Kauffman Foundation selects familiar face as new CEO

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.