CLEC-People  - August 23, 2001

NTELOS announced the hiring of Mary McDermott as senior vice president, legal and regulatory affairs. McDermott will assume the role as in-house counsel for the company, and will lead all corporate regulatory efforts. She will be located at the company's headquarters in downtown Waynesboro. McDermott's career includes positions with telecommunications operating companies as well as with the Personal Communications Industry Association (PCIA) and United States Telecom Association (USTA). Her trade association experience began in 1994 at USTA, where she served for four years as vice president, legal and regulatory affairs. She coordinated with USTA's telecom company members from across the country during the enactment and implementation of the 1996 Telecom Act. As PCIA's senior vice president and chief of staff for government relations, McDermott worked with a diverse wireless membership to carry the association's message to Congress, the Administration, and federal agencies. While at PCIA, she was named one of the 25 most influential "Women in Wireless" by Wireless Week magazine. Most recently, McDermott served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Pathnet, a CLEC focused on bringing broadband and advanced telecom services to second and third tier communities. 

Z-Tel Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq/NM:ZTEL) announced that Laurence S. Grafstein has resigned from the company's Board of Directors for personal reasons. He recently accepted a position as Managing Director of Lazard Freres & Co., LLC, a global investment bank. Mr. Grafstein has served on the company's Board since October 1999 through the present and served on the company's Audit Committee from May 2000 through the present.

The ATSI Communications Inc. (AMEX:AI) Board of Directors unanimously appointed Stephen M. Wagner, 44, as the President and Chief Operating Officer of the company with full responsibility for running ATSI's U.S. telecom operations, effective immediately. Arthur L. Smith will remain Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. Wagner will be responsible for all of ATSI's telecom operations in the U.S., including the development and implementation of the company's consumer services strategy, including its local access strategy, as well as overseeing ATSI's carrier services operations. Prior to joining ATSI, Wagner served as President of Qwest Communications International's Southern Region, with full P&L responsibility for the design, staffing, construction and operation of the competitive access business segment, targeting medium to large commercial customers throughout a fifteen-state area. He successfully executed the start up of this newly created division, expanding Qwest's presence into the end-user access arena that included CLEC and DSL broadband services. He was also responsible for negotiation and execution of various agreements, including real estate, fiber and local access strategies. Wagner held management positions at LCI International and USLD Communications prior to both companies being acquired by Qwest in 1998 and 1997, respectively. Prior to serving as President of Qwest's Southern Region, he was Vice President of Wholesale Markets, overseeing full P&L responsibilities for the combined Qwest/LCI/USLD wholesale business segment, growing wholesale revenues to $465 million in 1998 and over $1 billion in 1999. At USLD, he served as Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Business Development, contributing to its 110% five-year compounded average annual growth rate. Wagner has over 20 years telecommunications-related experience including management positions with Fone America, Telesphere Communications/NTS, CTI Corporation (sold to Value Added Communications in 1989) and DSC Communications. He served on the Board of Directors of COMPTEL, America's Carrier Telecommunication Association (ACTA), Telecommunication Resellers Association (TRA), Associated Communication Companies of America (member), past President and a Board of Director of Golf San Antonio (SAGA) and a Board of Director of the Alamo Bowl.