Charles Noski.

• Author: Heffes, Ellen M.
• Position: Interview

At age 12, Chuck Noski's dad sat him down and encouraged him to become a certified public accountant when he grew up, and Chuck went to the public library to research what it was. Nine years later, he landed his first job on the staff of a "Big 8" accounting firm, passed the CPA exam, and two years after that, became a CPA.

Goes By: Chuck

Title: Vice Chairman of the Board (Retired)

Company: AT & T Corp.

Born: Eureka, Calif., Aug. 23, 1952

Spouse: Lisa, for 24 years

Children: Michelle, 19; Jennifer, 13

Education Summary: BS, Business Administration, 1973, California State University, Northridge; MS, Accountancy, 1995, California State University, Northridge; Certified Public Accountant, California, 1975

Career Summary: 1973-90: Deloitte & Touche (then Haskins & Sells), Los Angeles, became a partner, appointed National Industry Director for the aerospace and defense industry; 1990-96: Hughes Electronics Corp., Los Angeles, defense and automotive electronics, satellite and wireless communications industries, Corporate Vice President and Controller, Corporate Senior Vice President and CFO and Director, Vice Chairman; 1997, United Technologies Corp., Hartford, Conn., Executive Vice President and CFO; later in 1997, returned to Hughes as President and COO; 1999-2002, AT & T Corp., Basking Ridge, N.J., Senior Executive Vice President and CFO, Director and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors; 2002, Board of Directors, Northrop Grumman Corp., Los Angeles; 2003-05, Director and Corporate Vice President and CFO, Northrop Grumman Corp.

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Boards of Directors (currently): Microsoft Corp., Chairman, Audit Committee and member, Finance Committee; Morgan Stanley, Chairman, Audit Committee; Air Products & Chemicals Inc., member, Management Development & Compensation Committee, Corporate Governance & Nominating Committee and Executive Committee. Also serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Los Angeles County Music Center, as a Director of the California State University, Northridge Foundation.

FEI Chapter: Los Angeles (since early 1990s)

Leisure: Travel, tennis and (recently) golf lessons.

Stress Management: Find time to exercise every day. Whether it is spending time in the gym or walking around the block after lunch, we all need the opportunity to clear our heads.

If I could, I'd spend one hour with: Walter Cronkite. This is a man who has witnessed and reported some of the most memorable events in our...