Kelly Hinz, who still works at the Chamber, and former employee Marsha Wood seek undisclosed monetary damages for “severe economic and emotional distress,” according to their lawsuit, which also names the Chamber’s chief executive officer, David Graybill, and manager of member services and marketing, Judie Lloyd, as defendants.

Lloyd’s alleged behavior forms the basis of the lawsuit.

The pair contend that Lloyd, their supervisor, uses sexually suggestive profanity and other vulgarities when referring to female employees and inappropriately touched Hinz – including patting his buttocks – on at least three occasions.

They also claim she uses inappropriate language to refer to some Chamber members, calling them “lesbos,” “blackies” and other names, according to the lawsuit.

Graybill said Monday that the organization had not yet been served a copy of the lawsuit, but he said the Chamber denies the allegations.

“We believe the allegations of creating a hostile work environment are false, and we will aggressively defend ourselves in court if necessary,” he said.

Efforts to reach Lloyd for comment were unsuccessful.

“We brought this lawsuit in order to insure that the Chamber’s employees will not have to continue to go through what I did,” Wood said in a statement released through her lawyer’s office.

Adam Lynn: 253-597-8644