About Us
Our Vision
The Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce is a leading economic voice in the greater Houston region. The Chamber achieves economic parity resulting in unprecedented economic opportunities for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer + and allied community.
Our Mission
To accelerate economic opportunity for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer + community through a strong network of allies, innovative programs, strategic partnerships and advance policies that foster economic inclusion and equality.
Our Areas of Focus
- Business Development & Growth
- Education & Networking
- Collaboration & Partnerships
- Leadership Development
- Legislative Advocacy
The overarching work of the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce focuses on inclusion and economic empowerment for the LGBTQ+ community. The Chamber works to achieve equality and equity through business. We are a powerful force for advocacy and valuable resource for our members and the LGBTQ+ community.
Support the Chamber's work to advance LGBTQ+ economic inclusion
Our Story
The Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce was launched in 2016 by Houston LGBTQ+ community leaders Tammi Wallace and Gary Wood. With cooperation from the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), dedication of an exceptional Steering Committee that included Roy Alvarez, Jr., Jonathan Marrs, Jonathan Netek, and the support of Tony Vedda, CEO of the North Texas LGBT Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber was able to ramp up quickly during its inaugural year and begin to have a positive impact for the LGBTQ+ business community and its allies. The Chamber continues to collaborate with the North Texas Chamber as well as other LGBTQ+ chambers across the state, through the Texas LGBTQ Chambers of Commerce, on initiatives including statewide advocacy and policy initiatives, statewide networking, and sharing of best practices.
The support from Inaugural Impact Partners, Founding and Inaugural Members and our Founding Leadership Council and past and present Board Members to our entire membership, Executive Administrators, Strategic and Collaboration Partners and volunteers provided the Chamber with the strong foundation to grow and thrive.
The Chamber continues to celebrate major accomplishments and make contributions to the LGBTQ+ and Allied business community and the broader community, including:
- An increase in membership each year since the launch of the organization
- An increase in the number of LGBTBE® Certified businesses in the region and state
- An increase in programming and events to connect LGBTQ+ and Allied entrepreneurs
- Successful collaboration with other economic development organizations, other LGBTQ+ chambers, and both local and international partners
- Advocacy to ensure the LGBTQ+ business community has a strong voice locally, regionally and statewide
- Recognition as the leading voice for the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ business community
Awards & Recognitions
2022 Outstanding Diversity Helping Hand Award from the Houston Business Journal
2021 Outstanding Diversity Helping Hand Award from the Houston Business Journal
2021 Favorite Local LGBTQ Community Organization winner from Outsmart's Gayest and Greatest
2020 Favorite Local LGBTQ Community Organization winner from Outsmart's Gayest and Greatest
2019 Chamber of the Year from Success in Business
Founding Leadership Council
The Greater Houston LGBT Chamber launched in February 2016 under the leadership of the Chamber Steering Committee. We appreciate the leadership and tireless dedication of each member of the Steering Committee and the support for the vision, mission and work to lay a strong foundation for the Chamber.
In recognition of the tremendous contributions from this group, each person is recognized as part of the Chamber's Founding Leadership Council (FLC). The FLC serves as a source of expertise and institutional knowledge that is crucial to the long-term success of the Chamber. Many members on the FLC continue to serve in various capacities within the Chamber.
Tammi C. Wallace
Co-Founder and President & CEO
Tammi is the Co-Founder of the Chamber. Her passion for economic inclusion and opportunity for the LGBTQ Business Community has been a driving force in the Chamber's growth since the launch of the organization. In recognition of the progress made in advancing the Chamber’s strategic goals and the need to dedicate resources to achieve the longer-term vision for the organization, the Board of Directors named Tammi to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer to lead, manage, and execute day-to-day operations of the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce. This appointment recognized Tammi’s many years of volunteer work with the Chamber behind the scenes at the local, state, and national levels, where she has been dedicated to bringing visibility to the LGBTQ+ Business Community.
Gary W. Wood
Co-Founder/Chair Emeritus
Gary is the Founder & President of Integrus Solutions, a consulting firm that specializes in Business Analytics, Accounting & Finance, Information Technology, Engineering & Energy Services, and Mortgage Servicing Solutions. He served as the inaugural Chair of the Board and is now Chair Emeritus.
In addition, Gary is on the board of the Montrose Center and is president of Outreach United, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing a more positive awareness and understanding to the Houston GLBT community. In 2010, Gary was named Male Grand Marshal of the Houston Pride Parade, in recognition of his volunteerism, fundraising, and activism.
Roy recently retired from HEB grocery retail company following 38 years in, managing IT desktop & administration support team, and is a lifetime HEB Corporate Diversity & Inclusion Ambassador. He serves as president of Alvarez Business Solutions along with major interests in a home and business security firm and a business that manages operations for men’s health clinics. Roy is an active program facilitator for World Youth Foundation, volunteers on Montrose Center committees, HRC, and HEB’s Houston Seniors Retirement Club.
Sam is a self-employed project and operations manager. He has over 30 years’ experience in operations, training, budgets and project implementation in various restaurants, institutional and corporate settings. He has an emphasis in social responsibility and diversity and inclusion components of an organization. Outside of his work, he shares his knowledge of diversity with a variety of organizations advancing education and arts, as well as those in the LGBTQ and Jewish communities.
Jonathan Marrs arrived in Houston in 2013 to launch the U.S. division of a global energy consulting firm responsible for the United States and Mexico. He went onto start the first U.S. registered apprenticeship programs in IT and Cybersecurity in the states of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, then worked for the UK’s Department for International Trade in Houston as Head of Trade & Investment.
A.J. Mistretta has worked in marketing and public relations in Houston for more than a decade, representing a number of companies and organizations. He has served as Director of Communications for Houston First and Visit Houston where he managed media relations and content development. Prior to that A.J. served as the associate editor for a Houston-based Fortune 500 company, and also served as the online editor and special projects manager for the Austin Business Journal. He has written for newspapers and magazines in Austin, Houston, Dallas and New Orleans.
Jonathan is a designer and creative strategist with over a decade of experience in the advertising, marketing and communications industries. He has worked within large corporate environments (Edelman PR in NYC) as well as small to medium local businesses and startups. He has also worked within the community on many of the events put on by Outreach United.
Tiffany is the Founder and President of REFUGE Marketing & Consulting, an LGBTBE® certified firm. REFUGE was created to help businesses grow through all aspects of digital marketing. Tiffany has served on HRC's National Board of Governors and in several positions on the Houston Steering Committee, including three years as Gala Tri-Chair. Tiffany was the winner of the Chamber's 2018 Roy Alvarez Jr. Volunteer of the Year Award.