Council Tree Team

COUNCIL TREE TEAM

Stephen C. Hillard:

Mr. Hillard is the CEO of Council Tree Communications. Prior to founding Council Tree, in 1998, Mr. Hillard held senior management positions with Cook Inlet Region Incorporated (“CIRI”), including General Counsel and Chief Operating Officer of Cook Inlet Communications. In this capacity, Mr. Hillard led CIRI to develop the largest independently-owned oil, gas and mineral portfolio in the state of Alaska and become the largest minority broadcaster in the U.S. Prior to his work with CIRI, Mr. Hillard was the Managing Partner in the Alaska office of the law firm Munger, Tolles & Olson.

Mr. Hillard obtained his B.A. from Colorado State University and M. A. from Columbia University before obtaining his law degree from Fleming Law School at the University of Colorado. Mr. Hillard also served as Law Clerk to Justice William H. Erickson on the Colorado Supreme Court.

Mr. Hillard is a strong supporter of educational and social institutions including the Denver Public Schools Foundation, the Colorado Children’s Campaign, the Juan Diego Center for Hispanic Families, the Museo de las Americas, Escuela Tlatalolco, the University of Colorado (American Indian Law Clinic at new Wolf Law School), Colorado State University, Community College of Denver, Metro State College, and the Women’s Center at the University of Denver.

George T. Laub:

Mr. Laub joined Mr. Hillard as a partner in 2003 to open Council Tree’s New York office, having previously acted as M&A advisor to Mr. Hillard since 1991. From 1991-2003, Mr. Laub was with TD Securities, and since 1997 served as Managing Director and Head of the U.S. M&A Group for TD Securities. He focused on media and communications M&A, building the group from startup and completing over $18 billion of transactions. At the same time, he built and headed TD’s Private Equity Placement Group, closing $2 billion in placements, as well as the Financial Sponsors Group. Clients included AT&T Wireless, AT&T Corp., Charter Cable, Comcast, Rural Cellular, Council Tree, Cook Inlet, leading private equity firms such as Madison Dearborn Partners, and others

Mr. Laub received a BA from Colgate University and an MBA from the University of Virginia.

Jonathan B. Glass, Vice President:

Mr. Glass joined Council Tree in 2003. From 1996-2003, he had been with TD Securities in the M&A Group, most recently as a Vice President. At TD, Mr. Glass was active in the wireless, tower, telecom, TV and other media and communications sectors, and was involved in transactions totaling over $9 billion. He also worked as advisor to Council Tree on its $3 billion CTANW / AT&T Wireless transaction. Prior to TD, Mr. Glass worked at UBS Securities in equity research.

Mr. Glass received his Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University in Montreal and his MBA from Columbia University.

Michael S. Brendzel, Vice President:

Mr. Brendzel joined Council Tree in 2001. From 1999-2001, Mr. Brendzel was the founder/president of Connetex Corp., which designed communications productivity software. Prior to forming Connetex, Mr. Brendzel was a director with Ewighaus, a firm specializing in RFID applications.

Mr. Brendzel received his Master of Science in Telecommunications from University of Colorado, an MBA from University of Denver and his BA from Syracuse University.

Tim Strande, Chief Financial Officer:

Mr. Strande joined Council Tree in 2002. Prior to joining Council Tree, he worked in public accounting from 1996-2002, most recently at KMPG, LLP.

Mr. Strande received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Colorado State University, and his MBA from University of Colorado.

Veronica Flores, Executive Assistant to Steve Hillard:

Ms. Flores joined Council Tree in 2001. Prior to joining Council Tree, she worked as an assistant to the Executive Director of Clearview Educational Center.