Carrie J. Hightman

Development Committee Chair/Lincoln Leadership Prize Committee Chair

JD, NiSource, Inc. (Ret.)

Carrie J. Hightman is executive vice president and chief legal officer of NiSource Inc. Her responsibilities include all legal functions, as well as compliance, environmental, health and safety. She serves as a member of the company's senior management team.

Prior to joining NiSource, Hightman served as President of AT&T Illinois, (formerly SBC). In that position, she was responsible for all regulatory, legislative, governmental and external affairs activities, as well as community and industry relations, throughout Illinois.

Prior to joining AT&T, Hightman practiced telecommunications and energy law for more than 17 years. She was a partner in the Chicago law firm of Schiff Hardin, where she led its Energy, Telecommunications and Public Utilities practice group. Hightman is Vice Chair of the Telecommunications Committee of the Public Utility, Communications and Transportation Law Section of the American Bar Association and past Chair of the Public Utility Law Section of the Chicago Bar Association.

Hightman earned her B.A. from the University of Illinois and her juris doctor from Florida State University. Hightman serves as Chairwoman of the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the Illinois State Universities Retirement System Board. She also serves on the boards of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Urban League and the Lincoln Presidential Foundation.