Nashville ’s GLBT Chamber of Commerce, NAPP, will hold Nashville ’s first ever GLBT Life and Business Expo at the Cannery on November 19.

The high energy, interactive event will last from noon to 5 p.m. , and will provide an opportunity for businesses to showcase their products to the GLBT community.

“I think vendors and attendees alike are going to be really surprised with this event.  This will not be your typical sit-behind-a-table-in-a-booth business expo. It will be a high-energy, on-your-feet, interactive event,” explained Christopher Sanders, NAPP president. “It will also be a chance for people to learn of GLBT businesses and resources which they may have missed or overlooked in some cases for years.”

Justin Nelson, president of the National GLBT Chamber of Commerce will be the keynote speaker. Debbie Stanton, president of DiversityBuilder.com, was instrumental in securing Nelson’s speaking engagement. It will be Nelson’s first time to speak at a Nashville GLBT event.

Nelson co-founded the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce with Chance Mitchell in November 2002. Based in Washington D.C. , the NGLCC is a national organization that gives a much-needed economic identity to the GLBT community. Since its inception, the organization has grown to be the largest GLBT economic advocacy and business development organization in the world.

Josh Estrin, president and CEO of Concepts in Success, Miami , Florida , will also lead one of the seminars. Estrin is author of the book, "Shut Up and Listen to Yourself."

“Josh is high energy and is motivated by coaching businesses and business owners to success,” Sanders said. “He is a great addition to the Expo. We appreciate Debbie Stanton for helping to land this nationally known speaker for our expo.”

Expo participants will also have the opportunity to meet and greet Lady Chablis from the movie (and book), “ Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.”

There is a limited number of vendor spaces that will be offered on a first come, first serve basis. Vendor spaces will be in a 7’ x 7’ foot space, in a “bistro” type setting.

Sponsorship opportunities are available as well.

John Wade and Tim King are leading the NAPP committee that is putting the expo together.

“NAPP members are encouraged to reserve spaces quickly,” explained Wade.

Wade and King were assisted on the committee by NAPP members Debbie Stanton, Rachel Stanton, Pam Wheeler, and Amos Gott.

Additional information on the conference will be provided on our Web site, www.outandaboutnewspaper.com and in the September issue. Or you can email John Wade at wade1412@comcast.net or Tim King at timkking@mindspring.com . Or visit the chamber site at www.nashvilleglbtchamber.org.