

MARCH 14—16 2019
LOS ANGELES
WELCOME
On March 14—16, 2019 LAGLCC hosted the Western Business Alliance (WBA) LGBT Economic Summit & Conference. The WBA was founded in 1994 as an opportunity for LGBT chambers throughout the Western United States to advocate on behalf of the LGBT economic equality movement, share ‘best practices’ and serve as the collective voice of the LGBT business community in the West.
This year’s conference focused attention on issues facing our business community and the LGBT community at large, including creating influence, working with the LGBT community, LGBT homelessness and housing, social and corporate responsibility, marketing to millennials, transgender entrepreneurship and freelance opportunities, and access to capital for LGBT businesses.
At the center of the WBA LGBT Economic Summit & Conference was our Lunch Confab, “Improving Opportunities for Small Businesses”, during which Representatives from the WMDVLGBTBE communities discussed ways to improve and increase opportunities for small businesses, including ways to improve the effectiveness of supplier diversity.
The WBA includes LGBT chambers and thought-leaders from twenty-two cities, eleven states and Vancouver, British Columbia. Represented within the WBA are:
Albuquerque
Anchorage
Colorado Springs
Dallas
Denver
Honolulu
Las Vegas
Long Beach
Los Angeles
Palm Springs
Phoenix
Portland
Sacramento
Salt Lake City
San Diego
San Francisco
San Jose
Seattle
Spokane
Tucson
Vancouver
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SCHEDULE

Thursday, March 14, 2019
6:00pm—8:00PM
OPENING RECEPTION
899 Francisco Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017
SPEAKERS
Mike Silacci
VICE-PRESIDENT, PUBLIC AFFAIRS, AT&T


Fiona Ma
CALIFORNIA STATE TREASURER
Tarrance Frierson
PRINCIPAL MANAGER, SUPPLIER DIVERSITY, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON
Friday, March 15, 2019
8:00AM—4:00PM
WBA SUMMIT EXPO
SPEAKERS
Reichen Kuhl
CEO, LEASELOCK
9:00AM—10:00AM
OPENING GENERAL SESSION:
Summit Welcome
—CALIFORNIA BALLROOM
—FOYER
Ron Galperin
LOS ANGELES CITY CONTROLLER
Stacey G. Chosed
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, LEAGUE, AT&T
Hany Haddad
VICE PRESIDENT AND DISTRICT MANAGER, LOS ANGELES DISTRICT OF U.S. BANK

10:15AM—11:30AM
AM BREAK-OUT SESSIONS
—SACRAMENTO ROOM
—BEVERLY ROOM
Southern California Edison Workshop
—SAN DIEGO ROOM
LGBT Business Enterprise® (LGBTBE) Certification 101
—VINE ROOM

11:45AM—1:30PM
LUNCH CONFAB:
Improving Opportunities for Small Business
—CALIFORNIA BALLROOM
SPEAKERS
Michael Ormonde
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, REGIONAL BANK PRESIDENT, WELLS FARGO
Liji Thomas,CPA, CIA, CRMA, SHRM-CP
HEAD OF DIVERSITY & INCLUSION, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON
Angela Gibson-Shaw
PRESIDENT, AG AND ASSOCIATES
Amanda Ma
FOUNDER + CEO, INNOVATE MARKETING GROUP (IMG)
Schenae Rourk
PRESIDENT, REDWOOD RESOURCES


4:00PM—5:00PM
CLOSING GENERAL SESSION:
Summit Wrap-Up
1:45PM—3:45PM
PM BREAK-OUT SESSIONS
Trans Can Work: Best Practices for Transgender Inclusion in the Workplace
—SAN DIEGO ROOM
Creating Influence: How to Survive in the Age of Disruption
—SACRAMENTO ROOM
—BEVERLY ROOM
SPEAKER
Constance Anderson
DIRECTOR, PACIFIC COAST REGIONAL SBDC

