Justin Nelson is the Co-Founder and President of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. NGLCC is the largest LGBT economic advocacy and business development organization in the world. NGLCC has affiliates in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, South America, Europe, and Australia.
Prior to NGLCC, Justin was the Director of Federal Affairs and External Relations for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. During his tenure, the organization was named one of the top 100 lobbying organizations in Washington, DC by Forbes Magazine. Prior to lobbying Congress and the White House, Justin spent five years as an aide in the U.S. Senate. In 2012 Justin was selected as one of SmartCEO Magazine’s Top 20 Leaders We Admire.
Justin was also named to the 2012 Global LGBT Power 100 from the Guardian Newspaper in Great Britain. In 2010 Justin received the Outstanding Collaborative Partner Award from the U.S. Business Leadership Network for his partnership work on disability issues. In 2014 Justin received the Vanguard Award from the Atlanta Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.
Justin has served as a past volunteer coordinator for the Wyoming Special Olympics, a Capitol Hill Chair for the March of Dimes Walk America and on the advisory board for the First Wyoming Race for the Cure. Justin holds a BA in political science from the University of Wyoming.