FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact information:
Jeremy Fegley
202-234-9181
jfegley@nglcc.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Nov. 10, 2009 - The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) and Wells Fargo announced on November 6th that Joy Silver, of RainbowVision Properties Inc. (RainbowVision), is the 2009 NGLCC/Wells Fargo LGBT Business Owner of the Year. Silver was recognized at the 2009 NGLCC National Dinner: An Evening of Courage on Nov. 6 at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. and received a $5,000 cash grant.
"Joy Silver has taken on an entrepreneurial challenge with an honorable and innovative mission that merits a high degree of admiration and praise," said Justin G. Nelson, NGLCC co-founder and president. "The success of RainbowVision is a win for the entire LGBT community, and a testament to the ingenuity and tenacity of Joy," said NGLCC co-founder and CEO Chance Mitchell.
RainbowVision is a family of companies dedicated to developing and operating communities to serve a growing LGBT and allied supporting population in their "second fifty years." RainbowVision offers a blend of services from dining, fitness center, spa, salon, and lounge -- all surrounding 146 residences of rentals, condominiums and six levels of assisted living care. The company currently operates in Santa Fe, New Mexico with plans for expansion in Palm Springs, California, the California Bay Area region and Vancouver, Canada. RainbowVision founder, Joy Silver, is frequently called upon by LGBT and mainstream organizations to present information on LGBT seniors. Silver also serves as a board member for the GLBT Historical Society in San Francisco and is currently a member of LGAIN (Lesbian Gay Aging Issues Network) at the American Society for Aging.
"As one of the NGLCC's founding corporate sponsors, we are pleased to join the NGLCC in recognizing Joy Silver," said David Pope, executive vice president and small business segment manager. "Joy and her team demonstrate the value of combining passion for service with entrepreneurship and leadership in the LGBT community."
Bill Rodman of inVision Technology, LLC and Tracy and Mia Levesque of YIKES Inc. have also been recognized as finalists for the award.
NGLCC and Wells Fargo, both dedicated to supporting LGBT businesses, introduced the NGLCC/Wells Fargo LGBT Small Business Award in 2005. LGBT business owners interested in applying for next year's award can email businessaward@nglcc.org to be notified when next year's application is available.
###
About the NGLCC
NGLCC is the only national not-for-profit advocacy organization specifically dedicated to expanding the economic opportunities and advancements of the LGBT business community. The premier advocate for LGBT business owners and their families, the NGLCC seeks to expand this community's financial opportunities, economic growth, continued innovation, and equality. As one of NGLCC's founding corporate sponsors, Wells Fargo is committed to serving the needs of the rapidly growing community of LGBT businesses.
About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company with $1.2 trillion in assets, providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage and consumer finance through more than 10,000 stores and 12,000 ATMs and the internet (wellsfargo.com) across North America and internationally.
Wells Fargo is America's #1 small business lender and a leading lender to women- and diverse-owned businesses. Through its online library of business resources, including topical videos and an award-winning webcast series, Wells Fargo provides business owners with timely advice and information to help them succeed financially. For more information, speak with a Wells Fargo banker, visit wellsfargo.com/biz or call the National Business Banking Center at 1-800-CALL-WELLS.
