Washington D.C. (11/03/11) –The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) will honor the work of U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis with the NGLCC/American Airlines ExtrAA Mile Award for her tireless commitment to promoting equal employment laws for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people at the NGLCC National Dinner: An Evening of Courage on November 18 in Washington, D.C.
In addition to Secretary Solis, NGLCC will honor select individuals and organizations for their courage and dedication to the LGBT business community. The event brings together more than 900 LGBT entrepreneurs, business owners, affiliate leaders, and corporate allies from around the globe, including representatives from Fortune 500 companies.
“The NGLCC has worked hard to be a megaphone for the LGBT business owner,” said Justin G. Nelson, NGLCC President and Co‐Founder. “Our world is changing and the business world needs more diversity and innovation than ever before. At NGLCC, we believe LGBT inclusion in diverse supply chains leads to better results every time.”
Learn more about the awards and this year’s honorees:
- NGLCC/American Airlines ExtrAA Mile Award: U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis
- NGLCC Pinnacle Award: Wells Fargo & Company
- Corporation of the Year: Ernst & Young
- Supplier of the Year: Neil Cerbone, Neil Cerbone Associates, Inc.
- Supplier Diversity Advocate of the Year: Frantz Tiffeau, Office Depot
- Chamber of the Year: Connecticut Alliance for Business Opportunities
“By certifying LGBT businesses and connecting business owners, affiliates, and corporate partners, the NGLCC wants to make a significant impact not only on the LGBT community, but also on the entire international business community,” said Chance Mitchell, NGLCC CEO and Co‐Founder. “Recognizing the work of passionate leaders, both gay and straight, is an integral part of our success.”
Speaking for American Airlines, Will Ris, Senior Vice President of American Airlines government affairs team in Washington D.C., said, “As a co‐sponsor of this award with NGLCC, we are very happy to present this year’s ExtrAA Mile Award to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. She shares our longstanding values to ensure that all American workplaces are truly equal, respectful and welcoming to all.”
Learn more about the National Dinner, the honorees, and supplier diversity by visiting http://www.nglcc.org/nationaldinner2011.
CONTACT:
Laura Berry, communications director, at 1‐202‐234‐9181 or lberry@nglcc.org
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About the NGLCC
The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) is the only national not‐ for‐profit advocacy organization dedicated to expanding the economic opportunities and advancements of the LGBT business community. With more than 29,000 members, 130 corporate partners and 62 local, state and international affiliate chambers, NGLCC is the largest LGBT business development and economic advocacy organization in the world.