WEEKLY UPDATE- February 5, 2026 | | |
Hello All -
We are excited to introduce a new Desert Business Association initiative, our Featured Member Spotlight Series.
This program is designed to celebrate our members, share their stories, and highlight the impact LGBTQ+-owned and allied businesses are making across the Coachella Valley. Over the coming weeks, we will be shining a light on some of the people behind the businesses who help make our community stronger, more connected, and more vibrant.
We are proud to launch this series with our first featured member, Dan George of Insurance Simplistic Solutions, a long time member of the Desert Business Association. Dan’s leadership, dedication, and belief in the power of community have played a meaningful role in shaping DBA’s growth and mission.
The Featured Member Spotlight is about more than business. It is about visibility, connection, and celebrating the voices that move our local economy forward while building an inclusive and welcoming Coachella Valley for all.
Get to know Dan’s story at https://bit.ly/featuredmemberDanGeorge and learn about an incredible member who make DBA what it is.
Together, we support, promote, and connect LGBTQ and allied businesses across our desert community.
Dave Powell, DBA Executive Director
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DBA Networking Mixer Hosted by Desert Stone Management at The Flannery Exchange
Event Details:
Date: Monday, February 9, 2026
Time: 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Location: Flannery Exchange, 750 N Palm Canyon Drive,
Palm Springs
Cost: DBA Members Free
Future Members $20
Our February Networking Mixer is hosted by Desert Stone Management, a full-service HOA community management and advisory firm. They combine innovation and industry best practices to ensure every client receives transparent, expedient, and professional service from their team. The mixer will be held at the Flannery Exchange in the Palm Springs Uptown Design District, so you can enjoy a great view while networking with other LGBTQ+ and ally businesses.
Remember, as a benefit for attending, we’ll collect and scan business cards from everyone at the mixer. After the event, all DBA members in attendance receive a digital contact sheet, making it easy to follow up and stay connected. Note: We provide these card scans only to DBA members, so if you want to receive them, please become a member of the only LGBTQ+ chamber in the Coachella Valley.
Bring a Raffle Item, Get a Shoutout!
We’ll be holding our regular raffle to support LGBTQ+ Youth Education Scholarships through Safe Schools Desert Cities. Bring a prize to raffle off and some cash to win it back!
Register Here
https://bit.ly/dbamixer2026-2-9
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Safe Schools Desert Cities
Educational Scholarships for Local Students
Deadline for students to apply: February 20, 2026
Here is an excellent scholarship opportunity for students pursuing their educational studies after high school!
Through our DBA partner, Safe Schools Desert Cities, there is funding available for a scholarship to the college or university they will attend. Students who fully complete the application are highly likely to receive an award.
✨ Who can apply?
- High school seniors and college-age students (up to age 22)
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Students attending community colleges, trade schools, or 4-year universities
✨ Even better:
-
Students who have received a prior scholarship may apply again!
Please share this opportunity with local Coachella Valley students.
🔗 They can learn more and apply here:
https://www.safeschoolsdc.org/awards-program
| | DBA Learning Opportunities | | |
Event Details:
Date: February 24, 2026 (Tuesday)
Time: 10:00- 11:30 am
Location: DBA Office
3111 E Tahquitz Canyon Dr.
Palm Springs
Cost: DBA Members $5.00
Non-Members $10.00
We’re excited to offer AI for Small Business, a 90-minute online training focused on practical, real-world ways small businesses are using AI to save time and work smarter.
●Live training
●Beginner and intermediate friendly
●Ideas you can use right away
We’re pleased to bring this timely training to our business community and hope you can join us.
Featured speakers: Frank Kenny – CEO and Co-founder of the Chamber Pros Community. Frank has a proven track record of exceptional training in social media, digital marketing, and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Norma Davey – Creative Director and co-founder of the Chamber Pros Community- brings over 16 years of small business training experience. Known for her expertise in creative marketing and technology, Norma’s insights will help your members use AI to create amazing marketing pieces and images.
Register Here
https://bit.ly/dba-learns-ai-training
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Event Details:
Date: March 30, 2026 (Monday)
Time: 5:30- 7:00 pm
Location: DBA Office
3111 E Tahquitz Canyon Dr.
Palm Springs
Cost: DBA Members Free
The DBA is bringing back Speed Networking: Meet Everyone in the Room. This high-energy event is designed to connect you with everyone—not just the people you know.
This structured networking experience lets you practice your elevator speech, and ensures that you’ll meet one-on-one and share about your business with everyone in the room in two-minute segments, each getting one minute.
You pair, you share, you move on.
Register Here
https://bit.ly/2026-3-30speednetworking
| | | Look What Else is Coming Up... | |
Lunch with Patsi
Date: February 7, 2026 (Saturday)
Time: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Location: Low Desert Modern Mexican, 1775 E Palm Canyon Drive #405
Cost: Prices vary depending on food and beverage selections.
Join everyone's favorite hostess, Patsi Kocan, for one of her signature “pass-the-hat” fundraisers, supporting Friends of the Desert Mountains.
Hosted at Low Desert Modern Mexican, this is a relaxed, meaningful way to connect with fellow community members while supporting an organization doing important work in our region. While supporting three DBA members at once.
Come enjoy great food, good company, and the chance to make a real impact together. Bring a friend, stay awhile, and be part of what makes our DBA community so special.
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10 Steps to Winning an RFP
Date: February 10, 2026
(Tuesday)
Time: 9:00-10:30 AM
Location: Virtual (Microsoft Teams)
Cost: Free
Southern California Edison (SCE) is pleased to offer a virtual workshop, "10 Steps to Winning an RFP or Proposal,” designed to help suppliers strengthen proposal development skills, align business offerings, and communicate unique value propositions through competitive responses.
Designed for companies that want to learn how to do business with SCE and gain a clearer understanding of the procurement process.
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Karaoke for a Kause
Date: February 17, 2026
(Tuesday)
Time: 8:00 PM
Location: Hunters Palm Springs, 302 E Arenas Rd, Palm Springs
Cost: $125
The Marsha P. Johnson Youth Drop‑In Center is the February recipient of the Karaoke for a Kause at Hunters Palm Springs.
The MPJ LGBTQ+ Youth Drop-In Center is a safe space in Coachella Valley, offering support, mental health resources, skill-building, and community for LGBTQ+ and allied youth, ages 13-17. Services include counseling, mentoring, support groups, social events, a food pantry, and more. Learn more about them at trans.health/marsha-p-johnson-lgbtq-youth-drop-in-center/
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Chocolate and Champagne
Date: February 26, 2026
(Thursday)
Time: 5:00 PM
Location: The Velvet Rope Hotel, 120 W Veredasur, Palm Springs
Cost: $125
Now in its third year, Chocolate & Champagne brings together community leaders, donors, advocates, and friends for an evening of appetizers, decadent desserts, sparkling champagne, live music, and a curated silent and live auction.
This evening of decadence supports Parkinson's Resource Organization's mission to ensure that no one is isolated because of Parkinson’s.
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Get Ready for
Cathedral City LGBT+ Days!
Event Details:
Date: March 3, 2026
(Tuesday) and
March 6 thru 8, 2026
(Friday-Sunday)
Time: 8:00 AM
Location: Various Locations in Cathedral City
Cost: Free
Join us at Cathedral City LGBT+ Days for a weekend-plus of entertainment, VIP experiences, food, drinks, artisan vendors, the world-famous Bed Race, and CommUNITY at California's First Pride Festival of the year.
For more information, head to cathedralcitylgbtdays.com
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