FWE&E Appoints Wendy Beecham as CEO and Chris Shipley as Chair of the Board

September 17, 2007

PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The Forum for Women Entrepreneurs and Executives (FWE&E) today announced the appointment of Wendy Beecham as chief executive officer and Chris Shipley as chairwoman. The dynamic duo brings experience that includes corporate leadership, entrepreneurial savvy, and a passion for business success.  Both searches were conducted by Taylor Winfield, Inc.

Founded in 1993, FWE&E is the only group in the Bay Area designed to empower executive level women across multiple industries and business functions in a trusted, collaborative network of peers. Together, FWE&E members have founded more than 300 companies, created over 5,000 jobs, and raised more than $1.5 billion in venture funding.

As the new CEO, Beecham brings over 25 years of corporate leadership from various industries. Most recently, she was president and founder of Flawless Leadership, a boutique consulting firm that coaches C-level business leaders on executive performance. In addition she was Chair of two CEO Peer groups with Vistage International, the world's largest CEO membership organization that helps CEO become better leaders, make better decisions and deliver better results. She has also held a variety of senior leadership roles including senior vice president of the enterprise and library division at LexisNexis Group and managing director of London-based Sweet & Maxwell Group, a legal division of the Thomson Corporation. Beecham holds a bachelor's degree in government and library science from Texas Woman's University, and a master's degree in information science from North Texas State University.

"I've been a senior executive, a CEO and an entrepreneur, so I can relate to the full spectrum of our membership," said Wendy Beecham, FWE&E CEO. "I am thrilled to have this role. It combines my management experience with the leadership development work I have been doing for the past three and a half years."

Adding to Beecham's depth of experience, Chris Shipley joins the helm of FWE&E's board as an established authority in the entrepreneurial sector. Named one of the "Top 10 Minds in Small Business" by Fortune Small Business Magazine, and a "Woman of Distinction" by the San Jose Business Journal, Shipley is a well-known leading technology and product analyst in the Bay Area. She is the co-founder and chair of Guidewire Group, Inc., a leading market intelligence firm focused on early-stage technology companies and emerging markets. She is the executive producer of the DEMO Conferences for IDG'S Network World and has helped technology companies bring more than 1,000 new products to market since 1996. Shipley graduated with a bachelor's degree in literature and communication arts from Allegheny College.

"I enjoy helping companies succeed, and I hope to do the same for our FWE&E members," said Chris Shipley, chair of the board. "I'm thrilled to be a part of this organization."

About Forum for Women Entrepreneurs and Executives
Founded in 1993, Forum for Women Entrepreneurs and Executives (FWE&E) drives leadership change at the C-level and in the boardroom to better reflect a diverse workforce and customer base. In a trusted, collaborative network of peers, women are empowered to achieve their potential and accelerate success. Unlike other professional organizations that are focused on a single business function or vertical industry, FWE&E attracts Silicon Valley-based top-tier technology and life sciences executives across all functions. http://www.fweande.org

About Taylor Winfield, Inc.
Established in 1987, Taylor Winfield has been instrumental in building billions $$ in market value within the high technology industry, via retained executive search and strategic business development.Through key relationships with premier private equity and venture capital firms, maturing client companies, and their executive network of visionary industry leaders, Taylor Winfield has conducted searches to create hundreds of high tech core management teams in Consumer Internet, Wireless, SaaS, Enterprise Software, Networking, Hardware, Services, and Semiconductors – and now Green Tech, Renewable Energy and Retail.