Last week the White House hosted the Jobs and Economic Growth Forum, an opportunity for President Obama and the economic team to hear from some of the leading CEOs, small business owners, labor leaders, and others about ideas for continuing to grow the economy and put Americans back to work.
The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) was proud to partner with NGLCC affiliate, the Greater San Diego Business Association (GSDBA), to identify and recommend the participation of Christianna Connell, GSDBA member and owner of San Diego-based Future-Ink, to participate in the event.
The event included keynotes from President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis. There were also smaller discussions on creating jobs through infrastructure, exports, green jobs, small business growth, and investment.
"Having an LGBT business voice was important to ensuring the LGBT business community remains at the table during discussions of regarding the economic recovery," said NGLCC co-founder and president Justin Nelson. "We take very seriously the strong working relationship we have built with the Obama Administration, and appreciate the opportunity to have one of our community businesses—one that has actually seen growth in these difficult times—sharing its story as the president refines his jobs strategy."
The NGLCC continues to lead the way in ensuring LGBT business points of view are included in these discussions by bringing LGBT business owners with compelling stories to meet with administration officials whenever possible. After reaching out to GSDBA executive director, Tom Luhnow, Connell and Future-Ink were identified, selected and invited to the White House for the forum.
"It was a privilege to participate in last week's White House Job Summit," Connell said. "Businesses of all different sizes and sectors were represented, from farmers to chief officers of mega-corporations. Being invited to the event is a great illustration of the powerful role that networking plays in business. Through my association with the GSDBA and the NGLCC, doors that otherwise would remain closed to me have been opened."
Do you have a story that the White House and others should hear about? Has your company experienced significant growth in this down economy? Is your company experiencing difficulty as a sign of the troubled times? The NGLCC wants to know! Send your stories to NGLCC chief of staff and director of affiliate relations, Kate Karasmeighan at kkarasmeighan@nglcc.org.
"It is important for the administration to be responsive to the perspectives of small businesses such as Future-Ink, and we were thrilled to facilitate this opportunity, and look forward to many more," Nelson said.
article from NGLCC website, 12/10/09