Clearwater-based Tech Data Corporation plans to show their support for St. Pete Pride in a big way this weekend, with a record number of participants marching in the event's signature parade Saturday.
- More than 700 representatives marching
- Employees picked up t-shirts Friday
- Effort to participate employee-driven
Outside Tech Data Corporation's headquarters on Friday, a Pride flag waved proudly.
Inside, employees prepared for Saturday's parade, picking up t-shirts made for the event.
More than 700 Tech Data participants are expected to march in the parade.
"What we do internally and externally is really setting the pace for other companies, our neighbors out here to get into the community," said Cal Jackson, Director of Diversity & Inclusion for Tech Data Corp.
But first, there's the task of getting all the confetti, beads and sunglasses to the parade route to get done.
"Everyone will have beads to throw and bubbles to blow and sizzle sticks to rattle at the crowd," said Jackson.
It's a crowd that grows larger every year, and more corporations each year form part of that crowd.
"It is employee-driven and we’re listening to our employees," Jackson explained. "Our employees say where it’s important to show up, we hear them and it matches up with our values and we’re going to be there."
T-shirts made for Tech Data employees to wear while participating in the St. Pete Pride parade on Saturday, June 23, 2018. (Melissa Eichman, staff)
It's not just large corporations getting involved, of course. Local small businesses in the community appreciate the big support.
Zazoo’d on Central Avenue in St. Petersburg spent a month preparing for Pride, decorating and running sales.
"Pride is huge in St. Pete and I think it’s great that corporations are embracing it and showing their support of it,” said Zazoo'd owner David Fischer. “I think diversity is becoming more important period in the corporate world as well as in our everyday lives."