<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

Convergent Communications(TM)                            Proprietary Information
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Employment Services Agreement
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Employee Information
--------------------

Joseph R. Zell
--------------------------------------                 -------------------------
(Name)
                                                       -------------------------
Effective Date: April 17, 2000                         (Address)
               ----------------
1.  Employment. The Company agrees to employ Employee and Employee hereby agrees
    ----------
to be employed by the Company and/or such of its subsidiaries and affiliate
corporations as determined by the Company on a full-time basis, for the period
and upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, provided that this
Agreement shall not be effective unless and until the Company has executed a
definitive Securities Purchase Agreement with one or more investors whereby the
Company will receive a minimum of $150 million in gross proceeds pursuant to the
sale of certain securities.
2.  Capacity and Duties.  Employee shall be employed in the following capacity
    -------------------
for the Company or any of its affiliates in such capacity of equal or greater
responsibility. During his employment, Employee shall perform the duties and
bear the responsibilities commensurate with his position and shall devote his
full working time, energy and attention to the performance of his duties and
responsibilities hereunder and shall faithfully and diligently endeavor to
promote the business and best interests of the Company and its affiliates.
During his employment, Employee may not, without the prior written consent of
the Company, operate, participate in the management, operations or control of,
or act as an employee, officer, consultant, agent or representative of, any type
of business or service (other than as an employee of the Company), provided that
it shall not be a violation of the foregoing for Employee to (i) act or serve as
a director, trustee or committee member of any civic or charitable organization
and (ii) manage his personal, financial and legal affairs, so long as such
activities (described in clauses (i) and (ii)) do not interfere with the
performance of his duties and responsibilities to the Company as provided
hereunder.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Title:                   Chief Executive Officer and President

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3.  Compensation and Benefits.
    -------------------------
    3.1  The Company shall pay Employee during the Term of this Agreement an
annual base salary, payable semi-monthly as follows. The annual base salary may
be adjusted from time to time for merit increases in the sole discretion of the
Company.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Annual Base Salary:    Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000)

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    3.2  In addition to his Annual Base Salary, during the Term of this
Agreement, Employee shall be eligible to receive a performance bonus (the
"Performance Bonus") for each fiscal year of the Company, payable after the end
of the fiscal year, if certain performance objectives to be determined by the
Board of Directors of the Company are achieved. The target Performance Bonus
will be a percentage of Employee's annual base salary.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Target Performance Bonus:    One Hundred Percent (100%) of Annual Base Salary

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    3.3  Throughout the Term of this Agreement, the Company shall provide
Employee a monthly car allowance as shall be determined in accordance with the
Company's policies.
    3.4  In addition to the compensation as provided above, the Company shall
provide Employee during the Term of this Agreement, with the benefits of such
insurance plans, hospitalization plans, stock plans, retirement plans and other
employee fringe benefits (including sick leave and four (4) weeks annual
vacation time) as shall be generally provided to the other executives of the
Company and for which Employee may be eligible under the terms and conditions
thereof. The Company reserves the right to modify, delete or change its benefits
at any time provided that any such changes applied to Employee shall also apply
to the same extent to the Company's other executive officers.
    3.5  Throughout the Term of this Agreement, the Company shall reimburse
Employee for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Employee in
connection with the business of the Company and in performance of his duties
under this Agreement, upon presentation to the Company by Employee of an
itemized accounting of such expenses with reasonable supporting data.

This Employment Services Agreement is further subject to the Employment
Agreement Terms ("Agreement Terms") attached hereto, and, if this box is marked,
[X] Addendum A attached hereto (collectively the "Agreement"). Employee has read
and understands the Agreement Terms and agrees to be bound by those conditions.
Acceptance of this Agreement is contingent upon acceptance by a representative
of the Company duly authorized to execute this Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the last date
shown below.

