WINTER 2016 - Greater Seattle Business Association

THE
PERSPECTIVE
WINTER 2016
35 years old, a grand time in one’s life when some of the angst of
The Perspective: A quarterly publication from
Seattle’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied
chamber of commerce.
GSBA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Executive Officers:
Kevin Gaspari, Chair
Windermere
Louise Chernin, President & CEO
Drew Ness, Vice Chair
1st Security Bank
Brandon Chun, Secretary
MDC, Director of HR
Marci Flanery, Treasurer
Flanery CPA
Stephanie Dallas, Scholarship Fund Chair
Morgan Stanley
Jay Petterson, Public Policy Chair
Blue Wave Political Partners
Martha Davis, Immediate Past Chair
City Lights Sign Company
DIRECTORS
Roen Ako, Taste Seattle Food Tours
Allan Aquila, Allan Aquila & Associates, LLC
Chris Befumo, US Bank, Region Ops Manager
Mariko Blakely, UW MBA
Kim Bogucki, Seattle Police Department
Carrie Carson, Point B
Elaine DuCharme, Elaine DuCharme, Attorney at Law
Gladys Gillis, Starline Luxury Coaches
Calvin Goings, US Small Business Administration*
Rob Hampton, Visit Seattle
Jenny Harding, New Chapter Weddings
David Hernandez, New York Life
Freya Johnson, DeForest Architects
Jeff Kinney, Evergreen Certified, LLC
Dena Levine, DML Insurance Services, Inc
Linda Marzano, Pac Med
John Rubino, Green Rubino
Kurt Sarchet, Precision Garage Door Openers
Carl Spence, SIFF
John Sternlicht, Economic Development Association
of Skagit County
Paul Villa
Barb Wilson, Vulcan
Beto Yarce, Ventures
*For identification purposes only
STAFF
Louise Chernin, President & CEO
Rachel Chernin, Director of Operations and Finance
Jason Dittmer, Director of Marketing & Communications
Mandy Domer, Programs & Office Manager
Matt Landers, Public Policy & Communications Manager
Ilona Lohrey, Chamber Administrator
Victoria Odell, Business Development Manager
Ari Rosen, Membership Services Manager
Mark Rosén, Director of Programs & Fund Development
Jessica Wootten, Director, Scholarships
GSBA CORPORATE ADVISORY BOARD
Joe Adams, 1st Security
Kevin Baldwin, PwC
Christopher Befumo, US Bank
Karen Bryant
Jeff Butler, Alaska Airlines
Steve Crandall, ProMotion Holdings
Louise Chernin, GSBA
Martha Davis, City Lights Sign Company
Mitch Evans, Starbucks
Lisa Fain, Outerwall
Gladys Gillis, Starline Luxury Coaches
Ada Healy, Vulcan Inc.
Andrew Held, JPMorgan Chase
Steve Kutz
Nicki McCraw, UW Medicine
Paul Sherman, Group Health
Kevin Spratt, Precision Garage Door
John Zmolek, Verity Credit Union
SMALL BUSINESS COUNCIL
Eli Allison, Repair Revolution
Jonathan Bowman, Attorney at Law
Dani Cone, Fuel, High 5 Pie and Cone & Steiner
Diane Coyne, Picket Fence Realty
Martha Davis, City Lites Sign Company
Joe Fugere, Tutta Bella
Susan K. Fuller, Attorney-at-Law
Jenny Harding, New Chapter Weddings
Lendy Hensley, City Catering
Sandra Kemp, Watson McDonell
Bobbie Lyons, Genworth Financial
Christiana Maia, Trilogy Chiropractic
John Rubino, GreenRubino
Sandra Kemp, Watson McDonell
Sally Schultz, Sally Schultz Co.
