Kaylan Wolfe, New Business                                                                                                                                                                                     Pensacola News Journal

Published 10:00am CT Nov. 18, 2018

PENSACOLA, FL-Pensacola is a community that celebrates diversity. After all, we are known as the

"City of Five Flags." As Pensacola continues to grow and revitalize, the need is made even more apparent. As

Brian Wyer took this into consideration, he decided it was time to make the Gulf Coast African American

Chamber of Commerce a more inclusive organization. 

"It was time to make a change," Gulf Coast African American Chamber of Commerce President and CEO

Brian Wyer said. "We want to get more involvement and provide more opportunity to the community."

On Oct. 1, the Gulf Coast African American Chamber of Commerce made the transition to the Gulf Coast

Minority Chamber of Commerce. Nearly 200 members strong, the Gulf Coast Minority Chamber of Commerce

is already hard at work, helping new businesses like Henny Penny's Patisserie host a grand opening celebration.

"It goes back to our mission," Wyer said. "We want to provide more opportunity and be an advocate of

the minority community. We want to help people network and pass the message along." In the weeks since launching the Gulf Coast Minority Chamber of Commerce, Wyer has seen an influx of new members. "We've had an outpouring from the Hispanic communities," Wyer said. 

On Friday, The Gulf Coast Minority Chamber of Commerce hosted a Black Friday Shopping Expo at the Pensacola Improv Center. The Black Friday Shopping expo doubles as a professional networking event. "We're just getting started," Wyer said. "We want to pass the message along. We want everyone to have the same economic opportunity, the same opportunity for growth. It starts with us."

The Gulf Coast Minority Chamber of Commerce is located at 321 N. DeVilliers St. Suite 104 in Pensacola. It is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday. For more information, visit www.gcmcc.info or call 850-438-3993.

Kalyn Wolfe is a freelance columnist for the News Journal. Send new business tips to pcolanewbiz@gmail.com.