Congratulations to the 2023 Pride In Business Honorees!
The Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce held its signature event, Pride In Business, on June 23, 2023, to celebrate Pride Month. During the event, the Chamber presented the 2023 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 in 2021, spotlight deserving companies and individuals and showcase the amazing work they are doing to support the LGBTQ+ community.
Learn more about the 2023 Pride In Business Honorees below.
LGBTBE® Certified Business of the Year - Wholesome Healing
The LGBTBE® Certified Business of the Year 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 Wholesome Healing and its Founder, Liam Adair, on being recognized as the 2023 Pride In Business LGBTBE® Certified Business of the Year!
Wholesome Healing has broken barriers as the first Black Transgender Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner in the United States with the American Association of Drugless Practitioners, for its innovative and awareness building LGBTQ+ History Word Search book, giving back to other LGBTQ+ organizations and being an ambassador for the Chamber and its mission to name a few examples.
Wholesome Healing exemplifies everything the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce represents – support and service to the LGBTQ+ community.
Employee Resource Group of the Year - Amegy Bank LGBTQ+ Business Resource Group (BRG) & Allies
The Employee Resource Group of the Year 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 within the company. The group is an outstanding example of advocacy on behalf of LGBTQ+ employees and the community.
We are proud to announce that the Pride In Business Employee Resource Group of the Year is Amegy Bank LGBTQ+ Business Resource Group & Allies.
Amegy's LGBTQ+ Business Resource Group (BRG) & Allies has been, in such an important way, a model for other groups in terms of LGBTQ+ inclusion and support from its leadership, employee engagement and overall impact.
The group has championed LGBTQ+ inclusion both inside of the company advocating for employees and outside of the company advocating for LGBTQ+ businesses and the LGBTQ+ community as a whole. The Chamber is proud to call Amegy Bank our very first Corporate Partner.
Corporate LGBTQ+ Ally of the Year - Susanne Brady-Lusk, Vice President & Market Unit General Manager, ARCA Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages
The Corporate LGBTQ+ Ally of the Year 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, Susanne Brady-Lusk, Vice President and Market Unit General Manager, with Chamber Corporate Partner, Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, as the 2023 Pride In Business Corporate LGBTQ+ Ally of the Year.
Susanne’s leadership has made a difference both inside and outside of the company in terms of supporting the LGBTQ+ community. She is a champion for our partnership with Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages. Susanne has been an outstanding advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion, and diversity, equity and inclusion as a whole, inside the company. She has been a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ employees and serves as a role model for other LGBTQ+ professionals. She and the Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages team have worked with the Chamber, to significantly grow their involvement in the community, through various initiatives and events and made an impact for our work and mission.
Allied Business of the Year - Dessert Gallery Bakery & Café
Allies play a pivotal role in the Chamber. We are proud to honor an Allied-owned business with the Pride In Business Allied Business of the Year Award, which recognizes a commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion through its 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.
This year, we are honoring the Dessert Gallery Bakery & Café as the Pride In Business Allied Business of the Year. The bakery was chosen because it has been a longtime and visible ally long before other businesses started doing so. In addition, the company has been a tremendous advocate for other diverse businesses, as well, and celebrated the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community and Houston through their business and products. They have given back to LGBTQ+ organizations, through generous donations of products and other visible support. The company and its owner, Sara Brook, exemplifies what it means to be an ally both personally and professionally.
Corporate Partner of the Year - Shell USA
The Corporate Partner of the Year Award is given to a company that has shown a strong commitment to the LGBTQ+ and Allied business community and been a champion for our work at the Chamber.
This year, we are proud to recognize Chamber Corporate Partner, Shell USA, as the 2023 Pride In Business Corporate Partner of the Year.
Shell USA was chosen because the company and local team members have been outstanding champions for the LGBTQ+ business community, especially LGBTBE® Certified businesses. From authentic engagement with the Chamber, visible support of the LGBTQ+ business community through the LGBTBE® Roundtable and the longtime track record that the company has with its support of the LGBTQ+ community to name a few examples.
Nonprofit Member of the Year - The Normal Anomaly Initiative
The Nonprofit Member of the Year is given to a nonprofit member organization that is committed to LGBTQ+ inclusion through its work, actions and visible support of the community. The organization has a proven track record of success and involvement with the LGBTQ+ community and is a strong champion of the Chamber.
