Citizens Telecom names new western sales VP.

STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 22, 1996--Citizens Telecom Vice President of Retail Sales Dan Lazarek has announced the appointment of Clayton T. Oswald as vice president of direct sales for the western region.

Oswald, who is based in San Francisco, is responsible for managing a 70-person sales force in Washington, Utah, Oregon, California, Idaho and Arizona. The sales force is charged with bringing to small and medium-sized businesses a portfolio of telecommunications products that include business phone service, long distance, paging, prepaid calling cards and telecommunications equipment.

Oswald, who spent 10 years with MCI Communications Corp. in senior marketing and sales, most recently came from Dallas-based ICS Communications, the largest private cable television provider in the U.S., where he was vice president of marketing. He also had been president of CMC Inc. in San Francisco, a sales agent company that sold and distributed telecommunications products and service. Oswald holds a bachelor's degree in finance from California State University at Hayward.

Citizens Telecom, the 15th largest telecommunications company offering local phone service nationwide, is a full-service provider of local, long distance, cellular, paging, network sales and other telecommunication products and services. It is part of Citizens Utilities (NYSE:CZNA,CZNB), a growth company providing telecommunications, natural gas, electric, water and wastewater treatment services to approximately 1.75 million customers in 20 states. Citizens Utilities also has a significant interest in Centennial Cellular Corp. and owns Electric Lightwave Inc., a competitive exchange telecommunications company with operations in five major cities in the western United States.

CONTACT: Citizens Utilities

Martha Alcott, 916/686-3391

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or

Brigid Smith, 203/329-5042

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