CAGLCC Makes the List: Washington Business Journal ''Book of Lists'' adds local LGBT chamber

The Capital Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, aka the Chamber, is celebrating its inclusion in the Washington Business Journal's 31st annual ''Book of Lists,'' due to be released today. In a compilation of 22 D.C., Maryland and Virginia chambers of commerce, the Chamber enters the list for 2013 at No. 18. The ranking is set by a given chamber's membership. The Chamber, founded in 1990 as the Potomac Executive Network, today includes approximately 400 members. ''We've achieved phenomenal growth as a chamber over the past two years,'' said Chamber Executive Director Mark Guenther in an Oct. 12 release announcing the placement. ''It's an honor to have our chamber recognized in this way by our peers and the Washington Business Journal.'' Chamber President Ernesto Santalla also welcomed the listing: ''This truly speaks to the growth of LGBT business in the Washington area. More importantly, it speaks to how wonderfully integrated our LGBT businesses have become in the entire business community.'' Notably, in August the Chamber was named the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce's 2012 Chamber of the Year.