ICANN At Large Nomination Application

At Large Candidate Page

Laurie Williams

Email	lawillie@WomenStar.com
Region	North America

PROFESSIONAL
Employer(s)
I am currently primarily self-employed. I manage OklahomaRanch.com, LLC, and The Women's Integrated Network, LLC. I am an attorney and am "of counsel" to the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Law Firm of Kornfeld, Franklin. I am a trained mediator. I have previously served as Assistant Dean of Student Affairs for the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma. I have been a partner with the Hall, Estill Law Firm in Oklahoma City and in Tulsa, Oklahoma, working in oil and gas, and telecommunications law and policy. I have served as an Administrative Law Judge and Commission Attorney with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, the entity that regulates oil and gas, and public utilities in the State of Oklahoma.
QUALIFICATIONS
Statement addressing the candidates qualifications and experience specifically relevant to (a) ICANN's technical and administrative responsibilities, and (b) your leadership and policy-level roles.
I have followed the workings of ICANN during the past two years. I participated in my first ICANN meeting this summer in Yokohama, Japan. I submitted my name in the first round of self-nominations for an ICANN Board position. My interest in the ICANN is a direct result of my ownership of domain names. As an independent owner of domain names, I wish to foster and encourage collaboration among the somewhat discordant interests that comprise the ICANN at-large membership. I realize that the ICANN Board is a consuming role and would take a great amount of time. If chosen for this Board, I am able to arrange my schedule so as to fully participate in ICANN business. Law, regulation, and policy are not new to me. During my legal career, I have written legislation, regulations, and policy with regard to highly regulated industries such as oil and gas, public utilities and telecommunications. Particular interests in my legal career concern the regulation and operation of pipelines and fiber optic networks. I have participated in regulatory and civil litigation with regard to industries in the midst of conflict and growth. I have worked for both governmental and private interests. More information concerning my background and leadership and policy-level roles is set forth in the "background" section below.
ICANN RELATED INTERESTS
ICANN-related interests, including: (a) Employment and consulting relationships (b) Ownership or investment interests in any ICANN-related businesses (c) Official positions in any ICANN-related businesses or organizations
I am an individual domain name owner. I have small investments in several high-tech companies, including Verisign, the parent company of Network Solutions.
BACKGROUND
Background information, personal statement, URL, or other information you would like posted in connection with your name on the ICANN website.
I would like to represent the diverse interests of North America on the ICANN Board. I will bring to the ICANN table, geographical diversity, legal, mediation, and policy skills, global internet fervor, and an entrepreneurial and collaborative spirit. My interest in policy, law, and regulation, is so strong that I ran for Congress in Oklahoma's 5th District in 1992. I captured 47% of the general vote. I was a contender for a Federal Energy Regulatory Board position in 1993. I have worked in University as an Assistant Dean as part of former Senator David Boren's transition team when he left the United States Senate to become President of the University of Oklahoma (OU). I worked in a number of areas at OU including the University's network and Oklahoma's OneNet service and with students from other countries. While at the OU, I created an Office of Volunteer Services to coordinate campus/community volunteer activities. I have been involved in many non-profit organizations and am active in my community. I serve as Board Member of The Quail Creek Homeowners' Association; the Oklahoma Trails Advisory Board, a division of the Oklahoma Tourism Department; and Planned Parenthood of Central Oklahoma (Volunteer of the Year 1998). I am past Board Member of Oklahoma City Beautiful, The Education and Employment Ministry (TEEM); the Tree Bank Foundation of Oklahoma; and, Girl Scouts. I am past Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and Program Planner of the Oklahoma Mineral Lawyers Association. I have given many speeches and presentations over the years. My most recent presentation was a multi-media presentation at the National (oil and gas) Royalty Owners' Association annual meeting in Austin, Texas. My topic was internet oil and gas research. I and two other women are currently working on a fledgling website called www.WomenStar.com. Information concerning the mission of WomenStar.com can be found at the "About Us" section of WomenStar.com. Education: Ardmore High School, Ardmore, Oklahoma Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, AB in Botany, cum laude (1978) University of Oklahoma College of Law, Norman, Oklahoma, Juris Doctorate (JD) (1981)
OFFICIAL STATUS
Status as an official of a national government or a multinational entity established by treaty or other agreement between national governments, such as an elected official or employee of a government or multinational entity.
For over 15 years, I have been a member of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC), a multi-state entity created through cooperation of the oil and gas producing and consuming states. I was appointed to this Commission by Governor George Nigh and reappointed by Governor Frank Keating.