CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF IMPACT
2026 marks a milestone year for the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce — our 10-Year Anniversary.
For a decade, the Chamber has been a driving force and become the leading voice for LGBTQ+ economic inclusion across the Greater Houston region. What began as a bold vision in 2016 has grown into a powerful movement for visibility, opportunity, and economic empowerment.
Since 2016, the Chamber, through a growing LGBTQ+ economic ecosystem, has connected business and community to advance economic empowerment, expand opportunity, and strengthen visibility for the LGBTQ+ community across Greater Houston.
The LGBTQ+ Economic Ecosystem
The Chamber has built—and continues to grow—one of the most dynamic LGBTQ+ economic ecosystems in the country.
Through intentional partnerships, programs, advocacy, and deep community connection, we have created a vibrant network where LGBTQ+ and Allied businesses, professionals, corporate partners, nonprofits, civic leaders, and community organizations thrive together.
Today, this ecosystem continues to grow as we work to close economic gaps, expand opportunity, strengthen business and workforce pathways, and drive economic success for the LGBTQ+ community across the region.
This year, we honor our shared progress, celebrate the members, partners and leaders who made it possible, and set the stage for our next chapter.
A Decade of Impact.
Stronger. Bolder. Unstoppable. Together.
Building an Economy Where Everyone Belongs.
OUR JOURNEY
From our founding members and inaugural partners to the 560+ members who stand with us today, the Chamber’s success is built on unity, resilience, and relentless purpose.
Together, we have:
- Elevated LGBTQ+ businesses and entrepreneurs
- Built partnerships across corporate, civic, and community sectors
- Advocated for economic inclusion across Houston and beyond
- Increased visibility for LGBTQ+ leadership and enterprise
- Strengthened the ecosystem that powers our community
For ten years, we have grown stronger, bolder, unstoppable — TOGETHER.
A DECADE FORGED IN RESILIENCE
Because our members need us. Our community needs us. And the work of building an economy where everyone belongs is far from finished.
Ten years of advocating.
Ten years of building.
Ten years of impact.
THE STORMS WE HAVE NAVIGATED
HEAR FROM OUR FOUNDERS
"The Chamber was born from a simple but powerful belief: that the LGBTQ+ community deserved to be seen, valued, and represented at the tables where economic decisions are made. That our businesses, professionals, and entrepreneurs deserved visibility, opportunity, and inclusion within the broader economic ecosystem of Greater Houston."
"Ten years ago, Tammi and I came together to form this Chamber that was built on a simple but powerful belief: that authenticity and opportunity should go hand in hand."
THANK YOU — THIS MOMENT BELONGS TO YOU
Inaugural Members & Partners
ANNIVERSARY THEME
A Decade of Impact. Stronger. Bolder. Unstoppable. Together.
This flagship theme captures our resilience, courage, and unity.
Building an Economy Where Everyone Belongs.
Our guiding purpose for the decade ahead — an economy where business owners, professionals, partners, and allies and the LGBTQ+ community can thrive and a region where business and community intersect to drive economic opportunity.
10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY RECEPTION
A Decade of Impact — An Epic Night
What a night.
Our 10-Year Anniversary Reception in February was nothing short of extraordinary — a powerful celebration of community, resilience, and the remarkable journey we have taken together over the past decade.
As we marked A Decade of Impact, the energy in the room said it all: this Chamber was built by community — and it continues to thrive because of you.
A Spectacular Host
Our sincere thanks to POST for hosting us in such an incredible setting. The skyline backdrop made this milestone moment even more memorable.
Honoring Those Who Believed First
A highlight of the evening was recognizing our Inaugural Members and Inaugural Impact Partners — the businesses and organizations who believed in this vision from the very beginning.
Your early support laid the foundation for the impact we celebrate today.
Gratitude to Our Sponsors & Supporters
Thank you to our event sponsors and supporters whose investment helped make the evening truly exceptional. Your support continues to move the Chamber forward and strengthen our work across the region.
