IBA named top LGBT chamber in country

The Independence Business Alliance, Philadelphia’s LGBT chamber of commerce, last week received the 2014 Chamber of the Year Award from the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

IBA was presented the award July 31 during the NGLCC’s National Business & Leadership Conference in Las Vegas. IBA board president Rich Horrow and executive administrator Tom Cavanaugh accepted the award.

Cavanaugh said IBA applied for the award in April and found out it won a week before the conference. Cavanaugh said board leadership was instrumental in the application process.

“Rich Horrow and our vice president Jade Gasper were the ones who put this in front of us and said this was something we needed to do,” he said. “They were the driving force behind us applying, getting all of our data organized and everything else that needed to be done in order for us to present a stellar application.”

Cavanaugh said IBA was collectively humbled to receive the award, especially in light of the caliber of their colleagues in other cities.

“There are 54 affiliate chambers around the country that are eligible and can apply for this award,” he said. “Some chambers have been around for more than 30 years and have a membership of more than 1,100 people, so to go up against those chambers that have been around for a while is an honor.”

IBA was founded in 2006 and has more than 200 members.

Cavanaugh said it is the members who have made the IBA award-winning.

“We are overjoyed because ultimately it is because of our members and because of their engagement and what they bring to the chamber that makes us a great team,” he said. “A lot of people have worked hard to bring us to this point.”

The NGLCC acknowledged the IBA’s successful monthly networking events, its ConnX and Women in Business programs, as well as corporate partnerships, noting IBA can be a model for other LGBT chambers of commerce across the country.

Cavanaugh said he is proud of IBA’s ability to be inclusive while providing real networking opportunities for its members. The Philadelphia Business Journal this year named IBA one of the top-25 chambers in the region and last year one of the top-25 networking organizations.

“A lot of people who join IBA and are a part of other organizations or chambers very often say that we are very engaged with our board and members,” he said. “Our members often say how other chambers can be cliquey. Our board is very engaged with the membership and they go up to people and ask them who they need to meet or talk to help them with their business. We’ll make those connections for them on a personal level. If you come to our events, we’ll open doors for you.”

Cavanaugh said that, during the conference, IBA members attended several sessions about best practices and shared what has worked well for the IBA.

He noted IBA is particularly proud of the four new corporate partners they have brought on: Flaster/Greenburg, Comcast NBC Universal, Elsevier and AstraZeneca.

“To be able to put our corporate partners’ logos on our website and have them recognized as our corporate partners gives us leverage,” he said. “However, our members really make IBA what it is today. Our membership has grown so much since last year. They are the reason why we are here.” 

IBA will combine the ConnX and Women In Business events for a celebration 5:30-7:30 p.m. Aug. 19 at Tavern on Camac, 243 S. Camac St. For more information, visit www.independencebusinessalliance.com.

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