Windstream 2010 Annual Report Download - page 13

Ms. Jones’ qualifications for election to the Board include her expertise in financial and accounting
matters. Through her prior experience as a senior executive at a state university and in state government
and her experience on the boards of non-profit institutions, Ms. Jones has experience in reviewing and
evaluating financial statements, financial budgets and forecasts, investment portfolios of public
endowments, and other public finance matters. The Windstream Board has determined that Ms. Jones
qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert”, as defined by the rules of the SEC. Her broad state
government and higher education experience also allows her to offer insights and perspectives on
government policy, structure and operations; public relations and marketing issues; the needs of colleges
and universities, which are an important customer segment for Windstream; and information technology
and strategic planning.
William A. Montgomery, age 62, has served as a director of Windstream since July 2006 and served as a
director of Alltel Holding Corp. from June 2006 to July 2006. Mr. Montgomery also serves as Chairman
of the Compensation Committee and is a member of the Governance Committee. Mr. Montgomery has
been a private investor since 1999. From 1989 to 1999, Mr. Montgomery was Chief Executive Officer of
SA-SO Company, a company engaged in the distribution of municipal and traffic control products based
in Dallas, Texas. Prior to 1989, Mr. Montgomery worked as a registered representative in the financial
services industry and has over 12 years of experience in the financial services industry, most recently
serving with Morgan Stanley in the Private Client Services group from 1985 to 1989.
Mr. Montgomery’s qualifications for election to the Board include his wide range of financial and
business experience. In his current role as Chair of the Compensation Committee of Windstream and
through his professional career including his prior role as a chief executive officer of a private company,
Mr. Montgomery has experience in strategic planning, risk management, compensation plans and
policies, and capital market transactions. Mr. Montgomery’s service on the boards of non-profit
organizations also provides him with a broad perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing
Windstream and the communities it serves.
Alan L. Wells, age 51, has served as a director of Windstream since June 2010, and served as Chief
Executive Officer of Iowa Telecommunication Services, Inc. (“Iowa Telecom”) and Chairman of the
board of directors from 2004 to 2010. He joined Iowa Telecom in 1999 as President and Chief Operating
Officer, and was appointed to the role of President and Chief Executive Officer in 2002. Prior to joining
Iowa Telecom, Mr. Wells was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at MidAmerican Energy
Holdings Company (MidAmerican), a Des Moines, Iowa-based electric and gas utility holding company,
from 1997 until 1999. During the same period, Mr. Wells also served as President of MidAmerican’s
non-regulated businesses. Mr. Wells held various executive and management positions with
MidAmerican, its subsidiaries, and Iowa-Illinois Gas and Electric, one of its predecessors, from 1993
through 1999. Prior to that, Mr. Wells was with Deloitte Consulting (previously Deloitte & Touche
Consulting) and previously held various positions with the Public Utility Commission of Texas and
Illinois Power Company.
Mr. Wells’ qualification for election to the Board include his wide range of operational and financial
experiences in regulated industries and associated businesses. Through his prior experience as a senior
executive in the telecommunications and other regulated industries, he has insight on managing complex
regulated enterprises, developing strategic plans in changing regulatory environments, overseeing
financial reporting processes, and executing large capital market transactions.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS
VOTE FOR EACH OF THE FOREGOING NOMINEES. PROXIES SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS WILL BE VOTED FOR EACH OF THE FOREGOING NOMINEES UNLESS
STOCKHOLDERS SPECIFY A CONTRARY VOTE.
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