Southwestern Bell President to Speak at Event

Contact:
Sarah Bruno
Phone: 977.2330

April 30, 2002

Southwestern Bell President to Speak at Event

Jan Newton

Saint Louis University's School for Professional Studies welcomes Jan Newton, president of SBC Southwestern Bell - Missouri, as the 2002 pre-commencement speaker.

The SPS pre-commencement ceremony will be held at 4:30 p.m. Friday, May 17, in St. Francis Xavier College Church, 3638 Lindell Blvd. Immediately following the ceremony, graduates and guests may enjoy a reception in the John E. Connelly Mall, just north of the clock tower. The rain location is the law school atrium, 3700 Lindell Blvd.

"Selecting Jan Newton to provide our pre-commencement address was an obvious choice," said Jayne Comstock, Ph.D., associate dean in the School for Professional Studies. "We wanted the class of 2002 to hear from a top executive who exemplifies leadership. Given Jan Newton's history of commitment and service in business and in the community, she is the ideal person to inspire our graduating students to 'become men and women for others'.

Newton is responsible for SBC's regulatory, legislative, governmental and external affairs, as well as community and industry relations, throughout Missouri.

Since joining the company in 1976, Newton has held several management positions and gained experience in a number of functions, including finance, sales, marketing and regulatory affairs. Prior to being appointed in June 1999 to her current position, she served as executive director in the office of SBC Communications chairman and chief executive officer Edward E. Whitacre Jr.

Newton also has served as executive director of wholesale policy and resale marketing, where she was responsible for wholesale policies across SBC's territory. She has had responsibility for small and medium business sales; large business sales support, systems support and competitive analysis for the St. Louis market; and forecasting functions, including product revenue analysis and growth and demand projections for Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas and Arkansas.

Newton was selected by Gov. Bob Holden to serve on his Missouri Security Panel, co-chairing that panel's Critical Technologies Committee, as well as co-chairing his Education Roundtable. She is a member of Civic Progress and serves on the boards of Backstoppers, the Girl Scout Council of Greater St. Louis; Greater St. Louis Area Boy Scouts; Grand Center; Hawthorn Foundation; Junior Achievement of Mississippi Valley, Inc.; St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association (RCGA); St. Louis Symphony; and United Way of Greater St. Louis.

In addition, she serves as president of the St. Louis Variety Club, chair of the Greater St. Louis Economic Development Council, and vice chair of economic development on RCGA's Board. The St. Louis Business Journal recognized Newton on its 2000 list of St. Louis' "Most Influential Business Women."

Newton is a native of Brownfield, Texas. She earned a bachelor's degree in business administration at Texas Tech University in Lubbock and completed post-graduate management programs at Duke University and the University of Southern California.

Newton and her husband, Frank, live in St. Louis County. Jan has a daughter, Kim, who also lives in St. Louis.