CLEC People - April 12, 2001

Reinforcing its European presence, Williams Communications announced two new executives who will be supporting the company's international efforts. Peter Gardener has joined Williams Communications as managing director, Europe, a new position responsible for identifying and developing long-range business development objectives and strategies to expand the company's services to the region. Additional responsibilities include creating alliances and service agreements to terminate traffic throughout Europe from the company's U.S. customers and to obtain reciprocal traffic back to the United States. Prior to joining Williams Communications, Gardener was general manager for Energis, where he was responsible for establishing a U.S. operation for the European company, as part of its strategy to become a major player in the global communications market. Tony Elandary will assume the role of executive director of network development, Europe. Elandary will be responsible for developing the company's European facilities and joint ventures or alliances with other carriers. Prior to assuming this position, Elandary was responsible for international network planning for Williams Communications.

LayerOne, a provider of layer one optical transport exchanges and connectivity services, named Mark Gershien chairman of its board of directors. Gershien brings to the board some 20 years management experience in telephony, data and Internet services. Gershien most recently held top management posts with two well-known telecommunications service providers. As senior vice president of Level 3 Communications, a telecommunications and information services company building an IP-based fiber network in the U.S. and Europe, Gershien was responsible for sales, marketing, customer service, billing and internal financial reporting. Prior to that, he served as president and CEO of MFS Telecom, an operating unit of MFS Communications, where he was responsible for strategy development, business plan implementation, sales, marketing and finance. Gershien also held senior sales and management positions at Sprint before joining MFS Telecom.

Oresis Communications, a developer of next-generation multiservice switching equipment, announced that Mark Skurla has joined the company as Vice President of Sales. As Vice President of Sales, Skurla brings to Oresis nearly 20 years of telecommunications and broadband access sales experience. Reporting directly to Sarabi, Skurla will develop and implement Oresis' global sales strategy, manage the expansion of Oresis' direct sales force, and oversee the development of Oresis' sales channels. Prior to his current assignment, Skurla held the position of Group Vice President of Sales for the Broadband Access and Transport Group of ADC Telecommunications, responsible for leading the organization that managed access and transport product sales in ILEC, CLEC, IXC, government, enterprise, distribution and wireless accounts. Skurla began his career at Chatlos Systems, serving the company in various sales positions; he was ultimately promoted to National Sales Manager. Skurla holds a BS in Business Administration from the University of Delaware.