Marilyn Carlson Nelson, chair and CEO of Carlson, a global leader in the travel, hotel, restaurant and marketing industries, has been named as Entrepreneur of the Decade by The Women Presidents' Organization (WPO). "Marilyn embodies all of the characteristics of the empowered entrepreneur by leading confidently, providing economic security, and giving back regularly," said Dr. Marcia Firestone, president and founder of the WPO. "She is one of the most caring leaders I have known, and I can think of no one who deserves this honor more." Nelson, who has served on the WPO advisory board, is on the World Economic Forum's International Business Council and in 2004 co-chaired the Forum's annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. She has completed a presidential appointment as chair of the National Women's Business Council, an advisory council to the President and Congress, and is currently chair of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. Over the past 10 years, the WPO has grown from a single 20-member chapter in New York City to approximately 1,100 members and 75 chapters across the United States and Canada. The organization's mission is "improving business conditions for women entrepreneurs and promoting the acceptance and advancement of women entrepreneurs in all industries."