Pride in Business Awards
CELEBRATING INCLUSIVENESS IN NASHVILLE BUSINESS
The Nashville LGBT Chamber will present its annual business awards at a high-profile virtual event on Friday, June 4, 2021.
Support the Nashville LGBT Chamber Foundation at our annual Pride in Business Awards, which includes a Who’s Who of Corporate leaders, small business owners, civic leaders, and professionals. While reimagined for a virtual world, this high-energy event will still bring a powerful audience, emotional acceptance speeches, and optimism among those committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Presenting Sponsor
Title Sponsors
The Pride in Business Awards, formerly known as the Excellence in Business Awards, is the Nashville LGBT Chamber’s premier business event. This high-energy lunch is best known for its diversity of attendees, powerful presentations, and inspirational acceptance speeches. These awards are presented by AllianceBernstein!
Join us for the 2020 Pride in Business Awards at the JW Marriott Nashville.
Stay posted for the new date and details for this year’s Pride in Business Awards presented by AllianceBernstein.
Now Accepting Nominations
- Corporate Diversity
- Small Business Diversity
- Business Leader of the Year
- Entrepreneur of the Year
- Ally Award
- Community Service Award
- Leadership in the Arts
You can read all the award descriptions below.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Your Dollars at Work
The Nashville LGBT Chamber Foundation educates, inspires, and empowers our individual, small business, corporate, and nonprofit members, and the community-at-large; who share the values of promoting equality and diversity in business and society.
Our 2021 goals are to provide professional development education and programming for LGBT business professionals, provide programming for LGBT entrepreneurs and small business owners, advocate for contracting opportunities for LGBT business owners, fund a scholarship for an LGBT entrepreneur to participate in local programs, and offer scholarships for LGBT candidates to attend classes at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, Launch Tennessee, and other programs.
Sponsorship Levels
Look over our Sponsorship Prospectus for benefits for each of the following levels:
Presenting Sponsor- $10,000
Title Sponsor- $5,000
Award Sponsor- $2,500
Gold Sponsor- $2,000
Table Sponsor- $1,000
Half-Table Sponsor- $500
Award Descriptions
The LGBT Chamber presents seven awards (see award names and descriptions below):
Ally Award is presented to someone who does not identify as LGBT and has shown a commitment to helping the LGBT community. Donations include monetary, time, policies, budgeting, treatment, support, engagement, etc. An ally uses their resources and centers of influence to provide opportunities for and empower their LGBT peers, employees, organizations, or the community.
The Leadership in the Arts Award is given to an individual who identifies as LGBT or an organization (which does not) who, over the past year, has demonstrated a commitment to equality, especially LGBT equality. Considerations should be given to performance topics, performers, staff, audience, policies, and more.
Business Leader of the Year is presented to someone who identifies as LGBT and has an employer. First, the candidate should show strong business results over the last 12 months, including increased revenue, attendance, programs, clients, promotion, or whatever is relevant to their field. The better candidate will be involved in the LGBT community or give back to LGBT organizations. The best candidate will be able to tie their increased outcomes to the LGBT Chamber.
Community Service Award is given to an individual who identifies as LGBT or an organization which caters specifically to the LGBT community (like Pride or GLSEN). The better candidate will be involved in the local LGBT community. The best candidate will have a consistent relationship with the LGBT Chamber. The least qualified candidate will one who get paid for the work they do to serve the community.
The Corporate Diversity Award and Small Business Diversity Award are given to the company who has the most policies and practices that protect and engage their LGBT employees, customers, and suppliers. The better candidate will be involved in the local LGBT community. The best candidate will have a consistent relationship with the LGBT Chamber. The least qualified candidate will be one who intentionally markets to the LGBT community but does not protect and engage their own LGBT employees to the best of their ability.
Entrepreneur of the Year is presented to an entrepreneur or small business owner who identifies as LGBT. The candidate should be able to show increased outcomes over the last 12 months. The better candidate will give back to the LGBT community and the best candidate will have a consistent relationship with the LGBT Chamber.
Click here for a historical list of nominees and winners.
Past Excellence in Business Award Winners
Corporate Diversity Award
2019 Asurion
2018 Cracker Barrel and Dell
2017 Waller
2016 Baker Donelson
2015 Fifth Third Bank
2014 Nissan
2013 Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Small Business Diversity Award
2019 Focus Middle Tennessee
2018 Medicopy
2017 The Turnip Truck
2016 GS&F
2015 Emma
Business Leader of the Year
2019 Pamela Sheffer, Oasis Center
2018 Kimberly Stephan-Tate, Asurion
2017 Paul Vasterling, Nashville Ballet
2016 Steve Smotherman, Cracker Barrel
2015 David Bzrozoski, Dollar General
2014 Bradley Pinson, Fifth Third Bank
2013 Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Ally Award
2019 Kathy Halbrooks, PFLAG
2018 Bethany Mason, Dollar General
2017 Sean Henry, Nashville Predators
2016 Amy Parker, Deloitte
2015 Megan Barry
2014 Christopher Robinette, Mass Mutual (Capital Financial Group)
2013 Don Abel, Jr., Fifth Third Bank
Entrepreneur of the Year
2019 Jenny Ford, JF Government Strategies
2018 Phil Cobucci, BAM! Social Business
2017 John Dyke, The Turnip Truck
2016 Jack Davis, J.D. Events & Festivals
2015 Bruce Pittman, Bruce Pittman, Inc.
2014 Joey Amato, Unite Magazine
2013 Amos Gott, AmosEvents
Community Service Award
2019 Brian Marshall, MashUp Nashville
2018 Joe Woolley, Get It Done Solutions
2017 Launch Pad Volunteers
2016 Jim Schmidt, Schmidt Government Solutions
2015 Marisa Richmond, Middle Tennessee State University
2014 Abby Rubenfeld, Rubenfeld Law Office
2013 Nashville CARES
Leadership in the Arts Award
2019 Belcourt Theatre
2018 Don Schlosser, Nashville in Harm
2017 Oz Arts Nashville
2016 Nashville Ballet
2015 Nashville Opera
2014 Jim Robert, ALIAS Chamber Ensemble
2013 Nashville in Harmony
