Amber Gibson 2021-12-13 04:42:01
Choose Chicago is committed to helping meeting professionals tap into our city’s diverse businesses and vendors. We invite you to meet some of our partners, including leading women- and minority-owned businesses, who are available to help make your next Chicago event a success! AGB INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES AGB is the largest Black-owned security company in the nation, specializing in end-to-end physical and cyber security. In recent years, AGB has provided executive protection during the NBA All-Star Game, as well as for the President Obama Library fundraiser at McCormick Place. They’ve also received advanced training from the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security. AGB can set up secure servers and networks for your event as well, protecting your people, property, and data. Ninety-eight percent of AGB employees are people of color, and CEO and co-owner John Griffin, Jr. is committed to giving back through the AGB Foundation, providing college scholarships and real-world entrepreneurial experiences for high school students. “What is most fulfilling for me is transforming the lives of others through the vehicle of security,” says Griffin, Jr. “Yes, I provide jobs, life skills, scholarships, and internships, but it’s bigger than that. AGB transforms peoples’ lives for the better.” MOX.E With a keen eye for lifting up diverse and underrepresented entrepreneurs, Mox.E is a flexible event space in Chicago’s South Loop with enterprise-level technology and amenities. Live video conferencing technology options are built into the venue, so guests can host an event or conference while simultaneously streaming the event online with speaker-tracking cameras and video technology. Three skylights and a glass wall overlooking Michigan Avenue offer ample natural light, and there’s also a specialty coffee shop onsite, with fresh-baked local pastries. Founder Brian Jenkins created Mox.E as a co-working space and business incubator dedicated to coaching and connecting Black, Latinx, and women founders in Chicago through industry-specific workshops, capital access events, and a leadership speaker series. “I’m honored to be in the South Loop in the former home of Vee-Jay Records on historic Record Row, continuing the legacy of making a space for Black entrepreneurs and business owners to prosper in the great city of Chicago,” says Jenkins. MOTR GRAFX MOTR GRAFX is a small but mighty team of print production specialists who can quickly and reliably deliver customized signage, trade show displays, packaging, promotional items, and other collateral for your event. Recently, they’ve expanded into web and app development, and augmented reality, all with the same creative eye and cost-efficient workflow that includes in-house photography and videography. Recent corporate clients include an array of Fortune 500 companies, along with smaller businesses and not-for-profit organizations. Founder Delia M. Saboya’s family fled Cuba to settle in Chicago’s Logan Square. Saboya grew up in a melting pot of languages and cultures, and has always been a champion for women and minorities. MOTR GRAFX is certified by the National Minority Supplier Development Council. “If you have a good product, hard-working people, and the right opportunities, you can make your company successful,” Saboya says. “Women and minorities just need the same opportunities. It’s all about a level playing field.” LIPS The ultimate in drag dining in Chicago, Lips is a whimsical fairytale, pairing dazzling drag shows with great food and signature cocktails in the South Loop. Its over-the-top setting, with pink leopard tufted walls, 12-foot crystal chandeliers, and velvet curtains draws an eclectic crowd and plenty of celebrities, including Missy Elliott, Drew Barrymore, Whoopi Goldberg, and Tyra Banks. It’s the perfect place to let down your hair and encourage guests to embrace their most flamboyant selves. “We pride ourselves on creating a party from the moment customers walk in the door,” says founder Yvonne Lamé. “The girls will entertain you and your spirits will be lifted.” Queens double as lively waitresses, serving salads, entrees, and desserts with a side of camp. Expect live vocals, lip syncing, bawdy humor, and glamorous choreography at this unconventional dinner theatre. Come for the all-you-can-drink Sunday Gospel Brunch for tambourine-waving fun. You can even arrange for special guests of honor to be pulled onstage with performers and become part of the show. Lips is easily walkable from McCormick Place. Plan a fabulous drag dinner or diva cocktail party for up to 200 guests. SPECIAL NEEDS CHICAGO Special Needs Chicago provides wheelchair-accessible transportation throughout the Chicago metropolitan area 365 days a year. Founder Michelle Cord-Dacy has more than 20 years of expertise in the non-emergency wheelchair transportation industry, and is dedicated to providing safe, comfortable, and timely transportation for guests with mobility and cognitive challenges. Her reliable drivers offer relaxing rides with door-to-door assistance, and reservations are easy to book online. “I love that most of the drivers I work with have been with me over a decade,” Cord-Dacy says. “And the reason is because they are well-compensated for the important work they do. This is a rarity in the industry. But these deserving professionals are why our customer service is top-notch.” Special Needs Chicago also donates transportation services to KT’s Kids Camp Schwab, a one-week camp for low-income youths with disabilities. Planners hiring buses should consider having at least one wheelchair-accessible vehicle available for people in need of ADA-compliant transportation. Discover even more local Chicago business leaders. Learn about accessibility in Chicago.
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