8.14.2007 - 06:00pm ET

(CSRwire) LONG BEACH, CA - August 14, 2007 - The Women's Leadership Exchange, an organization dedicated to the success of women business leaders, has named Sharon L. Allen, Chairman of the Board, Deloitte & Touche USA LLP, a recipient of its 2007 Compass Award. The award honors and acknowledges Allen’s service to her profession as a strong role model to other women leaders.

The Women's Leadership Exchange created the Compass Awards four years ago to honor women who have changed how women are perceived as leaders in the world, according to co-founder Leslie Grossman.

"The Women's Leadership Exchange has long believed that women of achievement inspire other women to greatness," said Grossman. "Sharon Allen, through her mentoring and strong example of personal integrity, has proven not only to be one of her profession's most important role models but also has changed the perceptions of women leaders in professional services and accounting."

Allen is responsible for the governance of an organization with more than $10 billion in annual revenues and oversees the firm's relationships with a number of major clients including Hewlett-Packard, Washington Mutual, Health Net and others. Her election in 2003 as chairman of the board and her re-election in 2007, are among her major achievements in a career of distinguished business leadership roles.

In addition to her executive responsibilities as chairman of Deloitte & Touche USA, Allen serves on the President's Export Council and on the Women’s Leadership Board at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She received the 2007 Work Life Legacy Award from the Families & Work Institute for her leadership in supporting workforce programs. She was named one of Forbes "Most Powerful Women in the World" in 2006.

About Women's Leadership Exchange

Women's Leadership Exchange(R) (WLE) is a social entrepreneurship founded by and for successful businesswomen. The WLE mission is to provide the knowledge, the tools and the connections women need to be successful in their own businesses, the corporate world and the not-for-profit environment. Recognizing the unique challenges facing women in business, whether leading their own companies or as leaders in the corporate, government or not-for-profit sectors, WLE offers a program that helps them fill the information gap and provides a venue for building connections that will facilitate their success in business and in life. WLE conferences feature leading experts, accredited executive coaches and interactive programming in major markets around the U.S. WLE also offers a resource-packed website, teleconferences, an e-newsletter, local presentations and a facilitated connection program that enables women to lend support to each other locally and nationally. For more information visit www.womensleadershipexchange.com or call 888.937.5800.

About Deloitte

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, a Swiss Verein, its member firms and their respective subsidiaries and affiliates. As a Swiss Verein (association), neither Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu nor any of its member firms has any liability for each other's acts or omissions. Each of the member firms is a separate and independent legal entity operating under the names "Deloitte," "Deloitte & Touche," "Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu," or other related names. Services are provided by the member firms or their subsidiaries or affiliates and not by the Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Verein.

Deloitte & Touche USA LLP is the U.S. member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. In the U.S., services are provided by the subsidiaries of Deloitte & Touche USA LLP (Deloitte & Touche LLP, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Deloitte Tax LLP, and their subsidiaries), and not by Deloitte & Touche USA LLP

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