Karen Schwartz, Sugarpill
Greg Serum, Your Man Friday
Mona Smith, Mona Smith PLLC, Attorneys at Law
Paul Villa
2
our career decisions needed in our 20’s feels calmer and vitality is at a
high point. At 35, aspirations are high and opportunities seem limitless
and that describes where GSBA is in its life cycle. As an organization,
35 years is a mature time in an organization’s life cycle. We have
enjoyed good times and weathered challenging times. Our incredible
success has been made possible by you, our members. Thank you for
the confidence you have had in your LGBT Chamber for these 35 years.
How extraordinary to be part of a Chamber that was created by strong,
visionary leaders who defied odds in 1981 and launched one of the first LGBT chambers
in the United States. They believed in the power of being authentic, bold and supporting
each other. It was the time when we discovered the “power of the pink dollar” and
realized that we were all stronger if each one of us was successful. We tapped into that
economic power and used it for the good of our community by working to break down
barriers and achieve equality for all.
Today, 35 years later we are now 1,100 members strong, own and lead some of the most
successful businesses in Seattle and our laws now recognize not only our right to be free
from discrimination in housing, employment, lending and credit but also our relationships
and families. We have one of the largest scholarship funds in the U.S. and our students,
with your support, are positioned to be successful future leaders. We know our work is
far from over as we see continuing disparities depending on where we live in the US and
across the globe. But, for today, let us celebrate the successes in our journey toward
achieving equality and let us recommit our energy and passion to ensure equality is a
reality for all, regardless of who you love, or the color of your skin or religious affiliation or
where you were born. Discrimination sucks the life blood from a community and robs us
all of talent and ideas and relationships we need to thrive. Thank you GSBA members for
your unwavering commitment to equality for all. Happy 35th Anniversary.
For equality,
Louise Chernin, President & CEO
As 2016 starts and we are all trying to live up to our New Year’s
resolutions, I want to take a moment and reflect on the 35th anniversary
of GSBA which has grown into the largest LGBT and allied business
chamber in North America with over 1,100 small business, corporate,
and nonprofit members. As our organization has grown, GSBA has been
able to give our members the ability to connect, socialize and promote
their business through our luncheons and networking events such as
Women on Top, Young Professionals with Pride and our OUTLeads
program. GSBA has also become the leading voice in our area for
legislative issues that affect our members and small business though our Public Policy Task
Force and your direct input.
I am especially proud to boast about the enormous impact GSBA has had on hundreds
and hundreds of LGBTQ and allied students over the years who will be tomorrow’s future
leaders. Having just completed being the co-chair of the TASTE with my husband Kent for
the last two years, I am gratified and humbled by the generosity of our members and our
sponsors. At the TASTE in November 2015 we raised a record $775,000 for our students
and this year GSBA will give out its highest amount of scholarships to the most amount of
students since the Scholarship program began 25 years ago.
At the start of the year it is always important for us to remember the mission of the GSBA:
To combine business development, leadership and social action to expand economic
opportunities for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and those who
support equality for all.
I look forward to my new role as the Board Chair and feel incredibly lucky to be part of
a Board of Directors who are so dedicated to upholding, leading, and promoting the
mission of GSBA.
On November 21, 2015, over 800 members
of our community gathered to enjoy an evening of
great company, wonderful food created by GSBA member
restaurants and caterers, incredible wine from 12 wineries,
outstanding entertainment, celebrity chefs, a sit-down
dinner, and a silent and live auction to benefit the GSBA
Scholarship Fund.
That evening, $775,000 was raised to send our LGBTQ and
allied students to undergraduate and graduate programs.
Robbie Turner and his dancers set the tone for a night
of Cabaret fun and glamour while our extraordinary
auctioneer, Laura Michalek, and the very talented and
delightful Emcee, Amanda Westbrooke, kept us engaged
and bidding. Speaking of bidding, thank you to Glenn
Johnson and Michael Melancon for leading the Fund-AScholar with a $25,000 gift, followed by another amazing
$20,000 gift from Microsoft and from there, the magic
spread. Announcing the $100,000 Leadership Match, the
room went into action and that match and more was met
in minutes resulting in over $310,000 raised just during
Fund-A-Scholar. Breathtaking!
