Friday, October 23, 2020

Claudia Castillo and Irwin Drucker Appointed to GFLGLCC - Greater Fort Lauderdale LGBT Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

                                                                                         

Date: October 23, 2020                    

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   

Media Contact:                                                              
Keith Blackburn                                          
954-534-3500
Keith@gflglcc.org

Announcing Two New GFLGLCC Board Members

Wilton Manors, Florida) – October 23, 2020– The GFLGLCC - Greater Fort Lauderdale LGBT Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the appointment of two new board members -- Claudia Castillo (Claudia Castillo ART Studioand Irwin Drucker (Diversitas). Each of them comes with unique backgrounds and experiences. Together, they will bring a wealth of knowledge to the board of directors. Irwin and Claudia join Keith Blackburn (President & CEO of the GFLGLCC), Lenny Brooks (SERVPRO of Fort Lauderdale South), James Senior (Edward Jones Investments), and RT Good (Lynn University, College of Business and Management) who currently serve on the Board.

Collectively, the 2020-2021 board of directors will focus on the continued challenges our community and businesses are facing following the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, they will be focused on the upcoming NGLCC - National LGBT Chamber of Commerce's International Business and Leadership Conference, which takes place next summer at the Diplomat Beach Resort in Greater Fort Lauderdale.  

"We are thrilled to have Irwin and Claudia join our board. I've known and worked with both of them over the past years and they will each bring a unique quality to the board and our chamber" says Keith Blackburn, GFLGLCC President, and CEO. 

About Irwin Drucker:
Irwin Drucker has lived in South Florida since 1983. Irwin is a graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and received his MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business. He joined IBM’s global software procurement organization in 1983, eventually becoming Director of Global Software Sourcing. In late 1999, Irwin joined IBM’s Global Supplier Diversity team, where he established the first LGBT supplier diversity program in the world and was appointed its first Director. He was instrumental in the establishment of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), and served on its Board of Directors, as Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee of the Board, from 2008 to 2017, after having first-chaired both the Corporate Advisory Council and the Procurement Council of the NGLCC, from 2003 to 2008. 

In recognition of his accomplishments, Irwin received the first “LGBT Supplier Diversity Advocate of the Year” Award from the NGLCC in 2007, and the first NGLCC “Legacy Award” in 2017. In 2003, Irwin’s responsibilities at IBM were expanded, and he assumed responsibility for IBM’s supplier diversity program launch and coordination across all diversity segments outside the US. From 2010 to 2013, Irwin was a member of the Board of Directors of The Pride Center (the LGBT Community Center of Greater Fort Lauderdale) serving as Chair of their Development Committee. In 2011, Irwin received the Multicultural Leadership Award from the Florida Diversity Council.

Irwin retired from IBM in May 2012 and spent 3 years as the Executive Director of PYP Foundation, a non-profit organization that focused on improved HIV Awareness, Education, and Prevention for young people ages 18-29. In April of 2015, Irwin joined WOSH, an NGLCC-certified LGBTBE, where he served as the Chief Compliance and Procurement Officer, until July 2018.

In August of 2018, Irwin launched a new venture, Diversitas, a boutique consulting practice dedicated to assisting businesses that are certified as diverse-owned and operated (by either WBENC, NMSDC, NGLCC, or a similar entity) to maximize their growth potential. Diversitas offers a wide range of consulting services, including Business Development, Supplier Diversity, Procurement, and Strategic Sourcing, Compliance, and Corporate Social Responsibility (Diversity & Inclusion, Sustainability, and Corporate Philanthropy).

In July of 2019, Irwin was named one of Business Equality Magazine’s “Fifty Over Fifty Legacy Leaders” in recognition of his “pioneering and transformational work in establishing the world’s first LGBT supplier diversity program.”

In January of 2020, Irwin expanded the scope of Diversitas even further, when he became the SVP & Chief Diversity Officer of one of his clients’ firms, Acronym Media Inc.

About Claudia Castillo:
Claudia was born in Colombia and educated in the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogota. She sought additional art studies in the Finishing School, NY; Frank Monaco Gallery, the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, and the National University of Colombia. 

Claudia’s art is a process of transformation that starts with an inspired idea from the emotions evoked from nature, earth, and water. The outcome is instinctive and spontaneous: simply colors and forms. Claudia’s work draws upon emotions and feelings to create her own sense of realism which is a transformative abstraction reflecting her unique reality of continual change. 

She founded Claudia Castillo ART studio, a boutique art gallery in the heart of Wilton Manors providing a unique variety of quality original artwork, gifts, and collectibles for everyone. 

Claudia is passionate about helping her community and volunteers for many causes. Claudia’s affiliations include the City of Wilton Manors Wilton Drive Improvement District committee board member since 2017, Island City art advisory committee board member since 2017, Wilton Art board member since 2019, Broward Art Guild, since 2015, American Association of Interior Designers since 2004, Wilton Manors Business Association since 2017, President & Founder, Wall Covering Installers Association, Miami | International Chapter since 2015, Arts United since 2018 and a member of the GFLGLCC since 2017.

About GFLGLCC - Greater Fort Lauderdale LGBT Chamber of Commerce:
The GFLGLCC is a 501 C (6) Non-Profit independent organization affiliated with the NGLCC – National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, dedicated to promoting business and economic opportunities for the LGBT and LGBT-friendly community in the Greater Fort Lauderdale area. To be an advocate and resource for all member businesses that promote equality and to promote tourism with a unified approach, by working with appropriate and related organizations.

About NGLCC - National LGBT Chamber of Commerce:
The NGLCC is the business advocate and direct link between lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) business owners, corporations, and government, representing the interests of more than 1.4 million LGBT businesses and entrepreneurs. The NGLCC is committed to forming a broad-based coalition of LGBT owned and friendly businesses, professionals, and major corporations for the purpose of promoting economic growth and the prosperity of our members.

For more information about the GFLGLCC, or to become a member please visit www.gogayfortlauderdale.com or contact Keith Blackburn at 954-523-3500 or via email at Keith@gflglcc.org for media coverage, press kits, membership kits, and live interview requests.

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