Steve Adkins

Steve Adkins is presently the President of the Greater Miami LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce. In the years since Mr. Adkins took over the reins MDGLCC membership has grown to become one of the largest LGBTQ Chambers in the USA.

In 1999, Steve moved from his native San Diego, California to South Florida and immediately became interested in promoting Miami as a year-round, gay and gay-friendly tourist destination, when he owned and operated the Jefferson House, a South Beach Boutique Bed & Breakfast Hotel.  Prior to his move to the East Coast, Mr. Adkins held several positions in the banking world.  From 1975 until 1998, Steve worked as Vice President for Bank of America, Security Pacific Bank and, Union Bank (a division of Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi) focused in areas of corporate lending, loan syndications, and International Trade Finance. 

In addition to the MBVCA, Mr. Adkins serves on the Board of The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce South Region Co-Chair, and on the Advisory Board for Miami Beach Pride.   Mr. Adkins received the 2009 Eddie McIntyre Community Service Award from the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force; the 2010 Bacardi Icon Award, received the Pa’Lante Award from the Gay8 Festival, the Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce received Equality Florida’s first “Equality Means Business” Award in 2012 and the South Florida Business Journal Business of Pride Award 2020.

Steve holds a Bachelor of Science, from San Diego State University and a Business Administration Degree with a strong emphasis on Management with a Concentration in Finance.

Lisette Garcia

Lisette Garcia is a passionate advocate for inclusive economic empowerment and serves as the Director of Programming and External Affairs at the Greater Miami LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce (MDGLCC).  With over 25 years of experience spanning marketing, business development, event production, government relations, and community engagement, Lisette brings a powerful blend of strategic vision and grassroots connection to her work.

At the Chamber, she leads the design and execution of over 120 events annually, cultivating meaningful programming that uplifts LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, professionals, and allied businesses. Her work focuses on building strong partnerships, driving membership growth, and ensuring that the Chamber remains a vital resource for South Florida’s diverse business community.

Lisette’s career reflects her deep commitment to representation, inclusion, and opportunity. From launching the first free-floating car share program in Miami to driving multimodal mobility initiatives nationwide, she has consistently opened doors and created pathways in both the public and private sectors. Her background includes leadership roles at companies like Lime, Gotcha, Ofo, Sony Music, and Color Magazine—where she helped tell the stories of professionals of color and promote inclusive narratives in media and business.

Fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, Lisette is a connector, a builder, and a champion of inclusive innovation. She is proud to leverage her expertise and passion to help grow and support Miami’s vibrant LGBTQ+ business ecosystem. 

Lisette is also a proud native Miamian who attended MDC and holds a Bachelors of Science in Management with a concentration in Entrepreneurship from Simmons University in Boston, MA.