the Diplomat Hollywood Resort this November. Learn more about this award-winning, welcoming destination for LGBTQ+ travelers from our friends at Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Stay tuned for more to come on the B2B Summit at nglcc.org/summit, or reach out to summit@nglcc.org with any questions. We can’t wait to see you this fall!