This year, we are thrilled to honor The Normal Anomaly Initiative as the Pride In Business Allied Nonprofit Member of the Year.
This recognition is a tremendous distinction and reflects The Normal Anomaly Initiative's commitment and dedication to the LGBTQ+ community and specifically for Black transgender, gender non-conforming and non-binary (TGNC and NB) individuals. The organization has been a longtime nonprofit member with the Chamber and is always willing to collaborate to move the LGBTQ+ community forward.
Chamber Media Partner, KHOU 11, recently highlight Chamber nonprofit member, The Normal Anomaly Initiative, as part of their Pride Month coverage.
Listen to the interview with the organization's founder, Ian L. Haddock, and learn more about the important work of The Normal Anomaly Initiative.
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Supplier Diversity Advocate of the Year - James Harris, Director, Diversity & Inclusion / Supplier Diversity, H-E-B
The Supplier Diversity Advocate of the Year is given to an individual who works in supplier diversity or procurement and has been a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion within the larger business community.
This year we are honoring James Harris, Sr. Director, Diversity & Inclusion and Supplier Diversity, with Chamber Corporate Partner H-E-B. This recognition reflects James’ commitment and dedication, through his role with H-E-B, to supporting diverse owned businesses, the LGBTQ+ community and the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce.
James’ leadership has been, in such an important way, a model for other leaders in terms of LGBTQ+ inclusion and support. Leaders like James make a difference for the LGBTQ+ community both inside and outside of companies. It's because of leaders like James that more companies are making strides to support and engage LGBTQ+ employees and suppliers.
Community Legacy Award - JD Doyle, Founder, JD Doyle Archives
The Community Legacy 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, this individual or organization has made a significant and positive impact for the LGBTQ+ community.
This year we are honoring LGBTQ+ Historian JD Doyle with the JD Doyle Archives for his longtime commitment and dedication to the LGBTQ+ community and to preserving Houston's LGBTQ+ history. JD has spent countless hours archiving the history of the LGBTQ+ community. His dedication is tireless and because of his work, future generations will see the important history of our community.
LGBTQ+ Business of the Year - Harold’s Restaurant, Bar & Terrace
The LGBTQ+ Business of the Year 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, Harold’s Restaurant, Bar & Terrace, as the 2023 Pride In Business LGBTQ+ Business of the Year.
Harold’s, through the leadership of its owner, Alli Jarrett, has been an outstanding role model for other members in terms of perseverance, such as through the pandemic, and success as well as its strong support of the Chamber. The team at Harold’s always has can do spirit and they are a tremendous partner on Chamber events including the 3rd Thursday Breakfast. Their door is always open for Chamber members and the community. This is reflected in the commitment to a diverse staff and its philanthropic support of community organizations.
Chamber Advocacy Award - British Consulate General Houston
The Chamber Advocacy 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 business prosperity for LGBTQ+ & Allied businesses.
This year we are honored to recognize the British Consulate General Houston with the Chamber Advocacy Award. The Consulate is one of the Chamber’s International Partners. This award is a recognition of the longtime commitment from the British Consulate General Houston, and Consul General Richard Hyde, for their support of the LGBTQ+ community and advocacy on behalf of and in partnership with the Chamber helping to promote our mission and work focused on economic inclusion for the LGBTQ+ community.
Chamber Champion Award - Linda Toyota, VP of Community Engagement and Development, LiftFund
The Chamber Champion 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.
Our Chamber Champion Award this year goes to Linda Toyota. We are recognizing Linda for her longtime commitment and dedication, to supporting the Chamber over the years, especially during the launch of the organization, and the LGBTQ+ business community as well as diverse owned businesses through her impact work at LiftFund.
Linda was selected by our leadership because she has been an outstanding champion for the LGBTQ+ business community and the Chamber. From authentic engagement with the Chamber, creating meaningful connections to help the Chamber launch and grow, lifting up Chamber members, to her visible support of the LGBTQ+ community and advocating for the Chamber and LGBTQ+ owned businesses within the broader community to name a few examples.
2022 Honorees
The awards, which were launched in 2021, 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 here.
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.