CONVERGENT COMMUNICATIONS, INC.        JOSEPH R. ZELL
(Company)                              (Employee)

By: /s/ John R. Evans                  /s/ Joseph R. Zell
   ----------------------------        -----------------------------------------

Title: Chief Executive Officer
      -------------------------
<PAGE>

                          Employment Agreement Terms

      The following Employment Agreement Terms are in addition to the terms and
conditions contained in the Employement Services Agreement cover sheet :

4.   Term.  The initial term of this Agreement shall commence on the
     ----
Effective Date of this Agreement and shall continue until the third anniversary
of the Effective Date, unless sooner terminated by either party pursuant to
Section 5 below ("Term").  The applicable provisions of Sections 6, 7, 8, 9 and
10 shall remain in full force and effect as provided and for the time periods
specified in such Sections notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement;
all other obligations of either party to the other under this Agreement shall
terminate at the end of the Term.

5.   Termination.
     -----------

     5.1  If, during the Term of this Agreement, Employee dies or is prevented
from performing his duties by reason of illness or incapacity for one hundred
forty (140) days in any one hundred eighty (180) day period, the Company may
terminate this Agreement, upon thirty (30) days prior notice thereof to Employee
or his duly appointed legal representative.

     5.2  The Company or the Employee may terminate this Agreement upon at least
thirty (30) days prior notice to Employee upon the happening of any of the
following events ("Change of Control Event"):

          5.2.1  The sale by the Company of substantially all of its assets to a
single purchaser or associated group of purchasers who are not affiliates of the
Company.  For the purposes of this Agreement, the term "affiliate" means a
person, firm or corporation that directly or indirectly, through one or more
intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the
Company or with the Texas Pacific Group or any of its affiliates.

          5.2.2  The sale, exchange or other disposition in one transaction of
eighty percent (80%) or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Company to
or with a person, firm or corporation not then an affiliate of the Company.

          5.2.3  The merger or consolidation of the Company in a transaction not
involving an affiliate of the Company in which the shareholders of the Company
receive less than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting stock of the new
continuing corporation.

          5.2.4  A bona fide decision by the Company to terminate its business
and liquidate its assets (but only if such liquidation is not part of a plan to
carry on the Company's business through its shareholders).

          5.2.5  If Employee's employment is terminated prior to the date on
which a Change of Control Event occurs, and such termination was at the request
of a third party who has taken steps to effect a Change of Control Event or was
otherwise caused by the Change of Control Event, then for all purposes of this
Agreement, a Change of Control Event shall be deemed to have occurred prior to
such termination.

     5.3  The Company may terminate this Agreement at any time for gross
negligence or willful non-performance by Employee of any duty as an employee of
the Company which continues for a period of thirty (30) days after written
notice specifying such negligence or non-performance.

     5.4  The Company may terminate this Agreement immediately upon a material
breach of any obligation or covenant created by or under this Agreement that is
not cured by Employee within thirty (30) days of his receipt of written notice
of said breach, or upon Employee's  intentional commission of a violation of any
federal law, rule or regulation, or any theft, fraud, embezzlement or similar
crime involving the commission of any felony.

     5.5  Company or Employee may terminate this Agreement without cause upon at
least thirty (30) days prior notice.

     5.6  Termination Fees.  In the event that this Agreement is terminated
          ----------------
pursuant to this Section 5, Company shall pay Employee a Termination Fee as
described below, provided that such Termination Fee shall be conditioned upon
and subject to Employee executing a valid release and waiver waiving all claims
that Employee may have against the Company, its affiliates and their respective
assigns, successors, employees, directors, officers, shareholders and agents,
and upon Employee's compliance with the restrictive covenants provided in
Sections 6 and 7 hereof.

