News

3RBA has received a $2,500 grant from the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) and Wells Fargo to continue its Let's Get Business Together! program.  The program is a LGBTBE® Certification Growth Initiative which seeks to expand the number of certified LGBTBE® in the Pittsburgh/Greater Allegheny region for the 2019/2020 fiscal year.  As of October 2019, 3RBA had twelve (12) members who are certified LGBTBE®, with nine (9) having received their certifications through 3RBA. The Let's Get Business Together program plans on increasing that number to twenty-five (25) by December 30, 2020.

To learn more about the LGBTBE® certification process, visit 3RBA's Get Certified page.  Also, check out our Events page for all Let's Get Business Together! events.

2019 was a year of incredible growth for 3RBA.  Check out this photo display to see some of what we've accomplished this past year.

As we review what we have accomplished and look forward with optimism for what lies ahead, we thank everyone for supporting us. We could not do this work without tremendous partners and leaders like our members and corporate sponsors.

Wishing you happy holidays and a very Happy New Year!

    

On December 10, 2019, Three Rivers Business Alliance had a great evening "Being Out and Proud" with its host PNC Proud and special guest Katie Smith! Thank you PNC and Katie for a festive evening!!

Click here for more photos of this event. 

       

Three Rivers Business Alliance proudly announces its continued support of the Renaissance City Choir as it kicked off its 2019-2020 concert season. Renaissance City Choir affirms and celebrates LGBTQIA+ identity through the unifying power of music.

"3RBA is delighted to support Renaissance City Choir for another year,” said Ronald L. Hicks, Jr., a partner at Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP and President of 3RBA. “The RCC’s mission of promoting diversity and a positive image of the LGBTQ+ community in the tri-state area aligns with 3RBA’s own mission of advancing diversity, inclusion and growth. We applaud the RCC for its leadership, and we look forward to a successful and enlightening 2019-2020 Concert Season.” 

To learn more about the Renaissance City Choir and its concert schedule, visit www.rccpittsburgh.com/.

PNC and Three Rivers Business Alliance present a "Night of Being Out and Proud, Thanks and Holiday Celebration."  On Tuesday, December 10, 2019, PNC and 3RBA will host a reception, with hosted and cash bars and appetizers and light supper, at The Tower at PNC Plaza, 28th Floor.  The featured speaker is Katie Smith, a three-time gold medalist and one of the most decorated professional basketball players of all time who is currently the Head Coach of the WBNA New York Liberty.

The cost for the event is: $50.00 for Members; $65.00 for Non-members; $10.00 for Students with valid ID.  RSVP by December 8, 2019, by going to this link.   

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About Three Rivers Business Alliance (3RBA)

Launched in early 2018, 3RBA serves to promote networking and business development within the LGBT+ and allied business community operating in the Pittsburgh and Greater Allegheny region.  Together with its foundation, 3RBA is committed to expanding the economic interests of LGBT+ owned and allied businesses through advocacy, education, business development and growth, diversity, leadership, and partnerships throughout its region.  Also, as an NGLCC affiliated chamber, 3RBA serves as a point of connection for LGBT+ and allied business owners and professionals, corporations, nonprofits, and civic leaders. Learn more about 3RBA at www.3rba.com.

Three Rivers Business Alliance (3RBA) is proud to announce UPMC and its Center for Engagement and Inclusion have renewed their sponsorship for 3RBA.  

The UPMC Center for Engagement and Inclusion aims to ensure that diversity, inclusion, dignity, respect, and cultural awareness are core components of the employee, health plan member, patient, and community experience.  As UPMC says: “Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.”

“3RBA is delighted that UPMC has renewed its sponsorship of 3RBA,” said Ronald L. Hicks, Jr., a partner at Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP and President of 3RBA. “UPMC is committed to fostering a diverse environment in all aspects of its work and culture and believes that its ability to retain and serve its clients and their diverse needs is enhanced by supporting organizations like 3RBA.”

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About Three Rivers Business Alliance (3RBA)

Launched in early 2018, 3RBA serves to promote networking and business development within the LGBT+ and allied business community operating in the Pittsburgh and Greater Allegheny region.  Together with its foundation, 3RBA is committed to expanding the economic interests of LGBT+ owned and allied businesses through advocacy, education, business development and growth, diversity, leadership, and partnerships throughout its region.  Also, as an NGLCC affiliated chamber, 3RBA serves as a point of connection for LGBT+ and allied business owners and professionals, corporations, nonprofits, and civic leaders. Learn more about 3RBA at www.3rba.com.

Three Rivers Business Alliance (3RBA) is proud to announce Covestro has joined 3RBA as an Monongahela River Sponsor.  Covestro is among the leading suppliers of premium polymers. Its materials and application solutions are found in nearly every area of modern life. Innovation and sustainability are the driving forces behind the continuous development of its products, processes and facilities.  At Covestro, diversity is its strength, inclusion is its commitment, and innovation is its direction.

