LGBTQ+ Workplace Alliance Summit
Thursday, September 12, 2024 | 9 am - 5:30 pm
Amegy Tower, 1717 W. Loop S., Houston, TX 77027
Connect • Network • Share • Learn
Are you ready to engage with LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group Leaders from across the region? Join us for the LGBTQ+ Workplace Alliance Summit!
The Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to announce our day-long skills building and networking event for B/ERG leaders, DEI professionals, and others working on LGBTQ+ inclusion within their companies in Houston. Exclusively open to Impact Partners of the Chamber, the 2024 LGBTQ+ Workplace Alliance Summit will inspire and engage participants to return to their companies inspired and empowered to continue their work of belonging and inclusion. A virtual attendance option will be available but in-person attendance is strongly encouraged.
The Summit is the ONLY LGBTQ+ learning and networking event focused Summit for LGBTQ+ Business/Employee Resource Groups in the Houston Region. Make your plans to join us for this professional development Summit and B/ERG engagement opportunity.
Thank you to our host and Chamber Equity Impact Partner, Amegy Bank, for providing the space for our Summit.
This event will fill up quickly! Register today to reserve your spot. If you have multiple registrations from one company and would like to be invoiced, please email info@houstonlgbtchamber.com.
AGENDA FOR THE DAY
Join us for an engaging day of learning and networking and hear from a nationally recognized LGBTQ+ inclusion speaker. The agenda for the day includes:
- 9 am - Welcome & Panel Discussion: “Executive Sponsors & DEI Leaders – Advocating and Leading for Impact”
Panel Moderator: Jayzen Patria (he/him)
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- Hear perspectives and ideas from Executive Sponsors of several B/ERGs from some of the Chamber’s Impact Partners. These champions for the important work of LGBTQ+ and ally B/ERGs will share how they support the leaders doing important work to align their companies’ DEI and other goals while bridging the gap with executive leadership.
- Speakers
April Love (she/her), Vice President, Chief Inclusion Officer, Sysco Corporation
Tiffanie McDonald (she/her), Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Hess Corporation
Aaron Slessinger (he/him), Director – Personal Systems Displays & Docks / Executive Sponsor, PRIDE Business Resource Group, HP Inc.
- 10:30 am - Plenary Session: “Think Like A CEO!™ How to Transform your ERG from a Club to a Driver of Business Results”
Speaker: Jayzen Patria (he/him)
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- Think Like A CEO! aligns ERG leaders to your business’ imperatives through effective goals, roles, and processes. The program helps to identify the unique cross-cultural needs of your workforce and leverages an executive toolkit to define a compelling vision, strategy and action plan that creates a mindset for your ERG leaders to drive the results the C-suite is looking for. Think Like A CEO! is a foundational program ideal for newly formed ERGs and/or those needing to re-focus and accelerate the growth of their organization.
- Noon - Lunch, Networking & Awards Presentation
- 1 pm - Breakout Session: “Cross Collaboration & Best Practices”
Facilitator: Jayzen Patria (he/him)
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- Putting it all together, Jayzen Patria will lead a breakout session for participants to apply the lessons learned from Think Like A CEO!™ plenary session and the executive sponsor panel. Linking this work to the work of the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce, this session will explore best practice recommendations for B/ERG leaders in Houston.
- 2:45 pm - Breakout Session: “Embracing DEI – Where We Go from Here”
Facilitator: Ryan Wilson (he/him)
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- At a time when diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI) programming is being rolled back and funding for LGBTQ+ inclusions efforts being reduced, it is more critical than ever for leaders and practitioners to be prepared to meet this challenge. This breakout session will empower participants to continue to push forward within their companies in this critical moment.
- 4 pm - Wrap Up and Closing Announcements
- 4:30 pm - Networking Reception & Chamber Nonprofit Member Showcase
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- Close out the day with networking and a resource fair featuring non-profit members of the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce. Is your B/ERG looking for engagement with local nonprofit organizations? This is a great opportunity to connect with some amazing nonprofits from across the region. Attendees who visit each nonprofit member table will have a chance to win a special raffle prize courtesy of Chamber Equity Impact Partner, HP, Inc.
