Washington, DC – The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), the business voice of the LGBT community, is proud to recognize excellence achieved by NGLCC Local Affiliate Chambers at the 2018 NGLCC International Business and Leadership Conference by naming the Maryland LGBT Chamber of Commerce the 2018 Rising Star Chamber. Each year, the Rising Star is seen as a role model for other new chambers and raises the bar for impacting the LGBT business community where they live and work.

“The Maryland LGBT Chamber is creating new, exciting opportunities for its members and for local businesses to thrive throughout Maryland and its surrounding region”, said Justin Nelson, NGLCC Co-Founder and President. “The dedicated leadership, Board of Directors and volunteers of the MDLGBTCC have fostered consistent growth in membership, programming, and corporate partnerships in a remarkably short amount of time. We are proud to have them as our local partner, and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Maryland LGBT Chamber in the important work of certifying our businesses, connecting our communities, and working toward the full inclusion of LGBT businesses in Maryland state and local contracting opportunities.”

The Maryland LGBT Chamber President, Joan Cox and Co-Founder Betsy Cerulo accepted this award together onstage at the NGLCC International Business and Leadership Conference in Philadelphia: “We owe this recognition to our hard working all-volunteer Board and Committee Chairs who put together an amazing calendar of programming that garnered us over 100 members in our first year and our dedicated members and allies who consistently come together to forward Maryland’s commitment to LGBT business excellence.”

The Rising Star Award honors a chamber that has exhibited a steep trajectory of growth, new vitality and relevance in their local LGBT business community and a demonstrated commitment to being part of the broader national movement.

“The Maryland LGBT Chamber of Commerce is an incredible resource for LGBT business enterprises and their supporters in the northeast and beyond” said Chance Mitchell, NGLCC Co-Founder and CEO. “The team at MDLGBT CC have created a consistently growing organization that champions the business case for a fully inclusive and prosperous community. We are very pleased to recognize their accomplishments with the 2018 Rising Star Award and look forward to watching Maryland reach new heights. NGLCC Affiliate Chambers are beacons guiding and nurturing LGBT allied business communities, and local affiliate leaders are the backbone of the LGBT business equality movement, and we are proud to recognize their achievements.”