          5.6.1  If this Agreement is terminated by (a) the Company under
subsections 5.1, 5.2 or 5.5 above, or (b) by the Employee for any or no reason
more than three

Initials:            Date:
         ---------        --------
<PAGE>

                          Employment Agreement Terms

(3) months following a Change of Control Event; or (c) by the Employee (i) for
Good Reason during the three (3) months following a Change of Control Event as
described in subsection 5.2 above or such shorter period as the parties may
mutually agree is required to effectuate an orderly transition of Employee's
responsibilities, or (ii) at any time for Good Reason (as defined below), then:
(1) the Company shall continue to pay Employee's monthly base salary, as shall
be in effect on the termination date, for a period of twenty-four (24) months
following the date of termination; (2) the Company shall provide Employee with
the following benefits coverage: life, medical, dental and vision, for a period
of twenty-four (24) months following the date of termination; (3) two times the
amount of the incentive bonus, if any, earned by Employee in the fiscal year
ending prior to the date of termination pursuant to Section 3.2 and (4) vesting
of Employee's stock options, if any, shall be accelerated such that all stock
options granted to Employee will vest as of the date of termination; provided
that Employee shall not receive any Termination Fee if he terminates this
Agreement without Good Reason during the three (3) months following a Change of
Control Event as described in subsection 5.2 above or such shorter period as the
parties may mutually agree is required to effectuate an orderly transition of
Employee's responsibilities.

          5.6.2  For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean,
without the Employee's express written consent, the occurrence of any of the
following circumstances, unless in the case of clauses (i), (v), or (vi), such
circumstances are fully corrected within thirty (30) days following notice to
the Company:

             (i).      The material diminution of Employee's authority, duties
and reporting relationships, or a substantial adverse alteration in the nature
or status of the Employee's responsibilities from those in effect immediately
after the commencement of his employment;

             (ii).     A reduction by the Company in the Employee's annual base
salary as then in effect;

             (iii).    A new Company requirement is instituted which requires
the Employee to change his work location to a location greater than fifty (50)
miles from Employee's work location immediately prior to the institution of the
requirement, but not including a requirement that the Employee travel on the
Company's business to an extent substantially consistent with his present
business travel obligations;

             (iv).     The failure by the Company, without the Employee's
consent, to pay to the Employee any portion of any base salary, bonus, other
material cash compensation, Common Stock or stock options payable in
consideration of Employee's employment with the Company, or to pay to the
Employee any portion of an installment of deferred compensation under any
deferred compensation program of the Company within seven (7) days of the date
such compensation is due, unless such failure to pay is reasonably in dispute by
the Company;

             (v).      The failure by the Company to continue in effect any
compensation plan in which the Employee participates that is material to the
Employee's total compensation, unless an equitable arrangement (embodied in an
ongoing substitute or alternative plan) has been made with respect to such plan
, or the failure by the Company to continue the Employee's participation
therein; provided that this subsection shall not apply in the event of a change
in any compensation plan that applies generally to all of the Company's
executive officers;

             (vi).     following a Change of Control Event only: the failure by
the Company to continue to provide the Employee with benefits substantially
similar to those enjoyed by the Employee under any of the Company's pension,
life insurance, medical, health and accident, or disability plan in which the
Employee was participating immediately after the commencement of his employment;
the taking of any action by the Company which would directly or indirectly
materially reduce any of such benefits or deprive the Employee of any material
fringe benefit enjoyed by the Employee immediately after the commencement of his
employment; or the failure by the Company to provide the Employee with the
number of paid vacation days to which the Employee is entitled pursuant to the
greater of (a) this Agreement or (b) the basis of years of service with the
Company in accordance with the Company's normal vacation policy in effect
immediately after the commencement of his employment.

  The Employee's right to terminate his employment pursuant to this subsection
shall not be affected by his incapacity due to physical or mental illness.  The
Employee's continued employment shall not constitute consent to, or a waiver of
rights with respect to, any circumstance constituting Good Reason hereunder.

Initials:            Date:
         ---------        --------
<PAGE>

                          Employment Agreement Terms

          5.6.3  No Termination Fee shall be paid to Employee in the event that
this Agreement is terminated for any other reason, including, without
limitation, pursuant to subsections 5.3 and 5.4 herein or by Employee pursuant
to Section 5.5.

