Guenther is executive director of the Capital Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. The organization held its annual business awards ceremony Friday night. Honorees included celebrity chef Art Smith, gym and spa owner D.C. Allen and outgoing Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.
What does the Capital Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce do?
We’re a networking organization with a mission to help facilitate, advocate and promote LGBT business and for our allies. We do that through networking events, educational events and networking opportunities.
How did you get involved in the organization?
I was a small business owner and was looking for a way to connect with more people, with more business opportunities. That was approximately 12 years ago. I became a volunteer. As a volunteer I received a lot more business because I knew a lot more people and I was more active. And then I joined the board. And then a few years after being on the board I became the executive director.
Tell me about your business awards ceremony.
[We] actually [gave] seven awards. We have six standard awards that we give annually. … And then we have another award that’s a service recognition award going to a board member that has left the board … and has been on the board for many years and done just so much work for the chamber.
What do you think are the biggest challenges facing gay and lesbian business owners?
Our challenges aren’t that much different than any other business owner. We have to worry about employees, we have to worry about taxes. … It would’ve been much different 20, 25 years ago, there would have been a discrimination element that I think would’ve been large, a large factor between what challenges LGBT companies face versus non-LGBT companies.
— Naomi Jagoda
