Largest class of LGBT entrepreneurs attend NGLCC Strategic Growth & Development Institute

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The founders of the first national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender greeting card company, who exemplify how creative thinking can lead to new businesses, are among the participants in the second annual National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Strategic Growth & Development Institute, which has the theme “Predictable Success.”

The two-day program commenced today with its largest number of attendees since the Supplier Innovation Center opened just last year. It’s an education center designed to engage learners and inspire change, and is located at NGLCC’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. The center allows for business development, continuing education and professional growth.

Wells Fargo, a Founding Corporate Partner, is the title sponsor of the Supplier Innovation Center. For over a decade the company has worked closely with NGLCC to provide small business guidance, programs and resources to LGBT business owners. Wells Fargo recently furthered its commitment by contributing $1 million to the NGLCC Foundation, which supports the center’s operation, NGLCC Global and other initiatives.

“In 1852 two forward thinking businessmen joined together to create Wells Fargo. It is that spirit of innovation that continues today with the company’s support of entrepreneurship and diversity that we see at the NGLCC Supplier Innovation Center,” says Justin Nelson, co-founder and president, NGLCC. “We are grateful for their support, both at the national level and through our local affiliate chambers in the communities we call home every day.”

“Wells Fargo is proud to work closely with NGLCC to educate and empower lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender small business owners,” says John Lake, vice president and LGBT segment manager, Wells Fargo. “We hope that our support for NGLCC’s Supplier Innovation Center will create even greater opportunities for LGBT business owners to build and grow thriving companies.”

Led by Les McKeown, business guru and bestselling author of “Predictable Success,” institute participants are taking part in real-time business development exercises; receiving guidance on principles for best practices; and receiving training with individual consultants.

In addition to greeting card company Teazled of Nevada, the other selected institute companies are:
•       Ackerman Brown, LLC, a boutique law firm in Washington, D.C.;
•       AdNet, an integrative workforce solutions company based in Cantonsville, Md.;
•       American Meetings, Inc., corporate meeting planners that produce events both domestically and globally, based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.;
•       BHC Assessment & Consulting, LLC, a psychotherapy practice specializing in LGBT issues, based in Orlando, Fla.
•       Blue Wave Solutions, Inc., a national Information and Operational Solutions provision company located in San Francisco that successfully serves Fortune 500 companies including health care, finance, engineering and pharma; and
•       Power of Two Promotions, a promotional product concierge firm based in Austin, Texas and Folsom, Calif.

Also included as the first international institute participant is Acciones de la Frontera, a consulting firm based in Bogota, Colombia, that promotes responsible and profitable foreign investment in Latin America.

All the businesses are majority-owned by LGBT individuals and NGLCC has designated them as an LGBT Business Enterprise® as part of its LGBT Supplier Diversity Initiative. NGLCC is the exclusive, third-party certification body that verifies eligible businesses and grants LGBTBE status.