To celebrate Pride we partnered with the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce #NGLCC for a series of stories highlighting some of our country’s #ProudOwners.

Dynamic LGBTQ+ individuals like Theo Edmonds, named one of the "50 People Changing the Face of the South" by Southern Living Magazine. Theo is an entrepreneur, cultural strategist, researcher, artist, husband, and ninth-generation Appalachian, changing the way we approach business building. As co-founder of UPOP (Underestimated People of Purpose) a cultural analytics company whose mission is to prepare for the future of work by aligning culture change management with innovation, he’s putting his lifelong passions into practice through his revolutionary use of science, designing strategies for a more inclusive, and welcoming business future for all people.

As we continued through the month, we highlighted George Carrancho, a man who found his calling on the first day he started working at a hotel chain in college. From that moment, travel would be George’s life. George believes, “Travel unites the world” and after years of working at a major airline and molding their LGBTQ+ marketing he founded his own company, Geo Lux Experiences, a travel company offering custom experiences, with a compassionate personal human touch.

Next, we spoke to Sandra Escalante, a true industry trailblazer. For over 33 years Sandra has made her mark in the construction industry. As President of Laner Electric Supply Co, a wholesale distributor of electrical construction materials, lighting products, and tools, she’s changing narratives and defying expectations with her superior customer services and advocacy. As the only LGBTQ+ certified electrical supplier in the U.S., her woman and the minority-owned company have worked with some of the biggest companies in the world.

At Kia, we are proud to celebrate all the #ProudOwners out there and support and encourage us all to think about the world differently, to innovate, and actively create a more inclusive, welcoming, diverse, and inspiring future for us all.