Congratulations to the 2022 Pride In Business Honorees!
The Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce held its signature event, Pride In Business, on June 22, 2022, to celebrate Pride Month. During the event, the Chamber presented the 2022 Pride In Business Awards. The Pride In Business Awards recognize the contributions made by Chamber members, Corporate Partners and other key stakeholders in building a more diverse and inclusive business community in Houston and the region. The awards, which were launched last year, spotlight deserving companies and individuals and showcase the amazing work they are doing to support the LGBTQ+ community.
Learn more about the 2022 Pride In Business Honorees below.
LGBTBE® Certified Business of the Year - Crōm Rehabilitation
This award is given to an LGBTBE® Certified Member Business with a proven track record of success utilizing the certification to promote their business and serve as a strong example for other Chamber members in terms of business success.
Congratulations to Crōm Rehabilitation on being recognized as the 2022 Pride In Business LGBTBE® Certified Business of the Year!
Crōm Rehabilitation has raised its profile as an LGBTBE® Certified Business through marketing, authoring a book and engagement with the Chamber.
Through the leadership of Dr. Roy Rivera, Jr. the company is an outstanding champion for LGBTQ+ equitable and inclusive healthcare.
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Employee Resource Group of the Year - The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
This award is given to a Chamber Corporate Partner business or employee resource group that works to build and support a workplace culture of inclusion and acceptance. The group is an outstanding example of advocacy on behalf of LGBTQ+ employees and the community.
This year we are recognizing our Corporate Partner, MD Anderson, and specifically, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center LGBT Network, with the 2022 Pride In Business Employee Resource Group of the Year Award.
As a leading and world renowned institution, the actions of MD Anderson influence the actions of other organizations. The establishment of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center LGBT Network in 2004 reflects an 18 year sustained commitment from MD Anderson to support LGBTQ+ employees and patients, which is long before many organizations were creating and providing intentional support in the workplace.
Corporate LGBTQ+ Ally of the Year - Gretchen Sheirr, President of Business Operations, Houston Rockets
This award is given to an individual who has a positive impact within their company as a champion for LGBTQ+ inclusion.
This year, we are proud to recognize Gretchen Sheirr, President of Business Operations, with Chamber Corporate Partner, the Houston Rockets, as the 2022 Pride In Business Corporate LGBTQ+ Ally of the Year.
Gretchen’s leadership has been, in such an important way, the catalyst for the Houston Rocket Pride Nights. She and her team have done a spectacular job showcasing how Pride Night should be done!
These special games have given the LGBTQ+ community an opportunity to root for hometown team and feel welcome and celebrated in a space that has traditionally not been open to the LGBTQ+ community. It's because of leaders in the sports industry like Gretchen that things are changing for the LGBTQ+ community.
Allied Business of the Year - Sesh Coworking
This award recognizes an Allied-owned business that demonstrates a commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion through work, actions and visible support of the community.
This business has a proven track record of success and involvement and is a strong champion of the Chamber and the LGBTQ+ community.
Sesh Coworking was chosen because the company is an extraordinary example of not only giving back to the community but also integrating inclusive practices throughout the business to engage and support the LGBTQ+ community.
Whether creating a safe space, hiring LGBTQ+ team members, collaborating with other Chamber members and a host of many other intentional and authentic actions, Sesh Coworking truly does "lead by example."
Through the leadership of Founders, Maggie Segrich and Meredith Wheeler, Sesh Coworking is a role model for how to be an LGBTQ+ Ally.
Corporate Partner of the Year - Silver Eagle Distributors
This award is given to a company that has shown a strong commitment to positively growing the LGBTQ+ and Allied business community.
The company’s actions throughout the year show outstanding support for the LGBTQ+ community as a whole.
This year, we are proud to recognize our Chamber Corporate Partner, Silver Eagle Distributors Houston, as the 2022 Pride In Business Corporate Partner of the Year.
We are proud to honor Silver Eagle Houston because of the company's decades-long commitment to the LGBTQ+ community in Houston. Silver Eagle Houston was supporting the LGBTQ+ community long before other companies even thought about engaging with the community.
Silver Eagle has put action to words for decades and invested in the betterment of Houston’s LGBTQ+ community.
Nonprofit Member of the Year - Legacy Community Health
This award is given to a nonprofit member that is committed to LGBTQ+ inclusion through its work, actions and visible support of the community. This organization has a proven track record of success and involvement with the LGBTQ+ community and is a strong champion of the Chamber’s mission to accelerate economic opportunity for the LGBTQ+ community.
