84 PROFESSIONAL WOMANS MULTICULTURAL MAGAZINE WWW.PROFESSIONALWOMANMAG.COM
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t the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) we believe that honoring and uplift- ing LGBTQ+ womens accomplishments and voices should not just be limited to Womens History Month or Pride Month. Many of NGLCC's Certified LGBTBE suppliers are jointly certified as wom- en-owned through our partner organization WBENC, the Womens Business Enterprise National Council. These LGBT- and women-owned businesses are lead- ing the way in their respective fields, setting prece- dents for entrepreneurs across the nation. Recently, we spoke to several woman-owned Certified LGBTBE suppliers about their entrepreneurial jour- neys and the importance of highlighting LGBTQ+ women in business.
dozan innovations, llc: Co-founded by Katherine Lees (she/her) and Michelle Lapides (she/her)
dozan innovations is a cutting-edge marketing and strategic firm that delivers intelligent solutions to clients ranging from small businesses to large cor- porations. dozan focuses on five key services when working with clients, namely digital marketing, cre- ative marketing, social media, strategic campaigning and business development. We are poised to be the leading BX Design Team specializing in alternative perspectives delivering innovative, accessibility-minded modern market- ing and business strategies that focus on inclusion, explained Lees. A leader in the Deaf and hard of hearing business community, dozan prioritizes accessibility, inclu- sivity and authentic representation of folks and their disabilities in their marketing work. As two Deaf women, Lees and Lapides are broadening the scope of marketing materials to be more accessible to indi- viduals that cannot always be reached by so-called traditional marketing. Traditional marketing may rely on the auditory deployment of information in English, which means that information only appeals to people who both speak English and can hear, Lees said. But if we deploy the same message in a video format that has an English voice-over, a person signing in American Sign Language (ASL) and using visual cues/graph- ics on the video, this marketing appeals to those who speak English, those who cant hear and use Sign Language and those who have limited English profi- ciency or learned English as a second language. Lees explained that dozan innovations was estab- lished with the ultimate goal of being the go-to
Intersectionality in Business:
Honoring LGBTQ+ Women Entrepreneurs
By Sarah Jester
agency for serving marginalized communities and bridging the gap between the current corporate land- scape and the accessibility that is needed in order to serve all people in an equitable way. When we understand the power of numbers, such as what we saw at the Stonewall riot, we know that when we all collectively try and band together the entrepreneur journey is a meaningful one, said Lees.
Florida Pure Sea Salt: Founded by Maureen Cacioppo (she/her)
Florida Pure Sea Salt was born from a longing to help people slow down, come together and enjoy every bite and cocktail they share, as told by founder Maureen Cacioppo. Our ingredients are crafted with that same love, care and intention, she explained. Food is a thread that connects us all, and salt is a lasting part of mak- ing our food experiences outstanding. Boasting 17 different infused salts ranging from lavors like vegan-friendly maple bacon, lime, rose- mary, butcher block black pepper and black garlic, Florida Pure Sea Salt prioritizes high quality ingre- dients and utilizing clean water while still doing their part to protect the waterways. Each type of salt is made in small batches, with some completing the pro- cess in three days and others taking up to two months to create. We seek to cultivate togetherness through the creation of memorable meals for food-lovers to share with their closest friends and family, Cacioppo said. What does it mean to Cacioppo to be an LGBTQ+ woman entrepreneur? It means I work hard to create a team of diverse people who appreciate and respect peoples differ- ences. It means that Im intentional with who we partner with. It means we have fewer funding oppor- tunities. It means I have an opportunity to mentor the new wave of LGBT woman entrepreneurs and others. It means that there are many similarities in the strug- gles and triumphs with all entrepreneurs. It means Im proud of who I am, those who have put in great work before me and where we are going.
J Squared Communications: Founded by Jessica Reveles (she/her/ella)
J Squared Communications is a full-service digital marketing agency. Under the supervision of entre- preneur Jessica Reveles, J Squared Communications has customized content creation offerings ranging from social media, blogging, email marketing, web- site design and development and SEO. The agency prioritizes and specializes in serving marginalized businesses through inclusive, diverse and culturally relevant marketing. Our mission is to serve and support women, LGBTQ- and BIPOC-owned businesses through leveraging content marketing to help businesses increase their online visibility and attract ideal cli- ents, said Reveles. As Reveles explained, many of J Squared Communications' clients fit into multiple buckets of the populations they serve, identifying as people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals and more. Being an LGBTQ woman of color and a certified representative of the community puts me in a position where I have the opportunity, and really the respon- sibility, to promote diversity, equity and inclusion through our actual content, she said. Reveles has undergone an intensely challeng- ing, incomparable journey to reach the present day. Having started her business from a homeless shelter with her seven-year-old son by her side, she worked countless jobs until she was able to rent office space years later. She has since grown from a freelance social media manager, to a small business owner, and now to an immensely successful CEO. Together, she and her team produce a variety of award-winning work for a large number of clients. Reveles is proud to be out as an LGBTQ woman entrepreneur following years in the closet. When I met my best adult friend, another gay woman entrepreneur, I learned to love myself and came into my own, she explained. I went through a long, hard and painful journey - but now Im here and actually leveraging my LGBTQ identify to help promote others businesses who are part of under- served and underrepresented populations.
Maureen Cacioppo
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