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PRESS RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE

February 09, 2007 09:20 AM Eastern Time

Women Executive Leadership Honors 21 Florida Public Companies for Having Two or More Women on Their Corporate Boards

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Women Executive Leadership (WEL) today released the results of its 2006 Florida Census of Women Directors & Executive Officers and honored 21 of Florida’s 150-largest public companies with two or more women serving on their corporate boards at a Corporate Salute held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

According to the results of the Census, which WEL conducted in conjunction with the University of Miami, 14.2% of Florida’s largest public companies had two or more women on their corporate boards in 2006, an increase from 12.2% in 2004.

The 21 companies include: In Miami-Dade County, BankUnited Financial Corp. (Coral Gables, Fla.) and Ryder System Inc. (Miami); In Broward County, Bristol West Holdings Inc. (Davie, Fla.), Claire’s Stores Inc. (Pembroke Pines, Fla.), Imperial Industries Inc. (Pompano Beach, Fla.), Parlux Fragrances Inc. (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Spherion Corporation (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), and Technical Olympic USA Inc. (Hollywood, Fla.); In Palm Beach County, Hollywood Media Corp. (Boca Raton, Fla.), Jacuzzi Brands Inc. (West Palm Beach, Fla.) and Office Depot Inc. (Delray Beach, Fla.); In Brevard County, Harris Corporation (Melbourne, Fla.); In Orange County, Darden Restaurants Inc. (Orlando, Fla.) and Tupperware Brands Corporation (Orlando, Fla.); In Duval County, CSX Corporation (Jacksonville, Fla.) and Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc.(Jacksonville, Fla.); In Leon County, Capital City Bank Group, Inc. (Tallahassee, Fla.); In Hillsborough County, TECO Energy, Inc. (Tampa, Fla.) and WellCare Health Plans Inc. (Tampa, Fla.); In Pinellas County, Raymond James Financial Inc. (St. Petersburg, Fla.); and in Lee County, Chico’s FAS Inc. (Ft. Myers, Fla.).

“We’re very pleased to honor these 21 companies for embracing gender diversity in their boardrooms,” said Cindy Kushner, founder and president of WEL. “We believe these companies value the varied perspectives from a diverse board and recognize the benefits that women bring to their organizations – from better corporate governance to greater shareholder value.”

About Women Executive Leadership

Women Executive Leadership (WEL) advocates, educates and connects accomplished women. WEL is a not-for-profit organization whose primary purpose is to increase the number of women serving on corporate boards by recognizing and connecting accomplished women and further expanding their influence within their respective business communities. WEL sponsors include KPMG LLP, Holland & Knight LLP, Bowne, Winn-Dixie Stores Inc., Birks & Mayors Inc., Noven Pharmaceuticals Inc., Lockton Companies LLC and WellCare Health Plans Inc. For more information, visit www.womenexecutiveleadership.com.

Editor’s Note: Copies of the results of the 2006 Florida Census of Women Directors & Executive Officers are available upon request.

For Women Executive Leadership, Miami
Jodi Paradise Knurr, 305-446-2700
Cellular: 305-778-6062
jparadise@thorpco.com
or
Deana Muraco, 305-446-2700
dmuraco@thorpco.com

www.womenexecutiveleadership.com