Technology >> CEO Interviews >> March 1, 1998
J. CLARKE SMITH is Vice President of Finance and Administration
(CFO/CAO) for Aerial Communications. Mr. Smith is responsible for
financial planning/reporting and administrative activities, as well as
the development of financial and business strategy for Aerial.
Previously, Mr. Smith was President and CEO of Mortgage Edge
Corporation, a mortgage banking company he founded and operated in three
states. Prior to starting this company, Mr. Smith held various key
management positions with Sears Roebuck and Co. He was President of
Sears Savings Bank, a $6.5 billion bank for which he established
strategy and direction for all operations. Mr. Smith also was Executive
Vice President-Administration, CAO/CFO for Sears Mortgage Banking Group
and Vice President and Treasurer-Consumer Banking at Dean Witter
Financial Services. Mr. Smith also held senior level management
positions with Computer Communications of America, a subsidiary of
National Bank of Detroit. Prior to joining CCA, he was Chief Finance and
Business Officer for the University of Detroit. He began his career at
Chrysler Corporation as an analyst. Mr. Smith holds an M.B.A. degree in
finance and a B.S. degree in business administration and economics from
the University of Detroit. He serves on the board of directors for the
Financial Executives Institute and is past President of the Chicago
Chapter. Aerial Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:AERL), headquartered in
Chicago, has six licenses to provide personal communications service in
areas covering 27.3 million of the U.S. population. Aerial's markets
include Columbus, Houston, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh and
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Orlando. Profile
DON WARKENTIN is President and Chief Executive Officer of Aerial
Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:AERL). He joined the company as Aerial's
first employee in June 1995. In addition, Warkentin serves as Chairman
of the North American GSM Alliance. Prior to joining Aerial, Warkentin
was with US WEST, most recently as vice president of multimedia
marketing. Before this, he headed the marketing organization for Mercury
One-2-One in the United Kingdom from its inception through the
successful launch of the world's first PCS service. Prior to joining
One-2-One, Warkentin was director of product marketing for US WEST
Cellular. Warkentin is a member of the Board of Directors and Executive
Committee of the Personal Communications Industry Association (PCIA). He
also serves on the Board of Directors and Policy Council of the Cellular
Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA). Warkentin holds an
M.B.A. degree in marketing and information systems from the University
of California at Los Angeles. Profile
sketch on Aerial Communications. And then bring us up to date. What is
the company all about today?
Mr. Warkentin:
