Business News – TRA Elects 3 to Board

Posted: 07/1999

TRA Elects 3 to Board

In a heated race, 11 nominees, including two incumbents, vied for three open seats on
the Telecommunications Resellers Association’s (TRA’s) board of directors. Voting company
members made their selections during the annual membership meeting at TRA Spring 1999
Conference & Exhibition, and new board members were announced immediately following
the meeting.

Ernest Ellis, Brian Fitzpatrick and Cliff Rees were the three board members whose seats
were up this year. Ellis and Fitzpatrick did not run for re-election; however, Rees, a
longtime board member, hoped to retain his seat but was not successful in his bid. Among
the winners of the three-year terms was Gail Jones, principal, vice president and general
manager for ViaServices Group, Omaha, Neb. Jones reprises her role as a TRA director,
having been elected the first woman to the board in 1993 and 1994.

Also elected to the board was Ron Harden, vice president of sales and marketing for
Williams Network, a subsidiary of Williams Communications Inc., Tulsa, Okla. Harden is
responsible for sales, pricing, market management, product management, marketing
communications and sales support.

Daniel G. Lazarek, executive vice president for WorldPort Communications Inc.,
Kennesaw, Ga., fills the final seat. Lazarek manages daily operations for sales,
marketing, finance, operations, legal and human resources.

Existing board members each serving the second of three-year terms include J. Sherman
Henderson, chairman, president and CEO, UniDial, Inc., Louisville, Ky.; Laura Scher, CEO,
Working Assets Long Distance, San Francisco; and Robert T. Hale Sr., chairman, Network
Plus Inc., Quincy, Mass. Each were re-elected by their fellow board members to executive
posts as chairman, vice-chairman and treasurer, respectively. Board members each serving
the second of two-year terms include Thomas M. Coughlin, founder and president, Vista
Communications, Westlake, Ohio; Meri Braziel, Vice President, International Wholesale
Marketing, MCI WorldCom Inc.; and Jim Wolfinger, president, MCI WorldCom Wireless,
Phoenix.