ORLANDO | The Pride Chamber announced in a press release Dec. 29 that president and CEO Kellie Parkin will be stepping down from her position to become the executive director for the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce in New York.
“The entire leadership of The Pride Chamber is so excited for this next chapter for Kellie and nglccNY,” said Chad Frye, The Pride Chamber’s vice chair and immediate past president, in the release. “Though her absence will certainly be felt, we couldn’t be more grateful. With her input, we have identified an interim CEO and will begin a national search for her replacement in the coming months. We are so grateful for her enormous efforts. Kellie’s work here was transformative and exceptional.”
Parkin assumed her role at The Pride Chamber as executive director in 2016, then known as the Metropolitan Business Association, and in her time spearheaded the effort that led the City of Orlando and Orange County to be the first in Florida to embrace and recognize LGBTQ businesses in their procurement processes, assisted in expanding the chamber’s RED (Referral Exchange Development) Groups and served on the taskforce that formally established the One Orlando Alliance.
“It’s been a tremendous honor to serve the LGBTQ community of Central Florida as president and CEO of the Pride Chamber,” Parkin said in a statement. “I am forever grateful to my board, my fellow community leaders and our partners throughout Orlando who have helped us make history and make new opportunities for so many. I am elated to join Team NGLCC as the first Executive Director of nglccNY and continue supporting LGBTQ entrepreneurs on an even larger scale.”
Under Parkin’s leadership, The Pride Chamber was named Chamber of the Year in 2017 by NGLCC. Parkin has also been honored as one of Watermark’s Most Remarkable People in 2017, was named a distinguished leader in Central Florida by U.S. Rep. Darren Soto in 2020 and was recognized as a 2021 Social Justice Game Changer by the Orlando Magic.
“With many years of service to the small business and advocacy communities in the NGLCC network under her belt, especially in Orlando, she is ready to take the reins of this nearly 1,000-member network across New York City and state to the next level in nglccNY’s 15th anniversary year and beyond,” said NGLCC co-founder and president Justin Nelson in the release. “It’s been a privilege to work with her and watch her leadership inspire others throughout the NGLCC community over the years; and we know nglccNY is in exceptional, experienced hands going forward. We are so confident in her leadership abilities that we are reforming the size and scope of this role to match her tremendous skillset, including making this position an executive director role for the first time in nglccNY’s history.”
The Pride Chamber states that it will release more information on its search for a new president and CEO in early 2023.
