Richard N. Baer was named chief administrative officer (CAO) in August 2008. In addition to his role as the company’s CAO, Mr. Baer has served as Qwest’s general counsel since December 2002. Along with leading the company’s law department, Mr. Baer oversees risk management and compliance efforts, public policy, federal relations, human resources, labor relations, corporate communications, the Qwest Foundation, corporate social responsibility and sponsorships and events. Mr. Baer, who joined Qwest in 2001, previously was chairman of the litigation department at the Denver law firm of Sherman & Howard. His experience includes corporate counseling, defending and prosecuting significant complex disputes, defending numerous class actions and defending companies in employment-related cases. Mr. Baer holds a bachelor of arts degree from Columbia University in 1979 and a juris doctorate degree from Duke University in 1983. In 2008, Mr. Baer was appointed by Governor Bill Ritter, Jr. as the co-chair of the Information Technology transition team and appointed by Governor Ritter as chair of the Colorado Workforce Development Council. In addition, he serves on boards of the National Jewish Medical Center, the Colorado Legal Aid Foundation and the Colorado Campaign for Inclusive Excellence. Mr. Baer and his wife, Anne, have two daughters and reside in Littleton, Colorado.