The “Give and Take Happy Hour” assembled lawyers, tech professionals, marketers and entrepreneurs of all stripes. James Bain, a member of Start Out’s steering committee, estimated attendance as “85-percent LGBTQ.” Mary Shea, another committee member, talked about the growing need for mentorship and leadership among LGBTQ professionals. Both were pleased with the size of crowd, which numbered approximately 150 people.
Additional photos at the link: windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/photospreadthumbs.php?APUB=wct&ADATE=2014-05-17&AGALLERY=StartOutChosenBaudler.
The atmosphere felt convivial, filled with appetizers, wine and beer. Flannel shirts and jeans mixed with suits. Jeremey Gottshchalk, a Chicago lawyer, said he thought most LGBTQ networking events were “industry-specific—for instance, gay lawyers,” and he particularly enjoyed that this event brought many industries together. He and his friends agreed with Bain’s estimate of a mostly LGBTQ crowd.
Liz Kulin, a marketer originally from Seattle, said she thought StartOut, which just opened its Chicago chapter in February, was trying to be an “incubator” for LGBTQ talent. She compared the organization to Seattle’s Gay Business Association. Even her wife, Carrie Skalla, a grad student in psychology with little interest in networking, felt she could at least make some new friends here.
StartOut has future events planned, including possible more happy hours. Shea thought it was important to have events beyond networking meet-ups, and she has an upcoming presentation on entrepreneurial sales. Bain mentioned a 27th meetup for Tech Week, and a June 19 event at Groupon.