As new Qwest chief executive Ed Mueller stepped off the escalator at the Hyatt Regency hotel Monday, his eyes widened as he absorbed the hundreds of employees standing in line to meet their new boss.
One by one, they stepped forward.
“Mr. Mueller … I’m your chief auditor … I’m your information-security officer.”
In his first meet-and-greet session with employees since taking the job Friday, the beaming 60-year-old CEO shook hands and made jokes with workers who described him as “charismatic.”
That Mueller came as the top choice of outgoing CEO Dick Notebaert, whom employees credit with bringing stability and profitability to the company during his five years at the helm, was not missed among workers.
During a private hour-long meeting, Mueller commended employees’ commitment to the company, emphasized a desire to expand Qwest’s customer base and admitted he was a Green Bay Packers fan but was willing to support the Broncos, employees said later.
“Dick (Notebaert) has been sort of a stabilizer,” said Jennifer Stupearceski, who works in the finance department at the Denver-based telecommunications company.
She said Mueller used a driving analogy to describe the state of Qwest.
“We used to be in reverse. Then, we were in neutral. Now, we’re probably in first or second gear, so the vision now is to bring us even further,” she said.
About 400 employees attended the meeting at the downtown convention-center hotel. It was also webcast to 60 locations across the company’s 14-state Midwestern and Western territory.
Joe Pisano, vice president of customer financial services, said Mueller emphasized providing the best customer service possible.
“He believes the ‘Spirit of Service’ is the right tagline for (Qwest), because it starts with … the very first contact at the lowest level of employee. … That’s where we’re going to make or break our success,” Pisano said. “I think we all loved that because that’s what this company has been doing for five years under Dick’s tutelage.”
Qwest retirees who have seen health-insurance benefits reduced under Notebaert said Monday that they welcome a change in leadership.
Mimi Hull, president of the Association of US West Retirees, praised Mueller’s background working for the traditional “Mother Bell” phone system.
“He will understand how difficult these years with Dick have been for the retirees,” said Hull, who retired in 1995.
Notebaert steps down Wednesday.
Employees, Hull said, were promised 100 percent health coverage but now must contribute about 30 percent of the cost.
“We stand a better chance of convincing him that there’s a moral issue,” she said.
Annie Hill, vice president of the Communications Workers of America District 7, said workers are interested in key issues like health care, contracting out work and negotiations on a new contract in about a year.
“They were able to reduce the debt for Qwest,” she said of Notebaert’s team. “We would like to see them continue to do that.”
The business community welcomed the news that Mueller was on board.
“If he was one of Dick Notebaert’s favorite candidates, that speaks volumes to us,” said Tom Clark, executive vice president of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corp.
He said employees are looking for the same “honesty and accessibility” in Mueller that they saw in Notebaert.
Don Elliman, director of the state Office of Economic Development, said he feels confident Mueller will move Qwest forward.
“Qwest is an enormously important service provider in the state,” said Elliman. He said Mueller “has got a great reputation. … I’m sure he’ll put his own stamp” on the company.
Staff writer Karen Rouse can be reached at 303-954-1684 or krouse@denverpost.com.
