FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 29, 2022
Washington, DC. – The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), the business voice of the LGBTQ community, is proud to announce Kellie Parkin as the incoming Executive Director of NGLCC New York (nglccNY). She comes to the role in early 2023 having led the award winning Orlando Pride Chamber (formerly MBA Orlando), where she drew from her extensive background in business development and journalism to help lead the LGBT business equality movement in Greater Orlando.
“As a flagship office of NGLCC, serving one of the most important economic regions in America, nglccNY is poised to continue achieving incredible success for the LGBTQ business community under the trusted, proven, and celebrated leadership of Kellie Parkin. With many years of service to the small business and advocacy communities in the NGLCC network under her belt, especially in Orlando, she is ready to take the reins of this nearly 1,000 member network across New York City and state to the next level in nglccNY’s 15th anniversary year, and beyond,” said NGLCC Co-Founder & President Justin Nelson. “It’s been a privilege to work with her and watch her leadership inspire others throughout the NGLCC community over the years; and we know nglccNY is in exceptional, experienced hands going forward. We are so confident in her leadership abilities that we are reforming the size and scope of this role to match her tremendous skillset, including making this position an Executive Director role for the first time in nglccNY’s history.”
Among her many accomplishments, Kellie spearheaded the effort that led the City of Orlando and Orange County to be the first in Florida to embrace and recognize LGBT businesses in their procurement processes. She serves on the Orlando Mayor’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission, and the Board of the Central Florida Freethought Community, a non-profit dedicated to the separation of state and church. In the wake of the Pulse Nightclub tragedy, she served on the taskforce to formally establish the One Orlando Alliance, a coalition of nonprofits unifying Central Florida’s LGBTQ+ community.
“It’s been a tremendous honor to serve the LGBTQ community of Central Florida as President and CEO of the Pride Chamber. I am forever grateful to my Board, my fellow community leaders, and our partners throughout Orlando who have helped us make history and make new opportunities for so many. I am elated to join Team NGLCC as the first Executive Director of nglccNY, and continue supporting LGBTQ entrepreneurs on an even larger scale,” said Kellie Parkin.
Under her transformative leadership, The Pride Chamber was honored as Chamber of the Year in 2017 by the NGLCC. Kellie was honored during the 2020 pride month by U.S. Congressman Darren Soto as a distinguished leader in Central Florida. Most recently, she was recognized as a 2021 Social Justice Game Changer by the Orlando Magic.
“Kellie received the inaugural Affiliate Chamber Leader of the Year Award by the NGLCC, and continues to be a mentor and role model for chamber leaders throughout the nation,” said NGLCC Co-Founder and CEO Chance Mitchell. “We are thrilled to have Kellie in the expanded and important role helping New York’s vast and diverse LGBTQ business community thrive.”
nglccNY serves the LGBTQ and allied business community across all five boroughs of New York City, as well as across the entire Empire State through a network of outposts and specialized partnerships. The organization produces over 30 programs a year to educate, grow, and connect LGBTQ entrepreneurs and the corporate and community partners seeking to work with them. Learn more at nglccNY.org
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ABOUT NGLCC:
The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce is the business voice of the LGBT community and is the largest global advocacy organization specifically dedicated to expanding economic opportunities and advancements for LGBT people. NGLCC is the exclusive certification body for LGBT-owned businesses.
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