Events That Shape Our LGBTQ+ Business Landscape
Angelique Ayala and Sarita Simpson
Events Committee Co-Chairs
Erich Hosbach
Events Committee Board Liaison
Events hosted and presented by the Equality Chamber of Commerce DC provide members and allies with a
range of ways to meet, to discuss business strategies and opportunities, and to socialize.
Angelique Ayala and Sarita Simpson, The Chamber’s Events Committee Co-Chairs, and Erich Hosbach,
The Chamber’s Events Committee Board Liaison, oversee the chamber’s events schedule and
ensure that each event is well-planned and provides a valuable and fun experience for all
participants.
Hosbach has been attending chamber events for more than 25 years and has been a chamber board member
for just over two years. Ayala and Simpson have been attending chamber events for about a year and
became board members, as well as the events committee co-chairs, at the start of this year.
The events calendar is anchored by the monthly Chamber Connect event, reception-style meet-ups that
offer attendees the opportunity to network with professionals in similar and ancillary career fields.
The Chamber Connect meets from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month and offers time
to gather, chat, enjoy canapes and drinks, and network.
Each month, the location changes, giving participants a chance to discover new and different venues
they may not otherwise experience. From art galleries to rooftop lounges, office suites and retail
settings, the Chamber Connect events are always unique, inviting and fun!
When Pride Month rolls around in June, instead of the standing format of Chamber Connect receptions,
the chamber presents a special Pride kick-off event. Check the Equality Chamber of Commerce DC website
for updates and details.
In the fall, one of the chamber’s splashiest and most well-attended events often draws up to 250
attendees.
“Mega Networking is our annual signature event,” Hosbach said. “Vendors from within
and outside the chamber have the opportunity to showcase their organizations to our members and
guests.”
The one-day event is open to the public. “It’s a fun event! There’s music,
fellowship, food and beverage, and a program offering vendors a chance to speak directly to the
audience. Last year, we helped give out several grants to LGBTQ+ member and ally businesses in
conjunction with the Mayor’s Office on LGBTQ+ Affairs, one of our outstanding partners,” he
said.
Ayala and Simpson have taken women’s events and business events from the planning stage into the
launched stage. “We’re hosting panel style discussions to touch on various topics, such as
operations, legal and financial, to help provide support for business owners as they move through the
various stages of their business,” Ayala said.
The event will not feature a keynote speaker; rather it will feature a more informal format, allowing
attendees to interact with experts well-versed on various business concerns, growth strategies, exit
strategies and more.
Chamber Connect
6:30 to 8:30pm
The second Thursday of each month.
True connections make businesses stronger. That’s why Chamber Connect,
a
monthly event presented by the Equality Chamber of Commerce DC, has been a constant in the lives of many
area chamber members and allies for years.
“This has sort of been the core networking event. The idea is to create some value for overall
membership in the chamber,” said Erich Hosbach, Chamber Board Member and the Chamber’s
Events Committee Board Liaison. “It’s fun, it’s showcasing the members and it gets
people out and about. It’s a monthly networking opportunity, and it’s also
for
fellowship.”
Hosbach is area director of sales and marketing at the Moxy Hotel, a Remington Hotels property, in
downtown Washington, D.C. He’s been on the chamber board for more than two years.
Chamber Connect is held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. The event is
presented in different locations so that attendees get to learn about and experience a variety of places
in the area.
“We try to highlight members’ venues. We host events in those spaces,” he said.
“We serve hors d’oeuvres and beverages, beer and wine, sometimes a full bar. And we usually
have a raffle,” he said. “It’s a social environment, it brings people together in a
safe and comfortable space.”
Hosbach said Chamber Connect began when an informal group of members with common business interests
would gather for happy hour. The event has grown. Typically, 50 or more people attend these days, he
said. “As the organization has elevated, we also try to elevate the experience,” he
said.
Future events are in the hands of Angelique Ayala and Sarita Simpson, who were named as the
Chamber’s Events Committee Co-Chairs at the beginning of the year. They are moving forward,
planning Chamber Connect events that will benefit and engage our members.
Rise & Grind
9:00 — 10:30am
The fourth Thursday of each month.
Recognizing a need for professional development and peer connection, a group of Equality Chamber
members came together to create a platform for education, strategy, and support.
To deliver educational messages intended to connect and enlighten members, they introduced the
“Rise and Grind Speaker Series,” a monthly virtual meeting that features expert speakers and
opportunities to network. The “Rise and Grind Speaker Series” is now hosted by Ryan
Kellinger.
“Rise and Grind” is focused on providing valuable assistance for
“solo-preneurs” – entrepreneurs working alone at the launch of a new business –
as well as for micro-businesses and established businesses. The free sessions are held virtually at 9
a.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month.
The first portion of the meeting is networking with a chance to promote your business to the group and
meet other business owners, followed by the keynote speaker providing education on the topic for that
month.
A recent speaker, a networking specialist, shared insights into marketing and branding. Other sessions
focus on topics such as having the proper legal documentation in place for your business, how to make
financial projections based on expected business growth, and how to attract ideal clients.
Kellinger screens potential speakers ahead of time to ensure that members of the LGBTQ+ community can
confidently seek guidance from people they can trust with their physical and emotional safety.
