Jeffrey Lyon Named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year

SEATTLE, WA (June 30, 2009) – GVA Kidder Mathews today announced that its Chairman and CEO, Jeffrey Lyon, received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2009 Award in the Financial Services & Real Estate category in the Pacific Northwest. According to Ernst & Young LLP, the award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic, growing businesses. GVA Kidder Mathews announced May 14 that Lyon was originally selected as a finalist from nearly 65 nominations. Lyon was then selected by an independent panel of judges, and the award was presented at a gala event at the Sheraton Seattle on June 26, 2009.

“This is very nice recognition and I am honored to represent the company and the great employees who have worked so hard to contribute to the success of GVA Kidder Mathews,” said Lyon.

The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year awards celebrate their 23rd anniversary this year. The program honors entrepreneurs who have demonstrated exceptionality in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.

“We are proud to recognize the achievements of Jeffrey Lyon,” said Greg Beams, Ernst & Young LLP Entrepreneur Of The Year Program Director for the Pacific Northwest. “Award recipients of the Entrepreneur Of The Year award build leading businesses and contribute significantly to the strength of our region’s economy. Their success helps our area grow stronger.”

As a Pacific Northwest award recipient, Jeffrey Lyon is now eligible for consideration for the Ernst & Young LLP Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009 national program. Award recipients in several national categories, as well as the overall national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award recipient, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California on November 14, 2009. The awards are the culminating event of the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies.

About GVA Kidder Mathews

GVA Kidder Mathews is one of the largest full-service independent commercial real estate firms on the West Coast with over 400 professionals and staff in 9 offices in Washington, Oregon, and California. The Seattle-based firm provides brokerage, consulting, property management, appraisal, construction and development management, and sustainability consulting services. They perform over $2.2 billion in transactions, manage nearly 23 million square feet of space, and conduct 900 appraisals annually.

About Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur Of The Year® Awards Program 

Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award is the world's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® award celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 135 cities in 50 countries.