We are overwhelmed by your generosity and commitment
to our current and future Scholars!
A huge thank you to Kevin Gaspari and Kent Thoelke,
our dream Chairs who for the past two years have led an
outstanding TASTE Committee and provided leadership
and vision for the TASTE, to our incredible Board of
Directors, and to the 100+ event volunteers.
And finally, no “thank you” is complete without recognizing
the ongoing generosity of our Annual Sponsors. Please
take a moment to review the back of this magazine for the
roster of companies that support GSBA.
Because of all of you, our scholars have the hope and support
they need to become the next generation of leaders.
If you were not at the TASTE, there is still time to be part
of the magic of giving. Please visit www.theGSBA.org to
learn more.
As the year unfolds I hope our New Year’s resolutions stay true, our goals become reality
and we see our business prosper. I encourage all of you to get involved in the many
opportunities GSBA provides through our diverse monthly programs and events to help
your business grow, stay connected and prosper.
For your continued success,
Kevin Gaspari, Board Chair
PHOTOS BY TE AM PHOTOGE NI C
GSBA | THE PERSPECTIVE
WINTER | 2016
3
Transgender People in the Workplace
By Elayne Wylie, Board President,
Gender Justice League
Transgender people in Washington State are facing the biggest battle our community has seen
in a long time. Since 2006 there have been protections for transgender people to use public
accommodations. Despite the fact that the state Human Rights Commission has offered up rules
and clarifying those protections, both lawmakers and extreme right-wing groups in the state are
seeking to roll back protections for transgender people to use bathrooms and locker rooms in
Washington State. The newly-launched Washington Safety & Access For Everyone (SAFE) Alliance
seeks to educate lawmakers and state residents alike in why those protections exist in the first
place, and how everyone can be safe.
What does that mean for workplace equality? How do current provisions in state law, as well as
federal law, affect the rights and freedoms of transgender people?
As the media has offered up numerous times in 2015, the decision to transition and live
authentically in the gender of one’s true self is not an easy process. Nevertheless, more than
700,000 people in the United States identify as transgender. A new generation of young people
has access to learning new language, a new personal understanding, and are coming out at
younger and younger ages. Workers in Washington are among those in 200 cities and 17 states
in the U.S. that enjoy specific protections for transgender people. So why do many transgender
people in this region still complain that they are fired, passed over for a promotion or opportunity
at work, or simply unable to find equitable work at their experience level?
The lack of institutional structure at the federal, state, and municipal levels contributes significantly
to the disparity in employment equality experienced by transgender people. This void also
undermines the social structural inequalities that LGBTQ people have faced.
Under Washington State law, transgender people should be protected by law and by practice
from prejudicial attitudes and discriminatory actions from coworkers and employers, but often
not. A staggering 90% of transgender people report, in a 2008 nationwide survey by the National
Center for Trans Equality, experiencing harassment, mistreatment or discrimination on the job, or
feeling forced to take actions to hide their identity from coworkers. Nearly half of all transgender
people report being fired, not hired, or denied a promotion due to them after identifying as
openly trans. And specific protections in Washington State often fall far short of extending real
protection for workers.
The Human Rights Commission publishes the Corporate Equality Index, which charts companies
on the Fortune 1000 on the depth and breadth of their non-discrimination policies, as well as
pro-employee measures and inclusive benefits. To receive a score of 100%, companies must
annually demonstrate a commitment to and the implementation of seven major criteria, some
of which is of specific relevance to transgender workers. A frequent problem, however, is how
many companies choose to put a queer veneer on their diversity efforts without providing realistic
and practical methodologies to diversity solutions that actually work. Such corporate healthcare
policies contain enough inclusive language to garner a good score on the Index, but fall short
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GSBA | THE PERSPECTIVE
in meeting transgender people where they are at, often leaving employees paying hefty fees for
essential but non-covered services, or forcing them to pay up front and be reimbursed. This often
leaves those employees on the outside of a glass door, able to see inside, but unable to gain
access. Some employees are often terminated for their status as a transgender person, despite the
company’s Index score, and even public outcry against such actions aren’t a guarantee that those
people will have legal recourse, or be rehired.
