LEE, Mass. — The Lee Chamber of Commerce will host a Pride Business Networking & Panel event on June 18 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Devonfield Inn in Lee. 

 

The event will feature a panel discussion with local and state business leaders focusing on the contributions of LGBTQ+ businesses to the Berkshire economy and creative culture.

 

The panel will include Doug Bagnasco, President of the Lee Chamber of Commerce and co-owner of the Devonfield Inn; Alexandra Heddinger, Executive Director of the Lee Chamber of Commerce; and Alexandra Eberhardt, Executive Director of the Massachusetts LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce. They are scheduled to present information and data on how LGBTQ+ small businesses have impacted the economy and culture of both the Berkshires and Massachusetts. The discussion will also cover how diversity is providing a competitive advantage, attracting more small businesses seeking inclusive environments.

 

This event is part of an ongoing series of Berkshire LGBTQ+ Business, Professional & Community Leaders Networking Events, held on the third Wednesday of each month. These gatherings aim to foster connections and collaboration among local LGBTQ+ business owners, professionals, community leaders, and allies. The series seeks to enhance the community's ability to address political, economic, and demographic challenges affecting the rural LGBTQ+ community and its businesses, while also celebrating new LGBTQ+ businesses and leaders in the Berkshires.

 

The monthly networking events are organized in partnership with the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Q-MoB, and media sponsor Berkshire Magazine. According to the organizers, these events "offer a platform to reflect on the rich history, the vibrant present, and the promising future of LGBTQ+ business in the Berkshires." Each gathering is designed to include insights from LGBTQ+ business owners, entrepreneurs, and allied business leaders in the region.

 

Bart Church, Executive Director of Q-MoB, stated, "In this time of tumultuous change, it's vital that our local LGBTQ+ business owners and professionals come together to support one another and work in solidarity with our many allied businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations to improve the region's economic development and creative economy, particularly as LGBTQ businesses and business owners from more repressive parts of the country look for a place where they will be welcomed."

 

The LGBTQ+ Business, Professional & Community Leaders Networking Event series will continue with future gatherings, including a July 16 event from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the J.S. Bryant School in Cummington. Registration for these events is free.