Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: The Melbourne Regional Chamber Launches New Sponsorship Program

By: Michael Ayers

At the Melbourne Regional Chamber, we support all members of our community. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are critical components of workplace culture and a value that is instilled at the Melbourne Regional Chamber (MRC).

Two summers ago, as a direct result of the heartbreaking events happening around our nation concerning racial injustice, we created a DEI Task Force. The Task Force plays a notable role at MRC and consists of a group of individuals who work collectively to make a difference in our community. The Task Force’s mission is to foster awareness and understanding of various perspectives and cultures to create a sense of community and belonging for all.

Recently, the Task Force came together and launched their Professional Equity Sponsorship Program as a result of our annual Community Leadership Retreat. The goal of this program is to provide potential MRC professional partners in underserved communities and demographics with the opportunity to join the Chamber. This will result in diversifying our base while offering financial assistance and engaging programming exposure for participating partners.

This sponsorship program includes benefits such as a full year’s basic partnership with MRC, one year of SCORE business consultations, five tickets to attend our Good Morning Space Coast monthly breakfast, and one Supporter Sponsorship at a monthly MRC Small Business Council. The DEI Task Force is seeking to sponsor businesses that consist of being a diversely owned small business with 20 or fewer employees, must have been in business for at least six months, is Brevard County-based, and is registered on Sunbiz.

If you are interested in applying or know someone that should apply for our DEI Sponsorship Program, we encourage you to visit our website, https://www.melbourneregionalchamber.com/dei-task-force/ or contact Mel Thomas, Vice President of Business Development at [email protected]. The Melbourne Regional Chamber’s DEI Task Force is also seeking potential investors whose priorities resonate with the DEI Task Force’s mission and is interested in sponsoring businesses in the DEI Sponsorship Program.

This sponsorship program would not be possible without our DEI Professional Equity Sponsors who acknowledge their business’s commitment to professional equity. We would like to recognize

Champion Sponsors ($5,000): Bank of America – Merrill, Shelter Mortgage Company, Natasha Spencer

Connector Sponsor ($2,500): Leonardo DRS

Supporter Sponsors ($1,000): Blue Fox Agile Accounting, Peoples Financial of Raymond James, Progressive Cleaning, Widerman Malek, PLAs president and CEO of the Melbourne Regional Chamber, Michael Ayers is a strategic leader with experience in managing government agencies, political campaigns, and community-based organizations. He has spent more than 17 years in government relations, management, and political marketing in Washington, D.C., Illinois, Tallahassee, and Brevard County.