Company: Nextel Communications, Inc., Reston, Virginia
Company Description: Nextel Communications Inc., a FORTUNE 200 company, is a leading provider of fully integrated wireless communications services and has the largest guaranteed all-digital wireless network in the country. 95 percent of FORTUNE 500 companies are Nextel customers. Nextel and Nextel Partners, Inc. currently serve 297 of the top 300 U.S. markets where approximately 260 million people live or work.
Nomination Category: Individual Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best Executive

Nomination Title: Tom Kelly, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Nextel Communications, Inc.

   1. Tell the story about what this nominee achieved in 2004 (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:

The strategic vision and focus provided by Tom Kelly, executive vice president and
chief operating officer, continues to enable Nextel Communications Inc. to
outperform in the competitive wireless industry. Nextel maintains industry-leading
margins, continues strategic market share expansion and offers differentiated
products and services its customers demand – none of which would be possible
without Mr. Kelly's innovative leadership.

His philosophy, “Be First, Be Better, Be Different,” permeates every aspect of
Nextel’s business and is exemplified by Direct Connect, Nextel’s hallmark
instant walkie-talkie service. Widely regarded as the premier push to talk
offering, Direct Connect integrates perfectly with his unique marketing strategy. Mr. Kelly understood the need for instant communications in areas such as healthcare,
public safety and construction. Direct Connect presented the solution. By honing
in on specific industry segments with products specific to their needs, Nextel
attracted the most valuable customers in wireless with the highest lifetime revenue
per subscriber.

Mr. Kelly’s “Smart Growth” strategy is a natural evolution of this targeted
approach. By focusing sales and marketing efforts in specific geographic markets
while maximizing its network in those same markets, Nextel realizes the greatest
return on its investments and customers receive the optimal Nextel experience.
The strategy continues to pay off in 2004 with over two million new subscribers,
the highest Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) and lowest customer turnover in
the industry.

Nextel's corporate strategy was enhanced and redefined when Mr. Kelly led a
comprehensive brand roll out, introducing the "NEXTEL. Done" campaign. This
brand describes Nextel's focus on speed, performance and teamwork to get things
done. The bold yellow and assertive phrases that surround the new brand
accurately represent the company and its distinct culture. Mr. Kelly recognized
the can-do attitude of Nextel's now 19,000 employees and the value its products
provide in the lives of its customers. Nextel's branding stands apart as much as
its innovative wireless productivity tools and services. According to a 2004 Hall and Partners Brand Tracking study, the new brand helped to position Nextel as the
best or better than most other wireless providers. 

Mr. Kelly also was instrumental in launching Nextel's lifestyle brand, Boost
Mobile, which is targeted to reach a new segment of the wireless market --
young, tech-savvy customers, rather than Nextel's traditional business users. 
Boost customers are avid users of Boost 2-Way, the company’s digital walkie-
talkie service, and are attracted by its breakthrough advertising and event
sponsorships aimed at the extreme sports and hip-hop music cultures. The brand
reached the one-millionth customer mark in less than two years, well exceeding
industry expectations. In 2004 alone, Nextel grossed 755,000 Boost Mobile
subscriber additions as the industry learned Nextel's great technology and network
are attractive beyond the business market. 

One of the largest sports sponsorships in history is another example of how Mr.
Kelly has helped Nextel expand its market share. In 2004, Nextel completed its
first year as the title sponsor to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, and the
investment has already provided valuable gains. Nextel introduced targeted
handsets, data applications and innovative at-track attractions to NASCAR's 75
million fans. These sports fans, known to be the most loyal in sports, are now five
times more likely to choose Nextel as their wireless service provider. In less than
one month, Nextel's brand awareness surpassed that of previous sponsor
Winston, and that recognition is paying dividends with 500,000 NASCAR fans
having used Nextel phones. NASCAR customers were shown to have a 20 percent higher revenue per customer and use 42 percent more minutes each month than
Nextel's traditional customers. The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup sponsorship should
continue to enable Nextel to expand and diversify its customer base.

Mr. Kelly has aggressively and strategically helped Nextel grow to be a leader in a
competitive wireless industry. His model vision and focus continue to identify new
ways for the company to succeed through differentiated products and services and
strategic partnerships that serve an expanding customer base.

   2. List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: List each link on a separate line, begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.website.com]:

Raytheon JPS Communications and Nextel Advance Radio Systems
Interoperability
http://www.jps.com/index.asp?node=73&item=151

Nextel Teams with Prophesy for Transportation Industry Solution
http://www.prophesymc.com/news/press_inc.php?press=041004_Nextel

Nextel CFO Announces 2004 Subscriber Growth at Investor Conference
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=63347&p=irol-newsArticle&t=Regular&id=661470&

Nextel Connects During NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Inaugural Year
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=63347&p=irol-newsArticle&t=Regular&id=656380&

Boost Mobile Passes One Million Customer Mark
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=63347&p=irol-newsArticle&t=Regular&id=650987&

Nextel Reports Strong Third-Quarter 2004 Results
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=63347&p=irol-newsArticle&t=Regular&id=634513&

   3. Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about this nominee:

Tom Kelly serves as executive vice president and chief operating officer for Nextel
and is responsible for the effective execution of Nextel's business plan and for
all aspects of daily operations. Prior to being promoted to COO in 2003, he served as executive vice president and chief marketing officer when he joined Nextel in 1996. Mr. Kelly serves on the board of Radioframe Networks Inc., Bellevue, Wash., The Greater Washington Sports Alliance, and volunteers for several school and youth athletic organizations in Northern Virginia. Mr. Kelly is a graduate of Wofford College and has a degree in economics.