“3RBA is delighted to have Covestro as a corporate sponsor,” said Ronald L. Hicks, Jr., a partner at Porter Wright Morris & Artur LLP and President of 3RBA. “Covestro is leading the way in diversity and inclusion, and with its help, 3RBA and Covestro can improve the LGBT+ business community in the Pittsburgh and Greater Allegheny region and continue the advancement of entrepreneurship in the region.”

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About Three Rivers Business Alliance (3RBA)

Launched in early 2018, 3RBA serves to promote networking and business development within the LGBT+ and allied business community operating in the Pittsburgh and Greater Allegheny region.  Together with its foundation, 3RBA is committed to expanding the economic interests of LGBT+ owned and allied businesses through advocacy, education, business development and growth, diversity, leadership, and partnerships throughout its region.  Also, as an NGLCC affiliated chamber, 3RBA serves as a point of connection for LGBT+ and allied business owners and professionals, corporations, nonprofits, and civic leaders. Learn more about 3RBA at www.3rba.com.

Three Rivers Business Alliance (3RBA) is collaborating with the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber on a unique opportunity for LGBTBE certified law firms.  Shell is one of the valued Greater Houston LGBT Chamber corporate partners and is a strong supporter of the LGBTQ business community.  Shell Legal Global Operations, through their Law Firm Panel Review Project, is focused on increasing diversity & inclusion participation in terms of its legal services across the globe.  Shell is actively seeking LGBTQ+ certified law firms (LGBTBE certification) to submit an RFI about legal services that you may be able to provide as part of the Law Firm Panel Review Project.  As part of our collaboration as part of the Texas LGBT Chambers of Commerce, our colleagues at the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber asked us to share this opportunity with our member law firms who are LGBTQ-owned.

While the LGBTBE certification is not required to submit an RFI, it is preferred by Shell.  We encourage you to pursue the LGBTBE certification for this opportunity and other potential opportunities in the future.  The certifying body is the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) of which our Chamber is an affiliate.  If you are a member of 3RBA, your certification fee is waived  Learn more about the certification and how to apply. 

Please review the RFI Proposal and Project Review brochure for more information from Shell Legal Global Operations about how to submit a Request for Information (RFI).  Note that the deadline to submit the RFI is September 16, 2019. 

3RBA encourages you to submit the RFI as Shell will be building a list of LGBTQ+ certified firms as their Legal Global Operations team identifies resource or jurisdiction gaps in the future as well. Any questions related to the RFI should be directed to Simon Bolaños at Simon.Bolanos@shell.com.

Three Rivers Business Alliance's president, Ronald L. Hicks, Jr., was featured in The American Lawyer article, "LGBTQ Businesses and Lawyers the Focus of New Partnership at Porter Wright," about his law firm's new partnership with the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC).  Hicks, a partner in the Pittsburgh office of Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, shared the importance of his commitment to LGBTQ+ businesses.

Under the partnership, the Columbus, Ohio-based Am Law 200 firm will seek out co-counsel relationships for client matters with solo practitioners and small law firms that have been certified as an LGBTQ-owned business, Hicks said.

“[The partnership will] allow firms like Porter Wright to partner with other types of minority law firms to work together to provide a great quality product to in-house general counsel,” (Hicks) said.

Read the full article here.

Three Rivers Business Alliance (3RBA) is proud to announce that Vibrant Pittsburgh and 3RBA have become affiliated members.  Vibrant Pittsburgh is an economic development nonprofit that seeks to address one of the greatest challenges facing the Pittsburgh region, its aging population and workforce, by providing leadership to accelerate the growth rate of diverse workers in the region.

Vibrant Pittsburgh’s mission is to build a thriving and inclusive Pittsburgh region by attracting, retaining, and elevating a diversity of talent. Vibrant Pittsburgh accomplishes its mission in three ways:

• By working with employers and diverse community groups to organize, promote and implement initiatives that are designed to welcome and retain more diverse talent;
• By conducting targeted talent attraction initiatives at diverse national conventions, cultural festivals and career fairs using traditional and digital marketing tactics; and
  
• By serving as the region’s central resource, spokesperson and convener on workforce diversity and inclusion issues.

“3RBA is excited to announce its affiliation with Vibrant Pittsburgh,” said Ronald L. Hicks, Jr., a partner at Porter Wright Morris & Artur LLP and President of 3RBA. “A Vibrant Pittsburgh membership gives 3RBA and its members access to a network of national and local diversity and inclusion professionals. This is a unique opportunity for 3RBA to build relationships, share best practices and resources, and advance corporate and community diversity and inclusion initiatives that will expand our region’s economy.”

About Three Rivers Business Alliance (3RBA)

Launched in early 2018, 3RBA serves to promote networking and business development within the LGBT+ and allied business community operating in the Pittsburgh and Greater Allegheny region.  Together with its foundation, 3RBA is committed to expanding the economic interests of LGBT+ owned and allied businesses through advocacy, education, business development and growth, diversity, leadership, and partnerships throughout its region.  Also, as an NGLCC affiliated chamber, 3RBA serves as a point of connection for LGBT+ and allied business owners and professionals, corporations, nonprofits, and civic leaders. Learn more about 3RBA at www.3rba.com.