Tanisha Nunn Gary, President & CEO, African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida
In an interview with Invest:, Tanisha Nunn Gary, president and CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida, talked about the chamber’s focus on member growth and business scaling over the past year. Emphasizing the importance of small businesses in economic development, she underscores the significance of DEI initiatives in driving community progress. The chamber has been actively involved in advocating for small businesses and nurturing workforce development partnerships.
What have been some of the major contributions of the chamber over the last year?
We are a membership organization, and so being able to witness our members thrive and grow their businesses makes me the most proud. To see some of our members scale their businesses speaks in part to the work we are doing at our Chamber. We have seen an increase in membership, which is a testament to the members of my team and my board of directors.
What is the state of Black female leadership in the community today?
Black women have always worked hard and invested time in their education and in serving their community. I am proud of the leadership and accomplishments of Black women. One of the things we do best is give back to the community and serve through our organizations, whether social, religious, community, or board service. When I look at Black women, I see that we band together in the spirit of sisterhood to make sure we support each other, our communities, and our families. Black women are leaders and lead in their homes, communities, and professions.
How do you see the local market changing across Greater Orlando?
Orlando is growing by leaps and bounds, which is evident by the number of people moving here to Central Florida. We continue to become more diverse, and it creates new opportunities for those who live here when it comes to education and for business growth. It also allows those that are moving here to enjoy those opportunities as well.
Orlando continues to grow in the art space, with the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center and other organizations that are spearheading the entertainment and sports industries. These cultural assets continue to make us more enticing to businesses looking to relocate and families that are looking to move here.
In what ways do you hope to see the business community improve in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)?
I would love to see the community continue to support these efforts because it is important now more than ever that we support people of different genders, ethnicities, and backgrounds. Collectively, if we keep in the forefront that diversity helps organizations at large, then I think DEI will continue to serve us all well.
Anytime you have diversity of thought around a table, you bring different ideas, and those ideas bring about changes that can move communities into a new landscape. It is important to make sure we give a voice to all sectors within a society.
What are your members looking for the most?
First and foremost, members are seeking opportunities related to growing their business or gaining access to capital. That is something we see the most and is why we focus on entrepreneurial training and development as well as access to capital. Here at the chamber, we have awarded over $700,000 in microgrants and scholarships to support our members.
What is the region’s progress in workforce development?
Our region collectively comes together to work on enhancing workforce development. I serve on the board of CareerSource Central Florida, and we have partnerships with many high schools to create awareness for students who don’t plan on attending traditional college but rather will be entering the workforce.
How has the role of chambers evolved, and what does it mean to be a chamber of the future?
Chambers, at some point, may have been looked at as a place to come and socialize, but we are so much more than that. Of course, networking is a huge part of being in a chamber as you get to know different people, but it is also a place where you can come and learn. Here at our chamber, we are getting ready to kick off our second business cohort, Accelerate Central Florida, where we bring in businesses with annual revenue exceeding $250,000 and two or more employees to participate in this eight-month program.
What is the outlook for the chamber in the near term?
We were founded in 1945, and our chamber will celebrate 80 years in 2025. Next year, we will celebrate our past, present and future. As I look towards the future, I only see that it is bright for our chamber and for our members. It is amazing to see some of our long-term members continue to grow their businesses and thrive. I like that they are also taking the time to invest in young entrepreneurs and further supporting the community to grow the economic landscape.
