ASCENT Names 3 to Board

Posted: 2/2003

ASCENT Names 3 to Board

ComoreTel's Gail Jones

THE ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNICATIONS Enterprises (ASCENT) added three new board members. Two of the appointments result from the expansion of the board from nine to 11 members, to include a representative from the supplier community as well as the new Regional Advisory Council (RAC).

Dr. Judy Reed Smith, CEO of Boston-based research and advisory firm Atlantic-ACM, is the first supplier member to the expanded board. Joe Gregori, CEO of InfoHighway Communications Corp., steps into the second new board seat as the chair of the RAC. Gail Jones, vice president and general manager of ComoreTel Holdings Ltd., an international telecom services company, replaces outgoing board member Tony Sgroi.

All three were appointed by the current board, and will serve until December. They are eligible to run for election in November for regular three-year terms on the board.

"These new members bring a wealth of experience, insight and business acumen to the board of ASCENT," said Gordon Martin, board chairman. "Through them we are strengthening our commitment to listen to all segments of our membership, and help our members start, stay and succeed in business by learning from the successful examples of our new and current board members."

InfoHighway's Joe Gregori

Reed Smith serves as a liaison representing supplier members, which were granted voting rights for the first time in November. She founded ATLANTIC-ACM after a career as a consultant and senior executive at leading international consulting firms. She received a doctorate from Harvard, a master's degree from Boston University and an undergraduate degree from Skidmore College.

As chair of the newly created RAC, Gregori is the liaison between the board and seven regional advisors who counsel the ASCENT board on issues pertinent to members in their geographic areas. Gregori has been the CEO of InfoHighway Communications since 1999. He previously served as COO for PriCellular Corp., a regional cellular telephone carrier, and was president of MCI Wireless and of Nationwide Cellular Services (NCS), before MCI's acquisition of NCS.

Atlantic-ACM's Dr. Judy Reed Smith

Jones has more than 20 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, including product and marketing management, strategic planning and client services. She currently serves on the ComoreTel board of directors. In 1993 Jones served on the board of directors for the Telecommunications Resellers Association (TRA), ASCENT's predecessor. She was re-elected to a three-year term in 1999.

Other ASCENT board members include: Bill Capraro Jr., CEO, CIMCO Communications Inc.; Ronald Contrado, president, chairman and founder, Homisco/Voicenet Inc.; Thomas Coughlin, chairman, Alliance Group Services Inc.; Robert T. Hale Sr., chairman, Granite Communications Inc.; Ronald Harden, executive vice president, Grande Communications; J. Sherman Henderson III, president and CEO, Lightyear Communications Inc.; and Shirish Lal, CEO, Vista Telecom Group.