Page 25 - BEQ Pride Magazine Iss 21 Winter 2021 v01012022

board is saying ‘that’s so last year,’ or your employees
are asking why you’re focusing on it so much, or cus-
tomers are saying it’s just PR fluff. We can help with
compelling messaging and outreach to various audi-
ences to explain why DEI is important to you.”
It’s Not Pie can also clarify and fortify promises
companies made in response to events in 2020 and
beyond. Finzel sees an opportunity to use his exper-
tise to help them keep those promises — it’s another
way to save the world.
“All kinds of promises were made — we’re going to
spend this amount of money, we’re going to change
this, we’re going to do that. Some of them are moving
forward, but some are not, and I think we’re going
to continue to see people and companies called to
account. It’s not enough anymore to say this stuff and
hope nobody notices when you don’t do it. That world It’s the definition of a win-win.
is gone.”
“If you care where your dollars go, how cool is it
that you can lift up small businesses that are LGBT-
THE TOTAL PACKAGE owned or owned by people of color or women or
One of the first things Finzel did after launching veterans? You can do that while also getting quality
RENEWPR in 2015 was begin the application process products, quality service, whatever you’re in the
to become a certified LGBTBE(r). market for. It’s the total package.”
“I knew that was going to be super important as a
way to differentiate myself,” he says. “The fact is that VALIDATION AND AFFIRMATION
I’m one of lots of smart people doing this work, but
I’m also a gay business owner. That’s a whole different In 2021, Finzel was inducted into the Public Rela-
set of diverse experiences that make me better than a tions Society of America National Capital Chapter
lot of my competition.” Hall of Fame. I ask what it means to him to receive
Finzel said his NGLCC certification provides exter- such an honor when he clearly has the energy and
nal validation as a gay-owned business, which not enthusiasm for another couple of decades in the busi-
only helps him get more LGBT-centric work but more ness. Far from retirement, initially, the idea of being
work in the energy and environment communities. nominated for what is usually a lifetime achievement
After all, he brings a unique set of skills and perspec- award seemed “ridiculous”, he says. But after he was
tives to the table. inducted, he reframed the honor not as a capstone to
“Wouldn’t you rather work with a firm that’s more an impressive and meaningful career but as validation
well-rounded? Wouldn’t you rather work with a firm that his work is making a difference.
that has extra abilities and diverse experiences?” he “My first reaction when my friend, Shonali Burke,
asks, knowing he makes a compelling argument. “And said she wanted to nominate me was, ‘I’m not eligible,
in my case, because of The Change Agencies, I can that’s ridiculous,’” he recalls, admitting that he then
bring in that whole equity piece and really talk about realized he was eligible. “Since then I’ve been think-
the broader issues that are now front and center for ing about what this honor means to me. It’s validation
the energy and environment communities in partic- and affirmation, not just of the work I’ve done, the
ular.” late nights and weekends, but of the work that still
And, Finzel points out, choosing to work with a needs to be done.”
minority- or women- or LGBT-owned business lets Ben Finzel and his work can be found at renewpr.
companies back up their DEI promises with action. com. 

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