          5.6.4  Employee shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any
payment provided for in Section 5.6 of this Agreement by seeking other
employment or otherwise.

     5.7  In the event that this Agreement is terminated pursuant to subsection
5.2 or by the Company pursuant to subsection 5.5, Employee shall have a period
of twelve (12) months from the date of termination in which to exercise
Employee's vested stock options.

     5.8  Any termination of Employee's employment by Company (other than
termination pursuant to Section 5.1) shall be communicated by a written notice
(the "Notice of Termination"), which shall indicate the specific termination
provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail
the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of
Employee's employment under the provision so indicated. Any purported
termination pursuant to Section 5.3 and 5.4 that is disputed and finally
determined not to have been proper shall be a termination by Company in breach
of this Agreement.

     5.9  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Employee shall
not be deemed to have been terminated in conformity with section 5.3 and/or 5.4
of this Agreement unless Employee has first received: (A) reasonable notice to
Employee setting forth the reasons for Company's intention to terminate for
Cause; and (B) an opportunity, with his counsel, to appear before and be heard
by the Board at the earliest reasonable date; and (C) delivery of a Notice of
Termination from the Board finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board,
Cause as specified in the notice required by clause 5.9(A), above, exists, and
specifying the particulars thereof in detail.

6.   Covenant Not to Compete.
     -----------------------

     6.1  During the term of this Agreement, Employee shall not directly or
indirectly, own, manage, operate, control, be employed by, or participate in the
ownership, management, operation or control of a business that is a Direct
Competitor of the Company within a Relevant Area. For the purposes of this
Section 6, including all subsections of this Section 6, a "Direct Competitor" is
a company engaged in providing integrated communications services and/or
equipment to small and medium-sized business enterprises, and the "Relevant
Area" shall be defined as any area located within, or within fifty (50) miles
of, the legal boundaries or limits of any city within which the Company or any
parent, subsidiary or affiliate thereof is providing services, has commenced the
acquisition of any authorizations, rights of way or facilities or has commenced
the construction of facilities for the purpose of providing services, or the
Company has publicly announced or privately disclosed in writing to Employee
that it plans to provide Services.

     6.2  If, after the termination of this Agreement, Employee directly or
indirectly, owns, manages, operates, controls, becomes employed by, or
participates in the ownership, management, operation or control of a business
that is a Direct Competitor of the Company within a Relevant Area, then the
Company shall thereafter be relieved of its obligation, if any, to continue the
payment of any Termination Fee to Employee; provided that this section 6.2 shall
not apply if Employee terminates this Agreement for Good Reason, or following a
Change of Control Event.

     6.3  During the Term of this Agreement (or, if longer, during the term of
Employee's employment with the Company or any of its affiliates) and for a
period of twenty-four (24) months after termination of this Agreement (or, if
longer, termination of Employee's employment with the Company or any of its
affiliates), Employee shall not (i) directly or indirectly cause or attempt to
cause any employee of the Company or any of its affiliates to leave the employ
of the Company or any affiliate, (ii) in any way interfere with the relationship
between the Company and any employee or between an affiliate and any employee of
the affiliate, (iii) directly or indirectly hire any employee of the Company or
any affiliate to work for any organization of which Employee is an officer,
director, employee, consultant, independent contractor or owner of an equity or
other financial interest, or (iv) interfere or attempt to interfere with any
transaction in which the Company or any of its affiliates was involved during
the Term of this Agreement or Employee's employment, which ever is longer.

     6.3  Employee agrees that, because of the nature and sensitivity of the
information to which he will be privy and because of the nature and national and
international scope of the Company's business, the restrictions in this Section
6 are fair and reasonable.

