Who We Are

OFW began in the summer of 2005, under the guise of Diversity Change Agents (DCA)'s LGBTA Leadership and Career Fair. OFW director and DCA owner Riley Folds began DCA as a LGBT diversity consultancy. Once establishing contacts with HRC and NGLCC's Justin Nelson, the diversity consultancy morphed into the OUT for Work college career fair for LGBTA undergraduate students.

At an NGLCC event, DCA was introduced to IBM. IBM has since been a top, if not the top, sponsor for the OFW programs. Since OFW first took place in 2005 at HRC headquarters and the Beacon Hotel a number of top organizations, like Sodexho, Accenture, and Paxton, have consecutively joined OFW to bring its innovative program to LGBTA students nationwide.

In 2006 OFW began making itself known to area LGBT communities by attending local PRIDE festivals and events. OFW also travels the nation speaking on the topic of the transition from academia to the workforce, most recently OFW attending the Midwest BLGTA College Conference at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champagne (Feb.-2008).

Since the conception of OFW more than 500 students have been educated, prepared, and empowered with a toolbox of knowledge to assist in a successful transition from academia into the workplace.

In spring of 2007, OFW became a national 501c3 non profit, with board members: Christine Burkhart, Riley Folds, Nikko Kandhari, Jeff Marootian, and Michele Silverthorn. OFW continues to blossom and is planning its first west cost event in the spring of 2009. OFW is also currently seeking grants to develop a community career resource center.