Page 45 - BEQ Magazine Vol2 Iss4 V2

his course for the future when the Chamber of Commerce, Kellie eted at work as both an LGBTQ
Cosby-era reigned supreme. After Parkin is making a huge difference. person and an atheist. Now that
high school James went to college After 25 years of being an all-vol- she can live and work authentically,
with argyle sweaters and loafers, a unteer run organization, Kellie is she is excited about what the future
stint in medical school and a course the organization’s first executive holds and making a positive impact,
correction to what he thought was director and full-time staff person. more opportunities for the LGBTQ
his dream career as corporate law- Under her leadership the group has community and society as a whole.
yer. By the age of 29, James had achieved increased local involve-
created a multi-million dollar com- ment, more visibility in the region, ERIC PATRIDGE
pany. With all the trappings of suc- greater enthusiasm and more col- (He, Him) is 38
cess but lacking the deep purpose, laboration in the community. This, CORPORATE—Interdisciplinary Kellie Parkin
life got interesting fast. James de- along with an increase in the num- STEM professional and Advocate
scribes a tragic accident on what ber of volunteers and members all
was supposed to be a leisurely day happening in part as the communi- As a Knowledge Engineer at
on a lake in Texas, where rescuers ty responds to the Pulse Nightclub Viome, Dr. Eric Patridge is re-
struggled to revive his lifeless body. tragedy. It’s no surprise that MBA sponsible for integrating artificial
After that experience, James made Orlando was named the NGLCC intelligence with diet, functional
a shift —he decided to live a more 2017 Chamber of the Year. medicine and the microbiome. His
purposeful and meaning-filled life. Kellie believes partnerships are current role follows a rapid pivot
Now he is the role model he wished essential to achieving equality and into technology after nearly two de-
he had as a young person. As an has made it her goal to increase cades in academia. Before joining
African-American, proudly out gay (or establish, in some cases) collab- Viome, Eric used most of his free
man who has achieved acclaimed oration with local governments, time to cultivate a national organi- Eric Patridge
success professionally and person- Orlando Regional Chamber, His- zation focused on fringe issues for Photo Credit: Amy Mayes Photography
ally despite all odds, he keynotes panic Chamber of Commerce both Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans-
events, sits on panels and partici- and others. These partnerships gender and Queer (LGBTQ) and
pates in roundtable discussions, fire- help to create a more inclusive en- Science, Technology, Engineering
side chats and one-on-one sessions vironment throughout the region, and Math (STEM) communities.
talking to aspiring entrepreneurs. allowing local affinity chambers Whenever possible, he has pushed
He always looks forward to engag- to work together to unite the voic- for long term, sustainable change
ing LGBTQ and African-American es of the local Hispanic chamber, that will persist despite ever-chang-
youth to share and learn. He travels African-American chamber, dis- ing political winds. Such infrastruc-
globally to spread the good news of ability chamber and Kellie’s voice ture requires precise attention to
positive healthy living, how to grow representing the LGBTQ chamber how to achieve success, deliberate
a business to scale and how to cre- on issues impacting the region’s dedication to the development of
ate a life of great success. James is small diverse businesses. Prompt- leaders and visible role models and
a business and personal mentor to ed by the Pulse tragedy, Kellie be- success stories.
many with a system for success that came a member of a task force In LGBTQ spaces, Eric has ad-
encourages and empowers others to charged with formally creating a vocated for academic advancement,
design and grow a life of meaning coalition of Central Florida’s 30+ professional development, and ca-
and fulfillment. LGBTQ-focused organizations by pacity building. In STEM spaces,
setting the name, structure, mission, he fought to eliminate barriers for
KELLIE PARKIN vision, values and by-laws. The co- underrepresented groups, to bring
(She, Her) is 38 alition, now a properly designated LGBTQ representation where de-
NON-PROFIT—Coalition Builder 501(c)3, gives the region a collective cisions are made, and to succeed
LGBTQ voice and will provide a as an interdisciplinary STEM pro-
Still enjoying her first year as ex- platform for education, advocacy fessional. The community he culti-
ecutive director for MBA Orlando, and change. vated, Out in Science, Technology,
an affiliate of the National LGBT In the past Kellie had been clos- Engineering, and Mathematics (oS-

BEQ PRIDE December 2017 | 45