FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(PHILADELPHIA, PA) - November 17, 2009 - Mia and Tracy Levesque, co-owners of the Philadelphia-based Web Development company YIKES, were the only local finalists for the 2009 National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce's Wells Fargo Business Owner of the Year Award. The award — given out at the NGLCC's Sixth Annual National Dinner on Friday, November 6, and celebrating the accomplishments of those making a significant impact in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender business, government, community activism, and the allies and businesses that support NGLCC — recognizes LGBT business owners who are making inroads in their industry, their community, and carrying out the mission of NGLCC through their business practices. Considered alongside Mia and Tracy were Bill Rodman, owner of Seattle-based aerospace engineering consulting firm, inVision Consultants, LLC, and Joy Silver, president and CEO of the LGBT-friendly retirement communities, RainbowVision Properties — the latter to whom the award was given.

"We are honored and thrilled to be finalists for this year's NGLCC/Wells Fargo Business Owner of the Year Award," says Tracy. "We appreciate this national honor and NGLCC's recognition of our company's dedication to sustainable business practices."

On the suggestion of Bread and Roses Executive Director Casey Cook, the Supplier Diversity Initiative Fellow at NGLCC reached out to the Levesques and encouraged them to fill out the nomination application. Seeing for themselves YIKES's dedication to green business practices and social responsibility, the company was an easy nomination for the NGLCC's awards committee.

Since 1996, YIKES has continued to be a socially responsible business observing the triple bottom line: people, planet, profit. YIKES is committed to building a more socially, environmentally and financially sustainable local economy. Along with being a member of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia, YIKES has earned Co-op America's Business Seal of Approval, and has been a recipient of a Triple Bottom Line Award at the 2005 Social Venture Institute in the service category. What's more, YIKES employees donate a percentage of YIKES' profits to non-profit organizations every year.

Amongst the award recipients at the National Dinner, held at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC, were IBM, PepsiCo, and individuals from Merck & Co, C-SPAN, and the NAACP. As an organization, the NGLCC is the business advocate and direct link between LGBT business owners, corporations, and government, representing the interests of more than 1.4 million LGBT businesses and entrepreneurs. The NGLCC is committed to forming a broad-based coalition of LGBT-owned and friendly businesses, professionals, and major corporations for the purpose of promoting economic growth and the prosperity of the organization's members.

For more information on YIKES, visit www.yikes.biz.

Press Contact:
Tracy Levesque
215.238.8801
tracy@yikes.biz