By Matt Simonette

Staff writer

The National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce announced March 12 that Richard Ellis, vice president of communications for McDonald’s USA, has been elected to its board of directors.

“We could not be more delighted with the addition of Richard to the board,” said NGLCC President Justin Nelson. “Richard brings his extensive experience in communications and public affairs to a dynamic team of leaders.”

NGLCC represents about 1.4 million LGBT-owned businesses in the U.S. and is the largest LGBT business development and advocacy organization in the country.

Ellis, 44, who works in the Oakbrook headquarters of McDonald’s, oversees the fast food company’s public relations, media relations and public affairs efforts. A native of Ontario, he was previously vice-president of communications and public affairs at McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada.

Ellis also heads up the McDonald’s Gay, Lesbian and Allies Network, the organization for the company’s GLBT employees.

“We’ve been doing that for about three years,” he said March 13. “It’s been growing every day. We just had a summit meeting in San Diego and had about 60 people show up.”

The network currently has about 120 formal members and is open to all McDonald’s employees.

“We try to keep it very loose. We welcome everybody—it’s all about inclusion,” Ellis said. The group also does about two or three diversity trainings in Oakbrook and six or seven across the country each year.

Ellis added, “Domestic partner benefits are full, total and inclusive at McDonald’s. Our group was instrumental in getting that done.”

He has worked with NGLCC for about 2 years.

“I was thrilled when they asked me to join their board. I’m very proud of the organization,” said Ellis, who also sits on the board of directors of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago.