“Networking is more than just making connections; it’s about nurturing and developing relationships, which takes time and engagement. Out Pro Events not only provide a great opportunity to network, but they also offer chances to volunteer and access educational opportunities within our community.”
Keith Douglas
Chapter Founder
(He/Him)
What We Do
Career. Community. Connection. Out Professionals brings together a growing community of established and aspiring LGBTQ professionals, as well as supportive allies. We warmly welcome the full diversity of our community for meaningful, “attitude-free” networking.
- Our networking events break down barriers and make it easier to connect in a meaningful way.
- Our proprietary BestConnect® Industry Group Badge System has 21 color-coded industry groupings that make it easy to find people in your industry or ones that interest you.
- We also host career-building and life-enhancing seminars/webinars and a growing online webinar library.
Join us for our next Out Pro event and experience the enthusiasm for yourself.
Chicago Events
Out Pro Meaningful LGBTQ Networking - 1st Anniversary Event - Chicago
Thu, Jan 23 • 6:00 PM
STK Steakhouse
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Out Pro Meaningful LGBTQ Networking - Chicago
Wed, Nov 13 • 6:00 PM
Etta Bucktown
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Out Pro Meaningful LGBTQ Networking - Chicago
Thu, Sep 12 • 6:00 PM
Aloft Hotel - XYZ Lobby Bar
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Out Pro Meaningful LGBTQ Networking - Chicago
Thu, Jun 13 • 6:00 PM
W Chicago - City Center
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Out Pro Meaningful LGBTQ Networking Above the Clouds - Chicago
Thu, Apr 11 • 6:00 PM
Cloud Bar at 360 CHICAGO - John Hancock Building
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Out Pro Meaningful LGBTQ Networking - Chicago Launch!
Thu, Feb 8 • 6:00 PM
Hotel Lincoln - The J Parker Rooftop
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Virtual
Ask a Life Coach - Learn to Make the Changes You Want
Tue, Dec 17 • 12:30 PM
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Virtual
Wire Yourself For Success with Leading-Edge Neuroscience - Virtual
Tue, Dec 10 • 7:00 PM
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Virtual
Out + Proud Around the World and Through the Centuries
Sun, Dec 8 • 2:00 PM
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Virtual
Ask a Life Coach - Learn to Make the Changes You Want
Tue, Oct 1 • 12:30 PM
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Virtual
Ask SelfRecruiter® - Open-Mic Career Coaching Session
Tue, Sep 10 • 4:30 PM
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Chapter Champions
National Sponsors
Out Pro is a Connector. Business owners and other entrepreneurs are also encouraged to explore NGLCC, the Business Voice of the LGBTQ Community.
Out Professionals Chicago Chapter
Meet Our Team
Dane Burns
He/Him/His
Partnerships
Dane is a creative Chicago native with a background in sales and recruiting for small to large enterprise corporations. Being a part of Out Professionals ties into his passion for recruiting and his natural ability to connect with individuals seeking to network and find jobs. He believes it's extremely important to provide a safe space for people within the LGBTQIA+ community to come together and network, enhancing their careers and recognizing the power of leveraging their own community. In his professional career, he always advises clients and candidates that leveraging their network is key to success in finding a job.
Liz Gilbert
She/Her/Hers
Ambassador
Liz Gilbert is a national sales leader with a proven record of driving revenue growth in the travel and hospitality industry. She excels in strategic planning, business development, and customer relationship management. As an LGBTQ ally, Liz values networking through Out Professionals to foster inclusive relationships, share knowledge, and support the LGBTQ community's success.
Mark Schmieding
He/Him/His
Ambassador
Mark Schmieding works as a Digital Practice consultant for small, medium, and large-sized firms. He is a licensed architect/designer working on select projects. He was educated at the University of Kansas, receiving his B. Arch degree. He spent several years in Europe, studying at Universität Dortmund, Germany, and the Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, Switzerland, and working professionally in Barcelona, Spain.
Brian Justice
He/Him/His
Ambassador
I am a freelance content writer with some heavy-duty experience as a freelance healthcare writer, writing about architecture, design, construction, infrastructure, and more. I may not be able to perform surgery, design a stadium, or build a bridge, but I can sure weave compelling, engaging narratives around them. My personality profiles, blog posts, and white papers speak for themselves or their subjects instead. Excellent researcher and interviewer. A whiz at long-form work, including blog posts, articles, and white papers.
Omo Ogbomo-Williams
She/Her/Hers
Chapter Champion
I am a person who values the power of human connection and relationships. I am an inclusion, equity, and belonging practitioner and advocate for all people to be able to share their whole selves at work. I’m open for coffee chats, collaboration, and virtual or IRL water cooler talk; let’s connect!
Benjamin Boutell
He/Him/His
Photographer
Experienced musician with a demonstrated history of working in the media production industry. Our resident photographer for Out Professionals Events. Skilled in Final Cut Pro, Lightroom, Illustrator, Photography, Videography, Video Editing, and Social Media Management. "Anyone who has met Ben knows that his personality never fails to light up the room and offer the perfect dose of positivity and humor."
Courtney Glasper
He/Him/His
Ambassador
Courtney is a proven leader in the field of revenue and profitability management. As a Senior Manager of Pricing at Ultradent, a leading manufacturer in the dental industry, he directs initiatives to implement advanced pricing systems that enhance profitability through predictive analytics and price optimization. Additionally, he offers consultancy services, assisting small to mid-sized companies in establishing best practices in financial management. His continued commitment to excellence has made him a sought-after expert in his field and a real asset to Out Professionals Chicago Chapter!
Jonathan Hart
He/Him/His
Creative Ambassador
As founder of Bigmouth Creative, I am passionate about work that does good — creating a culture of respect and inclusion, working with brands that share our values, and making a difference in communities that could use our support. Bigmouth is a certified LGBT Business Enterprise, a proud Rainbow-level member of the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, and the 2021 Winner of LGBTBE of the Year in Illinois.
Keith Douglas
He/Him/His
Chapter Founder
As the Founder of KD&CO Advisors, Keith is focused on business development strategies and branding and marketing plans in hospitality, travel, tourism, and commercial real estate, including roles with Rockefeller Center, World Trade Center, W Hotels, and Sterling Bay. With a business philosophy based on the understanding that the key to success is the connectivity between people, product, purpose, and profit, he partners with clients to unlock the rich reserves within their existing teams and assets and explore business and revenue opportunities that translate to positive financial results.
Out Professionals is a 501(c)(7) nonprofit social organization in the USA. • EIN 13-3918457
OutProEd (Out Professionals Educational Foundation, Inc) is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit. • EIN 87-3853989 • Donations are tax-deductible.