Atlanta, October 4, 2013 – The Atlanta Executive Network is re-launching its brand and changing its name to the Metro Atlanta Association of Professionals (MAAP). Our goal is to provide the highest quality networking environment for the region’s LGBT and Allied Community.

In 1992, Allen Jones and a small group of other members of Atlanta’s LGBT community met and formed the Atlanta Executive Network, now known simply as AEN.

The world in which this group was formed was very different from today’s business environment. It was somewhat rare for a person to be open about his or her sexual orientation. The work environment was far more corporate in nature and the exponential growth of small and medium-sized businesses was just beginning.

Invitations to AEN meetings were sent by mail with no indication of the contents on the envelope. Over those 20 years, the organization changed, along with the nature and size of the membership.

The time has arrived for something new and better suited to a world where Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell no longer exists. Our city has doubled in size and our people live in whatever part of the metropolitan area they select. LGBT people are seeing the fruits of many years of struggle for civil rights realized.

The time is now for an organization that represents the entirety of the LGBT community AND our allies to form a group meaningful to businesspeople from pre-college graduation to post-retirement.

The Metro Atlanta Association of Professionals will serve this new reality. Its leadership will reflect the diversity of our region.  Its programming will serve the needs of our constituents.

Our goals are large and important to the community. They will not be achieved easily or quickly, but we welcome the challenge, and we are ready to work toward that end.

This serves as your invitation to join us in building not just a great organization, but to make the LGBT business community in Georgia a shining example of inclusion and success.

Networking. There’s a MAAP for that.

This press release and more information about the organization are available at: http://www.aen.org.

The MAAP Logo can be located and downloaded at: www.maapatl.org/logo

About AEN

Founded in May 1992, AEN was created by 15 members who believed that gay and lesbian business professionals had much to offer each other and the community. AEN’s mission is to create an all-inclusive environment for individual, entrepreneurial and professional development through career networking, relationship-building and education for Atlanta’s LGBT professionals and our allies. AEN currently has a connection network of over 2,000 professionals as well as 6 corporate business partners and 3 non-profit partners.

View the PDF Version of this Press Release.