In Recognition of the Vision and Leadership of Susan Miller ... - ATIS

In Recognition of the Vision and Leadership of Susan MillerJoseph Hanley’s speech during the 10 th Annual Meeting of the Committees inMinneapolis, MN, April 23, 2013.Joseph Hanley serves as Treasurer on the ATIS Board of Directors and is the SeniorVice President of Technology, Services & Strategy for Telephone & Data Systems.Thank you. It is great to be with all of you. In a few moments we will begin a celebrationof ATIS’ 30-year anniversary as an organization. I believe it’s important to celebrateanniversaries. On a personal note, May will mark 25 years at TDS for me, the last nineof which I’ve represented TDS on the ATIS Board. But, tonight I feel like a short-timer atATIS, because I have the honor of presenting a 25-year achievement award.Susan Miller, ATIS President and CEO, has been a part of the organization since itsbeginnings. Although we are celebrating 25 years of service, Susan’s tenure reallystarted in 1983, when – as an outside attorney – she wrote the ATIS articles ofincorporation. In 1988, she joined the staff as General Counsel. She became VicePresident and General Counsel in 1994, and was named President and CEO in 1999. iUnder Susan’s leadership, ATIS has grown to be one of the world’s leadingcommunications industry associations and a respected member of the global standardscommunity. It is an organization with a legacy firmly rooted in our industry’s history, yetnimble enough to innovate and to help its members build the future. Susan hasshepherded all of ATIS’ landmark contributions from its early days and her leadershiphas extended the organization’s visibility and reach globally.Let me tell you about some of the characteristics that have helped her provide thatleadership through 25 years of momentous industry change. Indeed, the traits thatserve her well as an executive are the same ones that have helped make ATISsuccessful. They include: skill in understanding members’ long-term strategic priorities,a talent for managing the political environment of policy and standards, and a deepappreciation of the need for relevance – ensuring that the work of ATIS ultimately helpsmember companies better serve their customers and bring better products and servicesto market.Susan has always looked forward. Of course she recognizes and values ATIS’ historicalimportance. But, she also is always looking for better ways of doing things, better

solutions to long-standing problems, ways to get more done with limited resources, andways to reinforce ATIS’ position as a leader. iiSo, under her leadership, and as our industry has changed, ATIS has reinvented itselfmany times. Driving change is not easy and you can’t achieve meaningful change in anorganization while making everyone happy. It takes courage to lead with passion andconviction and Susan has demonstrated that in her 25-year ATIS career.Let me also take a moment to call out some of her achievements in the broaderindustry, policy, and standards world. Susan has been a member of the FCC’sCommunications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council. She has served onthe board of directors of the American National Standards Institute, more commonlyknown as ANSI. She is a member of the National Institute of Standards andTechnology’s Smart Grid Federal Advisory Committee, and she was recently named byFierceMarkets as one of the Top Women in Wireline.In an industry – and indeed, in times – as challenging as ours, it takes a special type ofcommitment to bring companies with diverse missions, priorities, and voices to the tableand inspire them to work toward common goals. For 25 years, Susan Miller has beenhelping to lead our industry in the achievement of those goals.Now, tonight and for 10 years of AMOC meetings, you have watched Susan presentawards. Now, tonight, as a small symbol of our recognition for your very largecontribution to ATIS over 25 years of dedicated service, I am proud to present you withthis achievement award.On behalf of the ATIS Board of Directors and the entire membership, thank you Susan.i See picture caption on page 15 1998 annual report.ii P. 5 Principles for any Millennium, Comments to Committee T1, Martin T. McCue, Global CrossingTelecommunications, Feb. 10, 2000