Windstream President and CEO Tony Thomas today helped kick off ESG@Wake, a competition hosted by the Wake Forest University School of Business that gives students an opportunity to contribute to the University’s ongoing commitment to achieving its environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals.

Windstream, a privately held communications and software company, is a sponsor of ESG@Wake, underscoring the importance the company places on ESG factors.

“It’s an honor to join the Wake Forest faculty and students for ESG@Wake, an event that recognizes the importance of environmental, social and governance factors in creating value for institutional stakeholders,” said Thomas, a Wake Forest MBA alum. “At Windstream, we believe setting and achieving aspirational ESG goals helps our business succeed while also ensuring we do our part as citizens of this planet.”

"As a leader, Tony Thomas understands the importance of making decisions and embracing opportunities to express company values in a socially responsible way," said Michelle Roehm, interim dean and Peter C. Brockway Chair of Strategic Management. "Bringing alumni like Tony back to campus to share their real-world experiences and sustainability efforts ensures that our students have access to the type of knowledge they will need to make Wake Forest University and the world beyond our campus a better place. We are thrilled to welcome him as our ESG@Wake kickoff speaker."

Windstream has undertaken a comprehensive ESG initiative. In September, the company received an ESG Risk Rating score of 12.9 from Sustainalytics, a leading independent ESG research and ratings firm. The score placed Windstream in the “Low Risk” category of experiencing material financial impacts from ESG factors.

Windstream was recognized as a Sustainalytics ESG Industry Top Rated company and a Regional Top Rated company in 2022, and Thomas announced plans to reduce the company’s Scope 2 purchased electricity emissions 40 percent by 2025, well ahead of its previous goal of 30 percent by 2035 (from a 2019 baseline).

ESG@Wake is a student competition hosted by the Wake Forest School of Business. Students from across the university are invited to submit bold ideas to address environmental, social, or governance-related challenges at Wake Forest from March 1 to March 25. Finalists chosen across the three areas of focus will present their ideas during ESG Week, March 28-April 1, for a chance to receive a monetary award to implement their solutions.

About Wake Forest University School of Business (business.wfu.edu)

The Wake Forest University School of Business offers undergraduate programs in finance, accounting, mathematical business, and business and enterprise management, and graduate programs including Master of Science in Management, Master of Science in Business Analytics, Master of Science in Accountancy and Master of Business Administration. Our programs are consistently ranked among the world’s best in surveys by U.S. News & World Report, Fortune, Poets & Quants, the Economist, Forbes, and the Financial Times.

About Sustainalytics

Sustainalytics, a Morningstar company, is a leading independent ESG research, ratings and data firm that supports investors around the world with the development and implementation of responsible investment strategies. Sustainalytics works with hundreds of the world’s leading asset managers and pension funds who incorporate ESG and corporate governance information and assessments into their investment processes. The firm also works with hundreds of companies and their financial intermediaries to help them consider sustainability in policies, practices and capital projects. For more information, visit www.sustainalytics.com.

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About Windstream

Windstream Holdings is a privately held Fortune® 1000 communications and software company. Windstream offers managed communications services, including SD-WAN and UCaaS, and high-capacity bandwidth and transport services to businesses across the U.S. The company also provides premium broadband, entertainment and security services through an enhanced fiber network to consumers and small and midsize businesses primarily in rural areas in 18 states. Additional information is available at windstream.com or windstreamenterprise.com. Follow us on Twitter at @Windstream.

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