CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI (May 26, 2011) – Big River Telephone Company’s vice president and chief financial officer John Jennings, was named as one of the top CFO finalists of 2011 by the St. Louis Business Journal. The winner and the top three finalists for local private companies were announced at the Palladium Saint Louis on Thursday, May 19th by the St. Louis Business Journal.

The officers awarded were selected by a panel of judges that included previous winners, CFO’s, and key business leaders. The awards were given to private and not-for-profit companies based on 2009 revenue data. The winner and finalists were recognized for their outstanding performance in their roles as corporate financial managers.

Since the mid-1990s, Jennings has been in the telecom industry working with multiple well-named companies. He has helped grow Big River Telephone from a three-state local telephone provider to a national carrier. Jerry Howe, the chief executive officer said, "John has achieved many outstanding accomplishments in his time here with Big River and has been a great leader in supporting our rapid growth strategy. He is a true team player that leads by example."

Big River Telephone Company (www.bigrivertelephone.com) is a full-service telecommunications company that operates across the United States, headquartered in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Big River Telephone is one of the oldest competitive telephone companies in the United States. Founded in 1983 as a long distance carrier, Big River Telephone has evolved over the years into one of the premier Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLEC) in the United States. In addition to being a successful CLEC, Big River Telephone is one of the market leaders in delivering wholesale Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).