The first installment of The Dallas Morning News Distinguished Women Leaders Lecture Series, featuring Sharon L. Allen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Deloitte & Touche USA LLP, will be February 23, 2006 at the Renaissance Hotel (2222 Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, Texas 75207). Tickets ($45/$65) are available online at www.dallaschamber.org/womens or by calling 214-746-6712.

As the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Deloitte & Touche USA LLP, Allen oversees the governance of an organization with more than $7 billion in annual revenues.

With more than 30 years of audit and consulting experience, Allen's clients have included Albertson's Inc., The Boeing Company, Computer Science Corp., Health Net, Inc., Hewlett-Packard, Lucent Technologies and Washington Mutual Inc.

A frequent speaker on governance, global commerce and workplace issues, Allen has addressed a broad range of prestigious forums. They include the Economic Club of Chicago, UCLA Andersen School Corporate Governance Conference, The Milken Global Economic Conference, The Economist CEO/CFO Governance Conference, the Women's Economic Club of Detroit, the Darden School Leadership Series, and the Johns Hopkins Ginder Lecture Series on Global Business.

Allen has been honored often for her contributions to business and community leadership. She's a past designee as one of the "50 Women to Watch" by the Wall Street Journal and a "Woman of the Year" of the New York City Police Athletic League. She's also earned the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Business Leader Award, and serves as a board member of United Way of Greater Los Angeles, Town Hall Los Angeles and the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles.

Allen holds an honorary doctorate in Administrative Science from her alma mater, the University of Idaho.

The Chamber's Distinguished Women Leaders Lecture Series educates the public about women leaders, identifies opportunities and challenges for women leaders, and highlights the achievements of women leaders while focusing on the challenges they have met and conquered. Special thanks to The Dallas Morning News, Dallas Community Television, Hall Financial Group, Southwest Airlines and Women's Enterprise for sponsoring this event.