In short, transgender people should be protected by law and by practice
from prejudicial attitudes and discriminatory actions from coworkers and
employers, but they are often not.
More importantly for small and medium-sized companies in Washington, human resources
employees are facing the same questions as their bigger corporate counterparts, but likely without
the resources to devote to solving those issues. How do we train our employees to understand
key concepts that relate to both transgender employees and transgender customers? Do we
have structures in place to address a new hire who is transgender, or to accommodate an existing
employee as they choose to transition?
Another key breakdown is how businesses and organizations view cultural competency training
with regard to the transgender community. Despite the legal and fiscal ramifications of how
transgender employees and customers are engaged with in the workplace, training on these issues
is typically given so little regard that training and consulting is often requested without a line item
in the budget, and thus is regarded as a low priority. Employees receive, on average, two hours of
instruction in a group setting, with little or no follow-up measures, skills building, or accountability
for the knowledge received.
Gender Justice League, one organization that provides workplace competency training, fields
questions from both individuals and organizations about workplace best practices regarding
employees and customers, and has been adapting existing educational modules for use in
providing in-depth workplace training, with a provision for long-term workplace competency.
Many calls that come in seek to schedule trainers for one to two hours at most, with no follow-up
or more in-depth work.
The stakes have never been higher. Despite state laws being on the books for more than ten years,
recent proposals from conservative, anti-transgender organizations are spurring lawmakers to
revisit critical protections for transgender people. The Washington SAFE Alliance offers hope and
accurate information to prevent those protections from being removed. Public accommodations,
essentially all of the spaces outside our front door, are under attack. By recognizing now the
dangers in rolling back those protections, we may be able to make a difference for not only the
transgender people in our community, but for everyone in the state.
WINTER | 2016
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CONGRATULATIONS
2015 GSBA Business & Humanitarian Award
Recipients
35 YEARS OF IMPACT
Advancing Equality for All
PHO TO S BY M AL C OL M SM I T H P H O T O G R A P H Y
Business of the Year
Tuxedos & Tennis Shoes
David Meckstroth and
David Haggerty, Co-Owners
Non Profit of the Year
Ventures
Beto Yarce,
Executive Director
New Business of the Year
Bulk Fr8, LLC
Wayne Levinson, President
Business Leader of the Year
Mona Smith
Mona Smith PLLC, Attorneys at Law
Keynote Speaker Gina Grahame
VP of GaymerX
“The Power of Authenticity,
the Process of Overcoming
Adversity, and the
Transgender Experience.”
Emcee Sally Clark
Director of Regional
& Community Relations,
University of Washington
SPONSORED BY WELLS FARGO
Building for the
Future, Honoring
the Past
By Mark Rosén, Director of Programs and
Fund Development
Corporate Leader of the Year
Kevin Baldwin
Pacific Northwest Market
Managing Partner, PwC
Community Leaders of the Year
Tamara Murphy and
Linda Di Lello Morton
Terra Plata
Special Recognition: Voice
for Social Justice
Ana Mari Cauce
President,
University of Washington
Whether she is running a half marathon or attending a
celebration at the Governor’s mansion, Leslie Giblett seldom stands
still. Her energy and passion around making the world a better place are nonstop.
Coming from a family of five children, with three of the five being LGBT, she knows better
than many the struggles faced by young people when a parent is non-accepting. After her
parents divorced she saw her brother incarcerated by their own mother, simply because he
was gay. Luckily Leslie had the support of her father and Aunt Elo, (for whom she has created
an endowed Professorship at the University of Washington), and was able to attend college.
