FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 27, 2007

TIA Welcomes New Staff to Leadership Team

New VPs, Directors bring years of industry experience to help guide TIA's rapid growth.

Arlington, Va. - The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) is pleased to announce the addition of four new members of its leadership team as part of its efforts to augment its member companies' strategies during this period of market growth in the communications industry. TIA's newest staff include: Ed Mikoski, VP-Standards and Business Development; Suzanne Ugast, VP-Marketing and Business Development; Carolyn Holmes Lee, Director, Legislative and Government Affairs; and Lora Ann Magruder, Director, Member Relations.

Mikoski will be responsible for coordination of TIA's influential work in the standards development arena. He joins TIA after holding similar positions at the Electronic Components, Assemblies and Materials Association and with the Electronic Industries Alliance. Mikoski possesses 30 years of experience in the technology sector shepherding the development of numerous standards that have benefited the communications sector of the high-tech industry.

Ugast will steer TIA's future growth as the leading advocate for the information, communications and entertainment technology industry. Ugast brings 20 years of experience in the marketing profession, exclusively in telecommunications and technology and will be responsible for managing the association's Marketing and Communications, Membership, and Web Development departments. Ugast will also lead the effort to create and implement a marketing and branding campaign to grow TIA's membership while promoting the work in the association's policy, standards, business and networking events and market intelligence reports.

Holmes Lee comes to TIA this month after managing federal and state government affairs for 3M, where she showed effectiveness and a grasp of tech-related issues like telecom, energy and the environment, and tax policy. Prior to 3M, Holmes Lee was Legislative Director in the office of Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine, a prominent member of the Commerce Committee that oversees many issues important to TIA members. Before serving with Snowe, Holmes Lee was a legislative assistant handling national issues for Congresswoman Sue Kelly from 1998-2001.

Magruder comes to TIA after 7 years as Director of Membership for the Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies (OPASTCO), where she developed the group's campaigns for recruiting and retaining members. She has an illustrious career in the communications industry: prior to OPASTCO, Magruder was Government Relations Manager for the National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA), and she began her career with the U.S. Telephone Association.

For more information about TIA staff or related issues, please contact Ian Martinez at 703.907.7723 or imartinez@tiaonline.org.

 

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About TIA
The Telecommunications Industry Association is the leading trade association for vendors in the information, communications and entertainment technology industry. TIA serves suppliers to global markets through its leadership in standards development, domestic and international policy advocacy, and facilitating member business opportunities such as the co-owned NXTcomm. For more information, go to http://www.tiaonline.org.