Bidwill Joins OptimalPATH.

Business Editors

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 31, 2000

Community and business leader James W. Bidwill has been named senior vice president of business development for OptimalPATH Digital Network, Inc., a complete leading-edge provider of fully integrated communication systems, announced Jack Pressman, founder and chief executive officer.

Most recently, Bidwill served as chairman of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce's Y2K Task Force. Under his leadership, the volunteer alliance built a unique coalition of government, civic, business, and technology leaders, who pooled their resources to help ensure that businesses throughout the state of Illinois entered the new millennium with no major difficulties. This coalition included the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, the Illinois Y2K Coordinating Committee, the Illinois Coalition, the Chicago Computer Society, and the Chicago Software Association. Bidwill also assembled a panel of more than 50 firms who provided expertise, products, and services to area businesses to address their Y2K conversion needs.

Bidwill's long and distinguished career includes his association for more than 25 years with Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI) and his leadership role with the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau, for which he served as chairman. He has acted as liaison to numerous professional societies and trade associations, state and local government, Chicago's business community, and major civic and charitable organizations. A native Chicagoan, he has traveled extensively across the country and around the world, developing an effective network of business and government contacts locally, nationally, and internationally.

Known for his relationship-building expertise both locally and internationally, Bidwill was called "Chicago's foremost ambassador" by Enterprise magazine. He was a charter member of the Illinois Ambassadors, an organization of private-sector leaders who partnered with the state government to promote Illinois around the world. He has served on the boards of the Better Business Bureau, Civic Federation, City Club of Chicago, Greater North Michigan Avenue Association, and the Greater State Street Council.

He is a licensed real estate broker and an International Property Consultant through the International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI). As chairman of the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau, he brought the World Congress of FIABCI to Chicago and served as chairman of the event. He was influential in bringing the International Union of Architects' World Congress to Chicago in 1993, the largest group of architects ever assembled, and was made an honorary member of the American Institute of Architects in recognition of this accomplishment.

Bidwill joined MMPI in 1969 to organize the first NeoCon, the World Congress on Environmental Planning and Design, which has grown to become one of the largest conferences and marketing trade shows in the world. He held a variety of senior management positions with MMPI, including vice president of marketing, senior vice president of corporate affairs, and, ultimately, vice president of international business.

"We are delighted Jim Bidwill is on board as we launch OptimalPATH," said Pressman. "His invaluable business acumen ties us to the local and global community." Pressman recently completed the design of all communication systems and construction management for the new Chicago Police Department headquarters facility.

OptimalPATH is positioned to be a leading provider of the industry's highest level of "QoS" (Quality of Service) for secure broadband: voice, data, video, multimedia, radio frequency, cellular, satellite, and microwave services to the desktop. The OptimalPATH digital backbone provides the highest-level communication technology platform available for the delivery of vendor-neutral products and services.

FYI: To interview Jim Bidwill, contact Sheila King at 312/399-9870.