5:30PM—7:30PM
CLOSING RECEPTION
899 Francisco Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017
SPEAKERS
Sydney Kamlager-Dove
ASSEMBLYWOMAN (D-LOS ANGELES)
Hany Haddad
VICE PRESIDENT AND DISTRICT MANAGER, LOS ANGELES DISTRICT OF U.S. BANK
Jolie Haupert
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, METROPOLITAN BANKING DIVISION,
CONSUMER AND BUSINESS BANKING DIVISION, U.S. BANK
Wendy Armitage
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, MARKETING CLEARANCES AND RATINGS, SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT
Farhaad Virani
ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL, AMAZON STUDIOS
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
AM BREAKOUTS AND WORKSHOPS
Marketing to Millennials
WORKSHOP PRESENTER: Sahar Andrade
Millennials (83 million) account for a quarter of the population of the United States, making them the largest living generation. According to Goldman Sachs by early 2020 the Millennials’ spending goes up by 15%. According to Oracle their spending power is estimated to be $3.39 trillion in 2018.
Millennials are the first generation that grew up within a digital world, they are the most connected generation, so far. Therefore it is extremely important to understand their mindset and behavior to engage them.
IN THE WORKSHOP:
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Learn the characteristic of Millennials; and why they behave the way they do
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Discuss what they seek from brands and what keeps their loyalty and engagement. Discuss the importance of digital marketing and social media tactics.
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Learn what inspires millennials to buy
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Improve your marketing strategies.to reach Millennials
LGBT Housing and Homelessness
WORKSHOP PRESENTERS: Keira Pollock, Dianna Prado, Louise Chernin, Simon Costello and Gregg Sherkin, Carlos Aguilar
This session will focus on housing and homelessness issues facing the LGBT Community – Youth, Veterans, Seniors, Trans and more. Given that the best way to address homelessness is to avoid it, this discussion will include ways to avoid homelessness in addition to a discussion of initiatives designed to reduce homelessness and support those who are experiencing homelessness.
Southern California Edison Workshop
Growing a Scalable, Profitable Business
WORKSHOP PRESENTER: Michael Gunther
This session is geared towards leaders of organizations that are struggling with managing growth, inconsistent sales, and where their leadership may be ‘killing’ their business. We will be introducing the Scalable Growth Model™ to identify barriers to growth, assessing leadership gaps and management infrastructure requirements that are necessary to maximize profit margins and reduce risk while building a profitable, sustainable business.
NGLCC Workshop
LGBT Business Enterprise® (LGBTBE) Certification 101
WORKSHOP PRESENTERS: Jason Rae, Alicia Green and Reiko Gallo
This session features a panel of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce’s (NGLCC’s) subject matter experts in supplier diversity and affiliate chamber leadership to discuss how LGBT-owned businesses and affiliate chambers can leverage NGLCC and its LGBT Business Enterprise® (LGBTBE) certification to impact their businesses and chambers. Come prepared to gain insights and best practices to ensure that your company or chamber can benefit from being a part of the NGLCC network.
Creating Influence: How to Survive in the Age of Disruption
MODERATOR: Mark Morales / PANEL: NiK Kacy, Esteven Gamez, Carmen Carrera, Mary Leslie, Corey Allen, Reichen Kuhl, Buster Barras, David Kim, Jonathan Rodriguez, and Wadooah Wali
We live in the Age of Disruption—a period in time of transformative change. From the rise of the digital age to the evolution of social media, our business strategies and personal lives can change in a heartbeat.
Join us in a conversation about how you can strategize, communicate and influence the people around you. Whether you are a business owner, social media expert, communications director, influencer, political consultant, disruptor or community leader—this session will inspire new ideas and strategies.
Join our panel of experts that have been successful in navigating and finding success in the Age of Disruption.
Lunch Confab
Improving Opportunities for Small Businesses
Representatives from the WMDVLGBTBE communities discuss ways to improve and increase opportunities for small businesses, including ways to improve the effectiveness of supplier diversity.
PM BREAKOUTS AND WORKSHOPS
Trans Can Work: Best Practices for Transgender Inclusion in the Workplace
WORKSHOP PRESENTER: Rex Wilde
The landscape for LGBTQ inclusion is changing every day. In the US, an estimated 1.4 million adults in the US identify as transgender. A study put out last year by the Williams Institute discovered that 27% of youth in California are identified as transgender or gender non-conforming. When thinking about the future of our workplaces, we know that in the year 2025, millennials will represent 75% of the workforce. And millennials are more than 2xs as likely to identify as LGBTQ and more likely to identify as non-binary or gender fluid than previous generations. For employers, it is no longer a matter of what to do if they have transgender employees, but a matter of preparing for when they have transgender employees.
This session will provide an environment for professionals to elevate their cultural competency of transgender inclusion. Learn important human resources information about how to hire and support talented employees who are transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC).
NGLCC Workshop - I’m Certified, Now What?
WORKSHOP PRESENTERS: Jason Rae, Alicia Green and Reiko Gallo
Learn how take advantage of the exclusive opportunities offered to the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce’s (NGLCC’s) certified LGBT Business Enterprises® (LGBTBEs) from NGLCC Supplier Diversity experts. Gain knowledge on how to maximize the benefits of being an LGBTBE, including how to network with corporate supplier diversity professionals, take advantage of the NGLCC Engagement Center’s expertise, and build a game plan unique to your company’s growth strategies.


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ABOUT LAGLCC
The Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (LAGLCC) is the premier advocate of the Los Angeles Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender business community, representing hundreds of businesses in Los Angeles and the surrounding area. The Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce advances common business interests, economic growth, and equality in the workplace and society for its LGBTQ members, businesses, and allies by providing educational, networking, and community building opportunities.
The LAGLCC’s core programming includes a first Thursday networking mixer hosted by one of our hospitality partners, a third Wednesday networking luncheon, educational seminars and quarterly women’s events. Each October, we host an LGBT MegaMixer, the largest LGBT professional networking event which boasts over 500 attendees each year.


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