Her other family members were not able to find their way, and succumbed to various life
altering situations which ended their lives at an early age. However, they all found comfort
and family in the LGBT community. As the only surviving gay sibling, it was Leslie’s wish to
honor her brother and sisters by creating the Giblett Family Endowment through the GSBA
Scholarship Fund. With this gift, Leslie is helping others on their paths to success and joining
with the GSBA community to create that welcoming family of support that is so crucial to
those who must overcome hardship to have a chance at achieving their dreams.
We asked Leslie what her motivation was in creating this endowment and she shared that
her primary goal was to provide hope for the future. “There are many potential scholarship
recipients who have lost that feeling. From a personal point of view, if my siblings had had
hope for the future, they may not have all passed away so early. I would like our scholarship
recipients to know that it’s possible to overcome hardship, and live a more enhanced life
by getting an education.”
“Creating a legacy is important to me from a
personal level, as I saw in my own family, it’s
not always possible to ‘see the other side’ and
know that if you persevere, you can make a
difference.” She wants to ensure that those
who have a lack of parental support are able
to overcome it with the help of the Scholarship
Fund. Now with the help of the Giblett
Family Endowment, the GSBA Scholarship
Fund has a new way of helping those who
need it. Thank you Leslie Giblett -- marathon
runner, community leader, fashionista, and
philanthropist – for working so hard for our
community and always looking fabulous while
doing it.
L E SL IE GIB L E TT
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Seattle Marriott Waterfront
5:30p
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GSBA | THE PERSPECTIVE
WINTER | 2016
7
Name: Noah Bell-Cruz
Business Name: BellBoy Creative
1. Having a clear vision of my skill-set and what creative services
I could offer my clients.
2. A robust website that clearly represented my aesthetic style, portfolio and work and set expectations for my clients.
3. Freshbooks.com – an online small business accounting software that kept me in check with all the nitty-gritty numbers.
GSBA MEMBERS
Name: Walter and Shawn Jackson
Business Name: Deals Ashore
1. Cost Control – We knew we had to control overhead. We avoided any debt or lease commitments (short term and long term), and used cash to purchase what we needed when we needed it. Controlling expenses is paramount as usually in the start more is going out than coming in. We are privately held and debt free.
2. Persistence – Taking a dream to reality is a journey which requires navigating through some muddy, uncharted waters and we were lucky to have found some mentorship to help us. People only
say no to the question you ask, so we learned how to repackage the question.
3. Patience – We did a lot of goal resetting. We never lowered our standards. We learned to reset our goals and expectations. Eat the elephant one bite at a time. There are a lot of disappointments but we learned flexibility and willingness to fail forward is critical.
“Key factors that helped me survive my first year in business”
Name: Emily Scott
Business name: EmbodyYou
Name: Makenzie Davies
Business Name: davies + dixon
1. Drive and passion.
2. Willingness to fail forward. The faster you fail, the faster you grow and learn. Being unafraid of rejection and knowing it’s not always the end all. Fall down seven times and get back up eight.
3. A partner that challenges you to grow and communicate. Additionally, surround yourself with mentors and/or advisors you trust, admire and who want to see you succeed. These people push you and help develop you into the leader you want to become.
4. Red wine, of course.
Name: Dusty Hoerler
Business Name: Craftsman Plumbing
Finding success in my first two years in
business has required a lot of hard work
and dedication. Two of the key factors
leading to sustained success have been
treating our customers with honesty and
respect and unparalleled dedication to
craftsmanship. Thank you Seattle for giving
us the opportunity to serve you in 2016!
1. Connection – I work on connecting to as many people as possible through networking and several other avenues of meeting people. I’m interested in them, I find out what they are about, their passions and their work. Everyone has a story. Discover that in people. It comes back to you.
