SOUTHWESTERN BELL NAMES NEW REGIONAL DIRECTOR

Marsha Barron Haskell, who spent 21 years with Southwestern Bell, 15 of them in St. Louis, before moving back to the Cape Girardeau area, has been named regional director-external affairs, after a five-year absence from the company.

"Marsha is a seasoned communications veterans with a deep understanding of the dynamic industry we operate,' said Jan Newton, president, Southwestern Bell-Missouri.

Haskell, who took an early retirement five years ago, succeeds Donna Burk, who has retired from Southwestern Bell, following a 28-year career with the company.

"I have some catching up to do," said Haskell. "The communications industry is a changing one. There are so many technologies available out there now. This will be a challenging position."

The first time Haskell joined Southwestern Bell, she was an installation foreman in charge of a group of technicians who installed telephones for residential customers.

"I wore a hard hat and drove a truck," she said.

During her previous 21-year tenure with the telephone company, Haskell worked in a number of areas, at Springfield, Chaffee, Cape Girardeau and St. Louis.

She worked with Southwestern Bell's business service center at St. Louis, working with billings and sales. She is also experienced with marketing analysis and working with federal regulatory regulations.

Haskell has assumed responsibility for external affairs activities in nine Southeast Missouri counties -- Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Butler, Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Scott and Stoddard.

As regional director, she will manage the day-to-day activities of Southwestern Bell, related to legislative, municipal, governmental and external affairs, including coordinating business partnerships and community relations activities.