Call me simple, but I still am a bit of a groupie when it comes to being around a high-profile person. I can’t help but feel nervous prior to meeting him or her. My palms sweat, my voice gets higher as I try to think of something somewhat clever to say, and I fidget.

Many people may think this nervousness trait as immature. I, however, never want to become jaded enough that I lose this sense of excitement when I have the privilege of rubbing elbows with someone impressive.

Naturally, then, I find myself slightly tongue-tied to announce OSP EXPO’s 2008 Keynote presenter. This person is well-rounded, to say the least. As Princeton’s first female All-American basketball player, she still holds the third-highest career scoring record in the University’s history — behind only Bill Bradley ‘65 and Sandi Bittler ‘90.

And, Nogay also dominated the softball field, playing for a professional team during the summers of her undergraduate years. Yes, she was the first female Princeton student to play professional sports.

Despite her successes on the court and the field, Nogay never intended to pursue a career in professional sports. Though she was drafted for professional basketball, she wanted to work her civil engineering degree more than her jump shot.

After graduating, Nogay began her career as an outside plant engineer in New Jersey, and held numerous positions of increasing responsibility in all aspects of network operations, including installation, maintenance, engineering, construction, and mechanized assignment in both line and staff organizations.

Today, Claire Beth Nogay is Chief Network Officer for Verizon Telecom, responsible for managing Telecom’s multi-billion Network Capital Program, including the design, build, and implementation of the FTTP Data and Video networks.

Did I mention that she was selected for the Bell Atlantic Advanced Leadership Development Program in 1996, and has completed Executive Programs at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and the Center for Creative Leadership?

There you have it. She’s a Renaissance woman.

Last night, over a glass of wine, I shared Claire Beth’s incredible strengths with my husband. After glass Number Two, I confided that I was more than a bit intimidated by her accomplishments. “Relax,” he said. “You two have a lot in common and will likely connect quite well. She’s from Princeton. You graduated from the University of Iowa. They’re both schools, right?”

Questions? Comments? Contact Sharon via her email: sharon@ospmag.com