2. Conviction – Staying focused on “why” I do what I do. I found that
telling people “what” I do was not necessarily something they desired to know about me or my business. Later, I became more comfortable with sharing the reason why I began my business and noticed immediately that I was able to earn people’s trust and support with ease. Naturally my passion began to shine through.
3. Commitment –There were several moments over the course of my first year of business where I allowed my personal life to take over
my business life. Celebratory occasions as well as traumatic situations occurred. This is a fact of all life. I have since made some important changes in my habits by expressing to those close to me just how much I appreciate their support on my journey and that
their support plays a big part in my success.
Name: Logan Taylor
Business name: Dazzle Cleaning Company
Improvisation, improvisation, improvisation! Our success has
been built on trial and error with the goal always being how
to provide a better service to our clients and how to be more
excellent to our employees. For us, it’s been pretty simple.
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GSBA | THE PERSPECTIVE
WINTER | 2016
9
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Small Businesses
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For more information about graduation rates, the
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Auto | Business | Home
Call or visit us today.
(253) 207-4000
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GSBA | THE PERSPECTIVE
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By Frank Sena
If your small business isn’t yet prepared to accept EMV chips, you’re not alone. Capitol Bankcard
recently surveyed small businesses and found that over half of respondents were not EMV-ready
by October 1, 2015, the date when businesses that had not upgraded their payment terminals
became liable for fraud. Another 37 percent of respondents don’t even plan to upgrade in the
near future, despite the liability shift.
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That said, 63 percent of survey respondents also revealed that experiencing the effects of
fraud liability might get them on board with EMV, and 47 percent of those respondents would
be swayed if it cost $100 or less. No matter where you stand as a small business, here are five
things you need to know about EMV – including why making the switch to EMV processing is so
important.
What the Heck is an EMV card?
EMV stands for Europay, MasterCard, and Visa, the three companies that originally created the
standard. If you’ve traveled internationally you’ve probably noticed that EMV chip cards are
widely accepted outside of the United States. Unlike magnetic-stripe cards used to make credit
card payments until now, EMV cards contain an embedded chip that communicates with payment
terminals, using a unique code each time and offering higher standards for authentication, so
hackers can’t access cardholders’ data. This makes each transaction more secure and resistant to
fraud. As of October 1, 2015 merchants are now liable for fraudulent credit card charges moving
forward.
EMV Isn’t Just a Solution for Large Retailers
The most recent edition of the National Small Business Association’s technology survey shows that
almost half of survey participants had been targeted by hackers. The average cost to those small
businesses was $8,700. Bigger businesses might make headlines when a breach occurs, but that
doesn’t mean they’re the only companies cyber criminals are after, and it certainly doesn’t mean
they’re the only retailers that should upgrade to EMV terminals.
Be Ready for Some Changes at the Checkout
When it comes to processing EMV transactions, cashiers should be prepared to answer some
common customer questions and recognize when a shopper is paying with a chip card. The most
obvious change is the need to dip a card into a slot at the bottom of the payment terminal, not
swipe it. Another thing to note: processing EMV transactions takes a few seconds longer than
REVISE
purchasesDATE
via magnetic stripe. Cashiers should be ready for questions about this extra time and
ensure customers that this new, more secure payment method is worth the wait.
4.
Being EMV-Ready Can Also Mean Being Mobile-Ready
Adding new technology to your retail repertoire might feel like a big undertaking, but EMV
presents an opportunity to get even more out of that upgrade decision. Retailers can switch to an
EMV-ready terminal that also accepts NFC payments like Apple Pay and Android Pay. These “tap
to pay” platforms are growing in popularity, and a recent report from Deloitte predicts in-store
mobile payment usage will have increased 100-fold by the end of 2015. If you’re not convinced of
the EMV benefits just yet, upgrade for the benefits of accepting mobile payments. Consider the
extra peace of mind each time a customer dips their card instead of swiping to be a bonus.
