Bethany M. Minor is an ordained minister, a title she earned online about 10 years ago so she could marry a friend to her wife.
"I always brag that I have a 100 percent track record because there have been no divorces and I suppose that all stems from my dad," she said. "My dad is a Baptist minister, so he ingrained in me the idea that marriage is really serious. As such, I would never marry someone who I thought didn't understand the forever commitment. I also base a lot of my words I speak around the [Bible] verse Mark 10:9, as I believe that true love cannot end."
Minor also has a deep love for sports and plays in the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association ( CMSA ). She has played CMSA softball since moving to Chicago in 2006, and had a stint in flag football from 2007-2011 until a hand injury forced her off the field.
"What I love about the CMSA women's leagues is, we're like a family," Minor said. "We are competitive on the field and talk trash, but when someone needs something, we all stand up and help where we can."
Minor has worked in the performance marketing industry since 2010. "At my current company, where I have been for three months, I am the data person who ensures things like our server connects properly with third-party tools, so we can report results to clients," Minor said. "My current company is ahead of the curve in how they think about work, collaboration, etc. and the only challenge I typically face is trying to create new reporting that encompasses all of the cool things they would like to share with clients.
"I fell into the industry having met my previous boss at a job fair. He essentially charmed me, so I gave it a shot. The industry is very similar to the LGBT community here in Chicago in that once you're in, they are there for you."
Minor, a 30 Under 30 honoree from the Windy City Times in 2008, is a co-chair for Garden of Eve, an annual fundraiser for Howard Brown Health Center, which was held Nov. 7 at Venue One.
"I am contemplating further education in analytics, as I have found that I have a knack for it," she said. "I also am working on wrangling my partner into settling down more permanently with me. Professionally I want to continue to work with Acceleration Partners or companies similar to it that are innovative thought leaders in their industry. In addition to professional success, I want to continue to work with nonprofit organizations in Chicago to help them achieve their goals to better help constituents such as women and LGBT youth.
"I have found that while your job may be great, the good stuff really comes from doing great things in your community and seeing those around you grow personally and professionally as well."
THE STATS
Age: 29
Neighborhood: Humboldt Park
Relationship Status: Partnered
Hobbies: Softball, reading, binge-watching TV shows, researching and buying new technologies
Job title: Analyst, Acceleration Partners
Favorite sports team: Boston Red Sox
Favorite pro athlete: Serena Williams
Favorite TV shows: The Wire and The Walking Dead
Preferred drink at a bar: Ciders ( Angry Orchard ) or bourbon/whiskey ( Angel's Envy with light ice )
Little-known fact: "I pretty much don't like anything that has more than four legs and if I do see something either it needs to leave, I need to leave, or it has to die."
