PAETEC Receives 2005 American Business Ethics Award.

FAIRPORT, N.Y. -- Over a decade ago, the Society of Financial Service Professionals recognized the value of celebrating acts of ethical corporate behavior and highlighting corporations who can serve as role models for others. The Society, an organization of 20,000 members who are the top credentialed financial advisers in the nation, established the American Business Ethics Award (ABEA) in 1994 to honor companies that exemplify high standards of ethical behavior in their everyday business conduct and in response to specific crises or challenges.

"The Society is dedicated to setting and promoting high standards of education, ethics, and excellence for professionals in financial services. In addition to providing ethical guidance to our own members, we believe that by providing public recognition to companies that uphold the highest standards of corporate responsibility, we can have a positive impact on the broader business and professional communities," said Society president Anthony J. Domino, Jr. CLU, ChFC, MSFS.

An expert panel of judges drawn from business, academia, public service, media, consulting, and ethics organizations apply a stringent set of guidelines to thoroughly review the documentation and source material provided by candidate companies. Ultimately, the judges selected PAETEC Communications, Inc., nominated for the award by Alan Ziegler and the Rochester Chapter of the Society of FSP as the 2005 ABEA recipient in the mid-size company category (250 - 2,500 employees). Receiving the 2005 ABEA in the large company (over 2,500 employees) category is Whirlpool Corporation of Benton Harbor, Mich., and in the small company (under 250 employees) category is Schloegel Design Remodel, Inc. of Kansas City, Mo.

The judges noted that PAETEC Communications, Inc. sums up its corporate philosophy in the first sentence in the company's application -- "The story of PAETEC Communications, Inc. is one of passionate dedication to ethics in the workplace and the resounding success derived from adherence to these standards." Of significance to the judges is PAETEC's unwavering dedication, at the very highest level of the company, of taking care of its key asset -- the company's 1,200 employees. PAETEC's approach has led to significant yearly growth, industry-leading employee satisfaction ratings, an enviable client retention rate, and recognition in the mainstream media and in the academic world.

PAETEC, along with Whirlpool and Schloegel Design Remodel, will be honored on October 10, 2005, at the Society's annual conference, Financial Service Forum, in Phoenix, Ariz.

The 2005 ABEA program is sponsored exclusively by Guardian Life Insurance Company. Guardian CEO Dennis Manning noted that the American Business Ethics Award program symbolizes the very ideals that are the held most important at Guardian. "At Guardian, we believe that there is no right way to do a wrong thing. It is this spirit of high standards that serves as the foundation of our continuing commitment to the Society of Financial Service Professionals. From the 1940s to today, seven Guardian professionals have served as president of the Society, illustrating our commitment to excellence and earning us the honor of having produced the largest number of Field associates to serve in this capacity during the Society's 76-year history. We could not be more pleased to support such an honorable program," said Manning.

About PAETEC

PAETEC Corp., through its operating subsidiary, PAETEC Communications, Inc., is a provider of integrated communications services, including local and long distance voice services, data and Internet services, and software applications, network integration services and managed services. PAETEC currently provides these services to medium-sized and large businesses, colleges and universities, hospitals, hotels, governmental organizations, financial markets, and affinity groups within its 29-market service area. The company is headquartered in Fairport, N.Y.

About The Society of Financial Service Professionals

The Society of Financial Service Professionals, founded in 1928, is the standard-bearer of excellence in professionalism, advanced continuing education, and ethical guidance for the top financial advisers in the nation. The Society is the only professional organization in the industry that requires its approximately 20,000 members to be credentialed or actively pursuing one of these widely-recognized financial service designations or degrees: CEBS(R), CFA(R), CFP(R), ChFC(R), CLF(R), CLU(R), CPA, CTFA, JD (licensed), MSFS, MSM, REBC(R) & RHU(R). The Society has nearly 200 active chapters nationwide and its members are dedicated to helping individuals, families and businesses achieve their financial goals. For more information on the ABEA program or to learn more about the Society of Financial Service Professionals, visit www.financialpro.org.