Frank Sena (fsena@capitalbankcard.com) has been working in technology since 2006 and is a selftaught payments expert. Contact him if you have any questions about EMV or how to upgrade.
WINTER | 2016
11
Jonathan L. Bowman
Attorney at Law, P.S.
Make 2016 the Year You Relax!
Business Law
Real Estate Law
Domestic Relations
& Marriage
Estate Planning
206.284.2932
jonathan@bowman4law.com
C o u n s E L
f o R
o u R
By Matt Landers, GSBA Public Policy Manager
MS Mona Smith, PLLC
Attorneys at Law
Business Law
Mediation/Arbitration
Real Estate Law
Estate Planning
Civil & Commercial Litigation
Proud Members of GSBA
mona@smith-law.net
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S E AT T L E • FI FE • E V E R E T T • I S S AQ UA H • L AC E Y
CIVIL RIGHTS – EQUALITY AND ACCESS UNDER THE LAW
FOR ALL PERSONS
As an organization founded by and for members of the LGBT
community, civil rights and equality for all will always be the
top priority in our advocacy efforts. Like other marginalized
communities ours has been and still is denied rights and
responsibilities granted to the general populous.
Member FDIC
Stacey Krynsky
Branch Manager
Capitol Hill
614 Broadway East
206-995-8895
fsbwa.com/capitolhill
ECONOMIC PROSPERITY – A VIBRANT ECONOMY STRENGTHENED THROUGH THE FULL PARTICIPATION AND
COLLABORATION OF DIVERSE LOCAL COMMUNITIES
Despite advances in civil rights, the LGBT community experiences significant economic disparities compared to the population at
large, most especially transgender and bisexual individuals. GSBA is committed to expanding recognition of LGBT-owned businesses
in supplier diversity efforts, from government entities, and from corporations who recognize that equality is good business.
Small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities and there is no elected official who does not proclaim their love of their
neighborhood small businesses. Yet a true understanding of the needs and challenges of small businesses is severely lacking at every
scale. In 2016, GSBA’s economic priorities include the establishment of a small business advisory council for the City of Seattle to
better represent that community in the lawmaking process. GSBA will continue to encourage smart, data-driven regulations that take
the realities of small business into account as well as to address the tremendous impacts of the affordability crisis on small businesses.
We continue our championing of LGBT tourism and strong public transportation initiatives. As the only business organization to
support I-1098, GSBA will still fight to enact systemic, progressive tax reform to address the chronic underfunding of critical services
in our state.
EDUCATION FOR ALL – INVEST IN FUTURE LEADERS
Education is the foundation for strong, vibrant and
diverse communities. Establishing criteria that achieves
excellence in education is key to create and maintain
educated workforces, to attract the best and brightest
to our state, to foster innovation and to nurture our
future leaders. A highly educated workforce generates
and grows local business enterprises and in turn leads
to higher wages and standards of living. Excellence in
education cannot be achieved by simply funding
programs. Schools must also provide healthy and safe
environments for their students in order for them to
learn and thrive.
N AT E G O W D Y P HOT OGR APHY
Your neighborhood. Your bank.
GSBA | THE PERSPECTIVE
both one of the largest LGBT organizations and one of the largest
business organizations in Washington, GSBA provides a unique
voice at the city, county, state and federal levels. The Board of
Directors has approved a legislative agenda for 2016 based on the
recommendations of the Public Policy Task Force.
Additionally GSBA is committed to opposing all broad religious exemptions laws, banning sexual orientation and gender identity
change efforts (AKA “conversion therapy”), defending the right of all people to have control over their own bodies (including a
woman’s right to choose), and increasing funding and support of LGBT seniors and homeless youth.
Local banking is about knowing
you and knowing our community.
