The 2005 Eagle Star Awards Gala is honored to be hosted by BellSouth with the company’s Chairman and CEO, Duane Ackerman, delivering the keynote address. Mr. Ackerman will share BellSouth’s perspectives on years of profitable business with Israel including their investment in Cellcom, Israel’s most successful wireless company, and the extensive vendor relationships with Israeli technology companies that have positively impacted BellSouth’s top and bottom lines.

Duane Ackerman began his communications career in 1964, and has served in numerous capacities with BellSouth. He was named president, chief executive officer of BellSouth Telecommunications, BellSouth’s local telephone service unit and largest subsidiary, in November 1992. He was promoted to vice chairman and chief operating officer of the parent company, BellSouth Corporation, on January 1, 1995, and was elevated to the position of president and chief executive officer of BellSouth on January 1, 1997. On January 1, 1998, Mr. Ackerman was appointed chairman and chief executive officer of BellSouth.

In addition to serving as a director of BellSouth Corporation, Mr. Ackerman is also a member of the board of The Allstate Corporation. Mr. Ackerman is the chairman of the national Council on Competitiveness, chairman of the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee, member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council, a trustee of Rollins College and a former member of the board of governors for the Society of Sloan Fellows of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

A native of Plant City, Fla., Mr. Ackerman holds a bachelor’s degree in physics and master’s degree from Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla., and a master’s degree in business from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.