LGBT business leaders are planning to highlight Charlotte’s diverse business climate at their third annual Charlotte Business Guild Business Expo in March.
Organizers say the Charlotte metro area is considered among the fastest-growing urban centers in the country. They cite the city’s thriving arts community, eclectic neighborhoods and world-class amenities as contributing factors, along with its significant LGBT community.
“Charlotte is home to a large number of LGBT-owned businesses that provide services in a range of industries — construction, creative arts, retail, health care, law, real estate, catering/food preparation, finance and insurance,” said Jack Whittemore, co-chair of the Business Expo. “In addition, gay, lesbian and transgendered professionals work throughout the region — from locally owned enterprises to Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations.”
The Charlotte Business Guild (CBG) was founded in 1992 to provide support for LGBT business owners and professionals. The CBG Expo provides diversity-owned businesses the opportunity to showcase their goods and services to the larger Charlotte region; at the same time, diversity-friendly enterprises potentially can reach new customers while demonstrating support for greater LGBT inclusion within the Charlotte business community.
This year’s CBG Business Expo is being held in association with Takeover Friday, a local social organization for the LGBT community and its allies. Takeover Friday organizer Dan Mauney expects more than 300 members of the group to attend the CGB Business Expo.
The event will be held from 6 p.m.-9 p.m., March 11, at the Westin Hotel. This event is free and open to the public.
info: charlottebusinessguild.org
— compiled from release