12
For 35 years GSBA has been the progressive small
business voice for equality in the Puget Sound region. As
Here in Washington State we have some of the strongest
protections for the LGBT community. But we still face hurdles because of who we are, especially our trans community. Even as we
have successfully passed anti-discrimination and marriage equality laws, there remain groups who try to weaken or circumvent those
vital protections. Our 2016 priorities include an aggressive defense of these laws. At the state level, this includes supporting the
efforts of the Washington Safety & Access for Everyone (SAFE) Alliance. At the federal level, passing the Equality Act would enshrine
protections in public accommodations, housing, credit, and more for all LGBT people throughout the country.
C o M M u n i t y
206.285.1687
Equality and
Economic
Opportunities
for All: 2016 GSBA
Legislative Agenda
GSBA’s main educational priority in 2016 is for the
Legislature to comply with the McCleary decision
and to pass adequate and stable funding for public
education at all levels. We stand with many partners
in advocating for the Washington DREAM Act to be
replicated at the federal level, as well as passing and
enforcing anti-bullying legislation.
We are looking forward to an exciting year of advocacy
and policymaking! If policy issues are important to you,
please reach out to me at MattL@theGSBA.org to learn
more about how you can get involved in GSBA’s Public
Policy Task Force, the July Candidate Reception and
September Candidate Forum.
2 0 1 5 GSB A C A NDIDATE R E C E PT I O N ( L - R ) CAN D I D AT E M I CHAE L M AD D U X ,
C O U NC IL M E M B E R TIM B U R GE S S , CO U N CI L M E M BE R L O R E N A G O N Z ÁL E Z ,
CO U N CI L M E M BE R S AL LY BAG S HAW
WINTER | 2016
13
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GSBA Events
FEBRUARY
5th Annual One Love Wedding Showcase
February 21 | Fremont Foundry
APRIL
Prime Time: New Members & Volunteer Appreciation Cruise
April 13 | Argosy Cruises
35th Annual Business & Humanitarian Awards Dinner
February 23 | Seattle Marriott Waterfront
Business Luncheon: Creating a Tran- Inclusive Workplace
April 20
MARCH
Young Professionals with Pride
March 1 | Hard Rock Cafe
Women on Top
April 27 | Frolik Kitchen + Cocktails
Accelerate.LGBT Seattle
March 15 | Google Seattle
MAY
Young Professionals with Pride
May 5 | Whitepages
Scholarship Dinner
May 20 | Seattle Marriott Waterfront
Learn more at www.theGSBA.org
usbank.com/ourcommunity
Celebrating together
lifts our spirits.
The community that plays together, stays together.
That’s why we join you in supporting organizations
and events, creating awe-inspiring memories that
make us all happy to call this our hometown.
U.S. Bank is proud to support the Greater Seattle
Business Association.
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Member FDIC. ©2015 U.S. Bank
14
GSBA | THE PERSPECTIVE
WINTER | 2016
15
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Jewels of GSBA
The Jewels of GSBA make a significant investment in GSBA and the GSBA Scholarship Fund
DIAMOND
RUBY
EMERALD
SAPPHIRE
Platinum Partner
Gold Partners
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Travel & Tourism Premier Partners
Travel & Tourism Sponsors
2015 - 2016 GSBA Guide & DIrectory Sponsor
iPhone App Sponsor
Community Health Partner
GSBA’s The Perspective is published quarterly by and for the members of the Greater Seattle Business Association, 400 E. Pine, Suite 322, Seattle, WA 98122, printed
by Consolidated Press and mailed from Seattle, Washington 98134. Opinions expressed in Perspective do not necessarily represent the views of the association,
its members, or its Board of Directors. Established in 1981, GSBA is a business chamber serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied business and
professional community. As expressed in our Mission Statement, GSBA’s commitment is “To combine business development, leadership and social action to expand
economic opportunities for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and those who support equality for all.” Membership is open to any business
or individual who subscribes to the purposes of the association. For more information, contact GSBA at (206) 363-9188, or visit our Website at thegsba.org.