Kauffman Foundation selects familiar face as new CEO
June 9, 2015 | Bobby Burch
After a yearlong, nationwide search for a new CEO, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation wound up selecting one of its own.
Guillies
The Kansas City-based foundation selected Wendy Guillies as the Foundation’s new president and CEO.
Guillies, who previously served as interim CEO and vice president of communications for the foundation, joined the organization in April 2000. She’s led such initiatives as Global Entrepreneurship Week, which engages communities in 150 countries around the world. She also was vital to developing the foundation’s strategic plan in Kansas City and around the world, the foundation said.
“Given my deep respect for Mr. Kauffman, it is an honor to be named CEO of the Foundation that bears his name,” Guillies said in a release. “While the Foundation has accomplished a great deal, there is much work to be done. I look forward to working with our extraordinary staff, trustees and leaders in our Kansas City community to fulfill Mr. Kauffman’s legacy and realize his vision of helping individuals attain economic independence by advancing educational achievement and entrepreneurial success.”
A native of Kansas City, Kan., Guillies serves on the boards of KCSourceLink and Kauffman FastTrac, and in 2014 was appointed to the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors. A graduate of the University of Nebraska, Guillies now lives in Overland Park with her husband and two daughters.
“Over the last year, the Kauffman Foundation has been an active and involved partner on countless initiatives focused on education, entrepreneurship and quality of life in Kansas City,” Kansas City Mayor Sly James said in a release. “Wendy’s passion for our community is evident and her knowledge of the issues related to education and entrepreneurship is deep. I look forward to partnering with her to continue to advance the important work currently underway at the Foundation to address some of our community’s most important and pressing challenges.”
Guillies has worked with the foundation’s previous three CEOs, including Tom McDonnell, who stepped down from the CEO post at the end of 2014.
Featured Business
2015 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Ready to bet big? Kansas wants to help entrepreneurs win more federal innovation grants
Kansas innovators now have access to a new tool designed to help them compete for major federal funding. The Kansas Department of Commerce has opened applications for the state’s SBIR and STTR Matching Program, which provides financial support and hands-on guidance for entrepreneurs pursuing federal innovation grants. The matching initiative is part of ACCEL-KS, a…
New Maker of the Year: Why this mom’s side hustle for the girly girls couldn’t stay at home
A hobbyist venture that began with making shirts for her kids has earned Julie Swopes a spot on Made in KC’s shelves for her Chiefs- and Royals-inspired tees — along with one of the local-first retailer’s top honors: KC New Maker of the Year for 2025. “I’m just a stay-at-home mom that has turned her…
Don’t be a stranger: When this Crossroads refuge closes, another chapter begins for Afterword (and the space it leaves behind)
With two more Open Mic Nights and more than a month left on its lease at Afterword Tavern & Shelves — a cozy corner hotspot where patrons leisurely bond over drinks and good reads — the popular Crossroads third-space isn’t finished telling its story despite losing the space to its new landlord, said Kate Hall.…
Exporting KC to the world: Esports leader revs come-from-behind global takeover amid World Cup’s big draw
As the metro bundled up and showed out Friday, getting its latest taste of what the 2026 World Cup has in store, the Kansas City Pioneers dropped new heat — raising the thermostat on their commitment to seize the moment brought forth by the global gathering as a net for esports. “Now is the time for…