We are proud to honor Legacy Community Health as the 2022 Pride In Business Nonprofit Member of the Year and recognize the organization’s decades-long commitment to inclusive healthcare for the LGBTQ+ community.
Legacy has been a first line of response during the pandemic and ensuring all the communities it serves had access to needed healthcare, vaccinations and more.
Supplier Diversity Advocate of the Year - David Feldman (he/him), Supply Chain Advisor - Supplier Diversity, Chevron Corporate Procurement, Chevron Services Company
This award is given to an individual who works in supplier diversity or procurement and has been a champion for the mission of the Chamber and its members.
We are pleased to recognize David Feldman, Supply Chain Advisor, with Chamber Corporate Partner, Chevron. Dave is a champion for diverse businesses, including LGBTQ+ businesses, as well as an advocate for the Chamber. Plus he has been, almost from day one, supporting our mission, our members and the LGBTQ+ community. On account of his support, the Chamber was able to engage Chevron as one of its earliest Corporate Partners, lending credibility to our efforts and passion to launch a new chamber.
Community Legacy Award - Dalton DeHart (he/him), Founder, Dalton DeHart Photographic Foundation
This award honors an individual or organization that has demonstrated a long-term commitment to the LGBTQ+ community. Through the actions of advocacy, service, education or community initiatives, they have made a significant and positive impact for the LGBTQ+ community.
The Chamber is proud to recognize Dalton DeHart with the Pride In Business Community Legacy Award.
He has dedicated countless hours over decades documenting important moments in Houston’s LGBTQ+ community through his photography and preserving this history through the Dalton DeHart Photographic Foundation.
LGBTQ+ Business of the Year - Hawthorne Capital
This award is given to an LGBTQ+-owned member business that is an active participant and champion of the Chamber with a proven track record of success and it serves as a strong example for other Chamber members.
The Chamber is proud to recognize Chamber member, Hawthorne Capital, as the 2022 Pride In Business LGBTQ+ Business of the Year.
Through the leadership of Doug Smith, Hawthorne Capital’s Founder and CEO, the company has exhibited business excellence and success.
As a company that benefits from LGBTQ+ investors and clients, Hawthorne Capital, is an extraordinary example of also giving back to the community such as through the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce, AIDS Foundation Houston, Bunnies on the Bayou, the Montrose Center and many other LGBTQ+ organizations.
Chamber Advocacy Award - City of Houston Office Business Opportunity
This award is given to an organization that is a strong advocate for the Chamber and the LGBTQ+ & Allied business community. Through its work and impact, this organization advances economic opportunity and prosperity for the LGBTQ+ & Allied business community.
We are proud to recognize the City of Houston Office of Business Opportunity with the 2022 Pride In Business Chamber Advocacy Award.
OBO is a champion for diverse owned businesses and is committed to helping businesses, including LGBTQ+ owned businesses, succeed and thrive.
Through the leadership of Director Marsha Murray, the Department been an outstanding LGBTQ+ champion and ally for the LGBTQ+ community…from longtime work supporting diverse businesses in Houston, to advocating for inclusion of LGBTQ+-owned businesses in City of Houston contracting and procurement, to providing valuable resources to help businesses succeed and much more.
Chamber Champion Award - Tim Jeffcoat (he/him), District Director, Houston, U.S. Small Business Administration
The final award is given to a person who is a strong advocate for the Chamber and the LGBTQ+ & Allied business community. Through their work and impact, this person advances economic opportunity and prosperity for LGBTQ+ & Allied businesses especially BIPOC, trans and women owned businesses.
The Chamber recognizes Tim Jeffcoat, District Director, Houston, with the U.S. Small Business Administration, with the Chamber Champion Award.
Tim’s commitment and dedication, through his leadership role at the SBA, to the LGBTQ+ community has been tremendous. He and his team have been there since before the Chamber launched to give support, share advice, resources and create a strong partnership.
Tim is an amazing and passionate champion for small businesses. He is a remarkable example of what being an LGBTQ+ Ally means both in word and deed.
2021 Honorees
2021 marked the launch of the Pride In Business Awards. Learn more about the 2021 Pride In Business Honorees below.
Learn more about the 2021 Pride In Business Celebration: https://www.houstonlgbtchamber.com/2021pib/
Read the press release here.