Bio: Tony L. Shipley

Tony L. Shipley is president and CEO of Entek IRD International Corporation, a leading supplier of software, hardware and services to the worldwide industrial plant maintenance market.

Eighteen years ago in Cincinnati, Ohio, Mr. Shipley founded Entek Scientific to focus on the mechanical engineering software market. Starting in 1983, Entek played a key role in forming a new industry that is now known as Predictive Maintenance. This industry grew to more than $100 Million in sales this past year, with Entek remaining the industry's leading software developer. In 1996, under the leadership of Mr. Shipley, Entek acquired IRD Mechanalysis and the expanded company was renamed Entek IRD International Corporation. Since the acquisition, Entek IRD has become a major player in the $1.5 Billion industrial plant asset management market segment.

In 1999 Entek IRD was recognized in the 81st slot on the Greater Cincinnati100 list and recognized in the 79th slot in 1998. The Greater Cincinnati100 list is a listing of the top 100 privately held companies located in the Greater Cincinnati area. In 1998 Entek IRD was awarded a Pinnacle Award, winning the highest award in the category of "Fastest-growing, Privately Held, Mature Business." Also in 1998, Entek IRD was Number 414on the Inc. 500 list, which is Inc. Magazine's list of USA's fastest growing privately held companies. During the past ten years, the company has won four Crescendo Awards -- these awards are given to the 50 fastest growing, privately held companies in the Greater Cincinnati area. Mr. Shipley received the 1996 Entrepreneur of the Year award for the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region. In recognition of growth and creative use of resources, Entek was named a 1996 designee of the Blue Chip Enterprise Initiative, sponsored in part by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, in 1994, the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce chose Mr. Shipley as the recipient of the Small Business "Person of the Year" Award.

Mr. Shipley is a member of various technical organizations and The Executive Committee, a worldwide organization of CEOs. Additionally, he is a member of the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class XVIII. Currently, Shipley serves as chairperson of the Greater Cincinnati Software Association and in 1996 he served as president of this organization. He holds an MBA from the University of Cincinnati and a BS degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Tennessee.

Mr. Shipley began his business career at Monsanto as an Industrial Engineer and later moved to Structural Dynamics Research Corporation. He has worked in a variety of sales, marketing and management positions including cofounder and Vice President of Anatrol Corporation.