CHICAGO, April 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — United States Cellular Corporation today announced that the Board of Directors has nominated Deirdre C. Drake, UScellular executive vice president — chief people officer, to serve on the UScellular Board. Ms. Drake will stand for election at the company’s annual meeting of shareholders on May 18, 2021. She replaces Kurt B. Thaus, TDS senior vice president, technology services, who has served with distinction for seven years.
“We believe good governance involves continuous review of Board composition and the skill sets required to oversee our long-term strategies. The culture at UScellular, known as the Dynamic Organization, has always been a competitive advantage, and nominating Ms. Drake to the Board recognizes her significant contributions to driving improved associate engagement, talent development, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion focus and succession planning – all topics the Board is very intent on,” said LeRoy T. Carlson, Jr., UScellular Board chairman.
As executive vice president – chief people officer, Ms. Drake leads the human resources and corporate communications functions at UScellular and is responsible for delivering integrated human resources solutions that directly enable the achievement of UScellular’s strategic objectives. She collaborates with various teams to ensure there is appropriate support for and communications about the organization’s mission and vision of providing an excellent customer experience. Ms. Drake joined UScellular in April 2014.
Ms. Drake began her career in human resources in 1989 with Marathon Oil Company. She also held increasingly senior leadership positions in human resources with Kraft Foods, ARAMARK Corporation and The Bank of Montreal Financial Group. Prior to joining UScellular, she was managing director and chief human resources officer for the Bank of Montreal Financial Group-Capital Markets Division.
Ms. Drake earned a bachelor’s degree in human resources from Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Mich., and a master’s degree in business administration from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. She also received an honorary doctorate in commercial science from Central Michigan University. She is a lifetime member of the National Black MBA Association, serves as a board member with the Chicago Public Library Foundation and American Red Cross of Greater Chicago, and is actively involved in a number of local and national not-for profit organizations.
About UScellular
United States Cellular Corporation provides a comprehensive range of wireless products and services, excellent customer support, and a high-quality network to customers with 5.0 million connections in 21 states. The Chicago-based company had 5,300 full- and part-time associates as of December 31, 2020. At the end of the fourth quarter of 2020, Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. owned 82 percent of UScellular. For more information about UScellular, visit uscellular.com.
For more information about UScellular, visit: www.uscellular.com
CONTACT: Jane W. McCahon, Senior Vice President – Corporate Relations and Corporate Secretary of TDS, jane.mccahon@tdsinc.com; or Julie D. Mathews, IRC, Director – Investor Relations of TDS, julie.mathews@tdsinc.com