Keith Douglas

He/Him/His

Chapter Founder

As the Founder of KD&CO Advisors, Keith is focused on business development strategies and branding and marketing plans in hospitality, travel, tourism, and commercial real estate, including roles with Rockefeller Center, World Trade Center, W Hotels, and Sterling Bay. With a business philosophy based on the understanding that the key to success is the connectivity between people, product, purpose, and profit, he partners with clients to unlock the rich reserves within their existing teams and assets and explore business and revenue opportunities that translate to positive financial results.

Dane Burns

He/Him/His

Partnerships

Dane is a creative Chicago native with a background in sales and recruiting for small to large enterprise corporations. Being a part of Out Professionals ties into his passion for recruiting and his natural ability to connect with individuals seeking to network and find jobs. He believes it's extremely important to provide a safe space for people within the LGBTQIA+ community to come together and network, enhancing their careers and recognizing the power of leveraging their own community. In his professional career, he always advises clients and candidates that leveraging their network is key to success in finding a job.

Courtney Glasper outpro-chicago-ambassador-courney-glasper

He/Him/His

Ambassador

Courtney is a proven leader in the field of revenue and profitability management. As a Senior Manager of Pricing at Ultradent, a leading manufacturer in the dental industry, he directs initiatives to implement advanced pricing systems that enhance profitability through predictive analytics and price optimization. Additionally, he offers consultancy services, assisting small to mid-sized companies in establishing best practices in financial management. His continued commitment to excellence has made him a sought-after expert in his field and a real asset to Out Professionals Chicago Chapter!

Liz Gilbert

She/Her/Hers

Ambassador

Liz Gilbert is a national sales leader with a proven record of driving revenue growth in the travel and hospitality industry. She excels in strategic planning, business development, and customer relationship management. As an LGBTQ ally, Liz values networking through Out Professionals to foster inclusive relationships, share knowledge, and support the LGBTQ community's success.

Mark Schmieding

He/Him/His

Ambassador

Mark Schmieding works as a Digital Practice consultant for small, medium, and large-sized firms. He is a licensed architect/designer working on select projects. He was educated at the University of Kansas, receiving his B. Arch degree. He spent several years in Europe, studying at Universität Dortmund, Germany, and the Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, Switzerland, and working professionally in Barcelona, Spain.

Brian Justice

He/Him/His

Ambassador

I am a freelance content writer with some heavy-duty experience as a freelance healthcare writer, writing about architecture, design, construction, infrastructure, and more. I may not be able to perform surgery, design a stadium, or build a bridge, but I can sure weave compelling, engaging narratives around them. My personality profiles, blog posts, and white papers speak for themselves or their subjects instead. Excellent researcher and interviewer. A whiz at long-form work, including blog posts, articles, and white papers.

Jonathan Hart

He/Him/His

Creative Ambassador

As founder of Bigmouth Creative, I am passionate about work that does good — creating a culture of respect and inclusion, working with brands that share our values, and making a difference in communities that could use our support. Bigmouth is a certified LGBT Business Enterprise, a proud Rainbow-level member of the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, and the 2021 Winner of LGBTBE of the Year in Illinois.

Freddy Fletcher

He/Him/His

Photographer

Freddy is a talented photographer and multimedia expert with over 10 years of experience in the field. His expertise lies in creating stunning visual content using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. He specializes in event photography, Videography, and video editing for a variety of industries. He is passionate about creating engaging multimedia content that resonates with my clients’ target audience, and he is always learning to stay ahead of the latest trends and techniques in the multimedia industry.

Details: FletcherArtPhoto | multimedia portfolio

Adam Raskoskie

He/Him

Ambassador

I was brand-new to Chicago and honestly a little intimidated after my big move when I attended my first Out Pro event. My goal was to connect with LGBTQ+ professionals and start building my Chicago network, and Out Pro fulfilled that in spades. In Out Pro, I found a group of authentically friendly people from all industries who came together to help each other advance. In fact, I credit Out Pro for the connections that helped me land my first job in Chicago. I became an Out Pro ambassador to give back to the organization and, hopefully, help someone else have the same great experience.

Cayce Owens-Thrush

He/Him

Ambassador

Getting involved with Out Professionals Chicago has been a serious connection upgrade. I’ve reconnected with former colleagues, reviving relationships in a whole new light, while also branching out to meet professionals across industries I might’ve never crossed paths with otherwise.

It’s not just networking, it’s net-working with purpose. I’ve discovered volunteer opportunities that directly support the LGBTQ+ community, making every connection feel a little more meaningful. What sets these events apart? Zero transactions, all traction. People show up as themselves, and the focus is on real relationships, professional and personal. You never know where they might lead.

If networking usually makes you want to log off, this is the space that pulls you in. Open, welcoming, and full of incredible LGBTQ+ professionals. OutPro Chicago really knows how to bring people out of their shells.

Todd Litten

He/Him

Ambassador

Todd brings over 30 years of experience in promotional branding and visual merchandising solutions, working as an independent business development strategist. He partners with a trusted network of suppliers - promotional products, wood, metal, plastics, and corrugate - giving clients a single point of contact to manage projects and deliver the right solutions efficiently and cost-effectively.

Todd joined Out Professionals Chicago to continue expanding and diversifying his network and to make a difference. As part of the Ambassador team, he contributes wherever he can to support the organization and its members and finds it inspiring to connect with people who are focused on growing both professionally and personally.

Circle Surrogacy

Circle’s dedication to the LGBTG+ community is at the heart of everything we do, which is why our partnership with Out Pro is so meaningful. Their commitment to empowering LGBTQ+ communities aligns deeply with our own. Founded over 30 years ago by a gay dad, Circle was built on the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to build a family. Today, we’re proud to continue supporting the LGBTQ+ community and honored that so many individuals and couples choose Circle to help bring their family-building dreams to life.