Ten years ago, this Chamber launched with conviction and purpose.
Today, we celebrate the impact.
Tomorrow, we build the future.
The next decade starts now — and we are just getting started.
2026 PRIDE IN BUSINESS CELEBRATION LUNCHEON + AFTER PARTY
Our hearts are full.
Thank you to everyone (over 1,000 attendees!) who joined us for the 2026 Pride In Business Celebration as we honored the Chamber’s 10-Year Anniversary and celebrated a remarkable Decade of Impact.
The full ballroom. The energy. The emotion. The history. The celebration. The people. The power of seeing a cross-section of our region gathered together as community — it was unforgettable.
As Tammi shared in her remarks, “Ten years ago, we did not have a seat at the table, so we decided to build one.” What a celebration it was for the work we've done over the past ten years to make sure we are visible and heard.
Thank you to our sponsors, Co-Chairs, Host Committee, honorees, speakers, elected officials, community leaders, members, volunteers, and everyone who helped make this milestone celebration possible.
Special thanks to our Presenting Sponsor, Casa Maestri / Agave Boom, our VIP Reception Presenting Sponsor, Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, and our Chamber Impact Partner, Hilton Americas-Houston, for being the ultimate hosts.
Get Ready for 2027! Secure your early sponsorship.
Relive the moments from this year’s celebration through the event photo and video gallery.
Honoring Our 2026 Pride In Business Award Honorees
Each year, the Pride In Business Awards recognize leaders, businesses, organizations, and partners who are advancing LGBTQ+ inclusion, economic opportunity, visibility, and community impact across Greater Houston.
This year’s honorees reflect the very best of our Chamber community — bold leadership, meaningful allyship, business excellence, advocacy, service, and a shared commitment to building a stronger LGBTQ+ and allied economic ecosystem.
As we celebrated the Chamber’s 10-Year Anniversary and a remarkable Decade of Impact, we were proud to honor these outstanding leaders and organizations:
Congratulations to all of our 2026 Pride In Business Award honorees. Your leadership, service, and commitment continue to move our community forward — and your impact will be felt for years to come.
👉 Learn more about our Honorees and hear in their own words what this recognition means to them.
CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY PROCLAMATIONS
Chamber leaders Tammi Wallace, Co-Founder, President & CEO, and Maureen Maiuri, Director of Operations, shared remarks on behalf of the Chamber and our nearly 600 members.
A special thank you to Commissioner Lesley Briones for bringing this resolution forward, for her kind words, and for her support over the past decade. We are grateful for her commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and to building a more inclusive, connected, and economically vibrant Harris County.
Thank you to Harris County Commissioners Court for this meaningful recognition and for your continued support of the Chamber’s work to advance economic opportunity, visibility, and connection for the LGBTQ+ and allied business professionals and the community across our region.
For ten years, the Chamber has worked to ensure LGBTQ+ people and businesses have a stronger voice and a seat at the economic table. This recognition is a meaningful reminder of what we have built together — and all that is still ahead.
June 9 was Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce Day in the City of Houston! 
We are honored to receive a proclamation from the City of Houston recognizing the Chamber’s 10-Year Anniversary and our Decade of Impact.
Thank you to Council Member Mario Castillo for bringing this proclamation forward and for your leadership and continued support of Houston’s LGBTQ+ community. We are also grateful to Mayor John Whitmire and every Houston City Council for recognizing this milestone.
For the past decade, the Chamber has worked to build a stronger economic voice for LGBTQ+ businesses, professionals, nonprofits, and allies — while creating spaces rooted in community, visibility, belonging, and opportunity.
This recognition belongs to our members, partners, leaders, allies, and the broader LGBTQ+ community who have helped build this Chamber and move our region forward.
Thank you, City of Houston, for standing with the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce.
PRIDE NIGHT GAMES
During Pride Night Games, the Chamber was recognized for a Decade of Impact.