MEET OUR FEATURED SPEAKER
We are thrilled to announce our featured speaker will be Jayzen Patria. Jayzen Patria (he/him) is a personal branding expert, diversity advocate and keynote speaker. Helping transform organizations through the power of their people finding their true brand voice and bringing their best authentic selves to work every day.
A 25-year learning and development veteran of Fortune 100 companies, including General Electric, Comcast, and NBCUniversal, he has worked with some of the world’s top entertainment, media and tech brands. At NBCUniversal, Jayzen led executive development and is noted as the architect of the Talent Lab, their uniquely branded corporate university.
Inspired by his multicultural background, he is a life-long equality advocate serving in roles to champion diversity, including leading global ERGs for fifteen years and creating development programs for female and other underrepresented employees.
Jayzen has been featured at international conferences, is the host of the popular Lead With
Your Brand!™ podcast and is proud to serve as the Chair of the American Red Cross’ National Diversity Advisory Council and on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles LGBT Center.
INAUGURAL AWARDS TO BE ANNOUNCED AT THE SUMMIT!
We are excited to announce that the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce will present three brand NEW Awards at next month’s LGBTQ+ Workplace Alliance Summit. We will be awarding three LGBTQ+ Workplace Alliance awards in the following categories:
- B/ERG Executive Sponsor Impact Award
Awarded to an individual in executive leadership who sponsors their company’s LGBTQ+ Business or Employee Resource Group (B/ERG) and leads with determination and inspiration to make a big impact toward LGBTQ+ inclusion within their company and beyond. This person is an exemplary role model for other Executive Sponsors and DEI leaders.
- Rising Star B/ERG Award
Awarded to a LGBTQ+ Business or Employee Resource Group (B/ERG) in their first one to five years that is making strides for LGBTQ+ inclusion at their company through their commitment, dedication and positive outcomes. Their work and impact has advanced a culture of LGBTQ+ inclusion and acceptance within their company and beyond.
- B/ERG Outstanding Leadership Award
Awarded to an individual who demonstrates outstanding leadership within their company’s LGBTQ+ Business or Employee Resource Group (B/ERG). This individual is a strong role model for other leaders in the B/ERG space. They also meaningfully engage with the Chamber, through the partnership, and are a strong champion for the work and mission of the organization both inside and outside of their company.
INDIVIDUAL TICKETS
A virtual attendance option will be available but in-person attendance is strongly encouraged. Virtual Option available from 9am to noon only. Tables of up to 7 are available as part of sponsorship opportunities.
- $20 early bird (virtual) - ends August 30th at midnight
- $55 early bird (in-person) - ends August 30th at midnight
- $25 member/partner rate (virtual)
- $75 member/partner rate (in-person)
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Attendance is open to any employee from a company that is a current Impact Partner with the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce. B/ERG leaders, DEI professionals, and others working on LGBTQ+ inclusion within their companies are strongly encouraged to attend. Not an Impact Partner and want to learn more? Click here to find out how your company can get engaged as a Chamber Impact Partner.
ABOUT THE LGBTQ+ WORKPLACE ALLIANCE
The LGBTQ+ Workplace Alliance was developed exclusively for Chamber Impact Partners to facilitate engagement and learning between LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group (ERG) leaders and others who are a part of their companies' diversity, equity & inclusion initiatives. Learn more here.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
Leader Sponsor
SPONSOR THE SUMMIT
Unique sponsorship opportunity! Sponsorship opportunities are available for the LGBTQ+ Workplace Alliance Summit. Sponsoring this day-long event provides your company with an opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to professional development for your B/ERG leaders and your commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion efforts within your company and across the region.
Various sponsorship levels are available for this unique event in the Houston region. For questions about sponsorship opportunities, contact Ryan Wilson, Director of Corporate Relations for more information.
Your sponsorship supports the Chamber’s mission and work and enables us to bring these unique learning opportunities to our partner. Thank you for your support.