Ties Like Me to celebrate fifth anniversary

Ties Like Me, a southeast Michigan professional networking group for LGBT and allied businessmen and women, will be celebrating its fifth anniversary with a gathering at Via Nove Restaurant in Ferndale at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 20.
Seven years ago, local gay businessmen Reid Beyerlein and Robert Lalicki met through the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce and realized that they shared a vision of bringing the LGBT community together to do business with one another, making the community stronger. They came to the conclusion that a group like Ties was needed to make their vision come to fruition.
Their first networking event was on Oct. 19, 2005, at Pronto! restaurant in Royal Oak, and had over 100 people in attendance. That night, Beyerlein and Lalicki knew there was a void in the community being filled.
Word spread from there and now, Ties Like Me has almost 2,000 names on its e-mail distribution list.
Ties Like Me meets consistently every third Wednesday of the month at various locations throughout metro Detroit. Changing the venues monthly is one thing Beyerlein and Lalicki believe makes Ties Like Me so enjoyable. From the annual Business Expo at the Reserve at Big Rock in Birmingham to the annual cultural event at the Opera House in Detroit, Ties members always have something interesting to look forward to.
Rasor Law Firm will host the fifth anniversary event, which goes until 8 p.m. and has no cover charge. There will be complimentary appetizers and a cash bar with drinks specials.
For more information on Ties Like Me, find them on Facebook, or visit http://www.tieslikeme.org.