Houston Rockets Pride Night
Houston Astros Pride Night
Sugar Land Space Cowboys Pride Night
10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY SPONSORSHIP
Invest in the Next Decade of LGBTQ+ Economic Impact
For ten years, the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce has helped drive economic inclusion, elevate LGBTQ+ businesses, and strengthen supplier, workforce, and leadership pathways across our region. Our partners have made this possible.
The 10-Year Anniversary is a strategic moment for sponsors to stand at the center of this progress — not just to celebrate it, but to accelerate it.
Your investment directly advances:
- Small business growth and entrepreneurship
- Workforce inclusion and B/ERG leadership
- Supplier diversity and procurement pipelines
- Regional LGBTQ+ economic research and visibility
- Programming that increases opportunity and economic mobility
Sponsoring the 10-Year Anniversary isn’t only about recognition.
It is a commitment to building an economy where LGBTQ+ people and allies can thrive.
THANK YOU TO OUR 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY SPONSORS
Stronger Partners
Together Partners
Forward Partners
A DECADE IN PHOTOS & VIDEO
View some recent photos, and click below to see more!
These images reflect the energy, resilience, and radical hospitality that define the Chamber — and the countless individuals who made this journey possible.
IMPACT VIDEOS
2024
2025
2026
IN THE NEWS
- Over It, Around It or Through It - Chamber Co-Founder, President & CEO, Tammi Wallace, is featured on the cover of the Houston Business Journal in a powerful 10-year anniversary profile highlighting the journey of the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce. (Houston Business Journal, February 13, 2026)
READ MORE
- Tammi Wallace Marks a Decade of Impact for LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce - Ten years in, Tammi Wallace sees clearly that the Chamber represents not just connection, but power—something that motivates her to help Houston’s LGBTQ community thrive economically in the coming decades. (OutSmart, March 6, 2026)
READ MORE
- Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber Celebrates 10 Years with Pride In Business Event - The Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce is celebrating 10 years of supporting local businesses with its annual Pride in Business Celebration. President and CEO Tammi Wallace shares how the organization has grown over the past decade and continues to expand opportunities for the LGBTQ+ business community. (KHOU-11, April 28, 2026)
WATCH NOW
10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY BLOG REFLECTIONS
Where Were You Ten Years Ago?
As we celebrate the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce’s 10-Year Anniversary and a Decade of Impact, we asked our team to reflect on what this milestone means — not only for the organization, but personally.
In this reflection, Amber Godbold, Programming & Events Coordinator, shares her story of growth, belonging, and how her own journey has unfolded alongside the Chamber’s evolution over the past decade.
A Decade of Conviction: Reflections on 10 Years of the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce
February is the Chamber's Founding Month. On February 26, 2016 the Chamber launched with a bold vision: to ensure our community had a seat and a voice at the tables where economic decisions are made — and to build an economy where everyone belongs.
Read the recent blog post from Tammi Wallace, Co-Founder, President & CEO, where she talks about the Chamber's 10-Year Anniversary and the challenges and impact over the past ten years.
Reflections from Co-Founder Gary Wood
At our 10-Year Anniversary Reception, we had the opportunity to hear from someone who was there at the very beginning — Chamber Co-Founder Gary Wood.
Read his remarks about the Chamber's Decade of Impact.
10 Years of Growth: The Chamber's Journey and Mine
Behind every organization that grows into something meaningful is a group of people who quietly, consistently, and wholeheartedly invest in its success. For the Chamber, one of those people is Maureen Maiuri. Over the past decade, Maureen has been more than a team member — she has been a steady force behind the scenes, helping shape the Chamber during its earliest days and supporting its growth into the thriving organization it is today.
What began as professional support through an external partner organization quickly became something more: a true mission match. Through long hours, countless events, and a deep commitment to the community we serve, Maureen has helped build the infrastructure, relationships, and culture that make the Chamber what it is today. As we celebrate a Decade of Impact, we are incredibly grateful for the dedication, sacrifices, and heart she has poured into this work.
In her own words below, Maureen reflects on what the Chamber’s 10-Year Anniversary means to her.
A Decade of Becoming: What the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce Has Meant to Me
As the Chamber celebrates its 10-Year Anniversary and A Decade of Impact, we are honored to share reflections from members, partners, and leaders whose journeys have been shaped by connection, visibility, and community.
In this guest blog, Clay Melder, VP | Relationship Manager, Corporate Healthcare & Not For Profit Banking with Amegy Bank, reflects on his own decade of growth — from BRG leadership and business engagement to civic service, friendship, and belonging — and the role the Chamber has played in helping him find both purpose and people.
OUR STORY, THROUGH YOUR VOICES
Your story is part of this legacy. We'd love to hear your thoughts about your engagement with the Chamber and the impact the work has had on you.
WHAT'S AHEAD
Throughout 2026, the Chamber will host a year-long series of events, campaigns, and moments of recognition:
- 10-Year Signature Celebration Event
- “10 Years, 10 Stories” Impact Series
- Founders & Inaugural Members Recognition
- Anniversary Video
- Pride In Business: 10-Year Anniversary Celebration
- Launch of Community Impact Survey
- Next 10-Year Vision Launch
This year is more than a milestone — it’s a call to action.
A call to strengthen the Chamber’s role at the intersection of business and the LGBTQ+ community — advancing LGBTQ+ economic opportunity, closing economic gaps, driving economic empowerment, expanding workforce development, and opening more pathways for LGBTQ+ owned and allied businesses across the region.
BE PART OF THIS MILESTONE YEAR
The anniversary year is guided by three core pillars: Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present, and Shaping the Future — each reflecting the Chamber’s commitment to visibility, economic inclusion, and community impact.
We invite you to be part of our 10-Year Anniversary. Are you ready?
There are many ways to be part of our 10-Year Anniversary:
- Attend the 10-Year Celebrations all year long
- Become a 10-Year Sponsor or Legacy Partner
- Share your Chamber story
- Participate in our anniversary campaigns
- Encourage others to support the Chamber’s mission
Check out the events calendar for events celebrating the Chamber's milestone anniversary.
Make plans to join us for the Pride In Business Celebration Luncheon + After Party on June 12, 2026. Learn more.
TOGETHER, we will continue building an economy where everyone belongs.
TOGETHER, we are expanding the pipeline of LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, driving workforce development, creating leadership opportunities and cultivating an inclusive economic ecosystem that fuels innovation and growth for the LGBTQ+ community across Greater Houston.
WE ARE JUST GETTING STARTED.
In 2026…we celebrate our journey — and set the stage for the decade ahead.
Since 2016, the Chamber has become a leading voice for LGBTQ+ economic empowerment, visibility, and opportunity. Our journey has been shaped by resilience, collaboration, and the unwavering support of our members, partners, and community.
This anniversary honors our shared progress and looks ahead to a bold new chapter.
HONORING THE PAST. POWERING THE FUTURE.
As we celebrate this milestone, we pause to honor the people, partnerships, and moments that brought us here — and recommit to the work ahead.
The Chamber’s first decade was built on vision, courage, collaboration, and community. The next will be defined by growth, leadership, expanded opportunity, and deeper impact.
Together, we are carrying this work forward — stronger, bolder, and unstoppable.
As we continue Building an Economy Where Everyone Belongs, we remain committed to advancing an inclusive, thriving economic ecosystem for LGBTQ+ community across the region.
As we enter our next decade, we are focused on growing this ecosystem, ensuring it reaches deeper into the region, expands access, closes economic disparities, and creates lasting economic opportunity for the LGBTQ+ community.
A decade in, the Chamber stands as the bridge between business and community — creating opportunities, driving economic impact, and building a more vibrant, equitable region for all.
And...we are just getting started!