7.   Confidential Information.
     ------------------------

Initials:            Date:
         ---------        --------
<PAGE>

                          Employment Agreement Terms


     7.1  The relationship between the Company and Employee is one of confidence
and trust.

     7.2  As used in this Agreement (i) "Confidential Information" means
information disclosed to or acquired by Employee about the Company's plans,
products, processes and services including the Services and any Relevant Area,
including information relating to research, development, inventions,
manufacturing, purchasing, accounting, engineering, marketing, merchandising,
selling, pricing and tariffed or contractual terms, customer lists and prospect
lists or other market information, with respect to any of the Company's then
current business activities; and (ii) "Inventions" means any inventions,
discoveries, concepts and ideas, whether patentable or not, including, without
limitation, processes, methods, formulas, and techniques (as well as related
improvements and knowledge) that are based on or related to Confidential
Information, that pertain in any manner to the Company's then currently used
technology, expertise or business and that are made or conceived by Employee,
either solely or jointly with others, and while employed by the Company or
within six (6) months thereafter, whether or not made or conceived during
working hours or with the use of the Company's facilities, materials or
personnel.

     7.3  Employee agrees that he shall at no time during the term of his
employment or at any time thereafter disclose any Confidential Information,
Inventions or component thereof to any person, firm or corporation to any extent
or for any reason or purpose or use any Confidential Information or component
thereof for any purpose other than the conduct of the Company's business.

     7.4  Any Confidential Information, Invention or component thereof that is
directly or indirectly originated, developed or perfected to any degree by
Employee during the term of his employment by the Company shall be and remain
the sole property of the Company and shall be deemed trade secrets of the
Company.

     7.5  Upon termination of Employee's employment pursuant to any of the
provisions herein, Employee or his legal representative shall deliver to the
Company all originals and all duplicates and/or copies of all documents,
records, notebooks, and similar repositories of or containing Confidential
Information or subject matter then in his possession, whether prepared by him or
not.

     7.6  Employee agrees that the covenants and agreements contained in this
Section 7 are fair and reasonable and that no waiver or modification of this
Section or any covenant or condition set forth herein shall be valid unless set
forth in writing and duly executed by the parties hereto.  Employee agrees to
execute such separate and further confidentiality agreements embodying and
enlarging upon the provisions of this Section 7 as the Company may reasonably
request.

8.   Injunctive Relief.  Upon a breach or threatened breach by Employee of any
     -----------------
of the provisions of Sections 6 and 7 of this Agreement, the Company shall be
entitled to an injunction restraining Employee from such breach if the Company
satisfies the requirements of Rule 65, Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure, and
Colorado decisional law applying Rule 65. Nothing herein shall be construed as
prohibiting the Company from pursuing any other remedies for such breach or
threatened breach, including recovery of damages from Employee.

9.   No Waiver.  A waiver by the Company of a breach of any provision of this
     ---------
Agreement by Employee shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any
subsequent or other breach by Employee.

10.  Severability.  It is the desire and intent of the parties that the
     ------------
provisions of this Agreement shall be enforced to the fullest extent permissible
under the laws and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which
enforcement is sought.  Accordingly, if any particular provision or portion of
this Agreement shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable, this
Agreement shall be deemed amended to delete therefrom the portion thus
adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable, such deletion to apply only with
respect to the operation of such Section in the particular jurisdiction in which
such adjudication is made.

11.  Notices.  All communications, requests, consents and other notices provided
     -------
for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if mailed by
first class mail, postage prepaid, certified or return receipt requested to the
addresses set forth herein, or last known address and received by the intended
party.  If the mailing is returned to the sender due to an incorrect address,
the correct address must be obtained in order for the communication to be
received and completed.

12.  Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and
     -------------
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado.

13.  Assignment.  The Company may assign its rights and obligations under this
     ----------
Agreement to any affiliate of the Company or, subject to the provisions of
Section 5, to

Initials:            Date:
         ---------        --------
<PAGE>

                          Employment Agreement Terms

any acquirer of substantially all of the business of the Company, and all
covenants and agreements hereunder shall inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by or against any such assignee. Neither this Agreement nor any
rights or duties hereunder may be assigned or delegated by Employee.

14.  Amendments.  No provision of this Agreement shall be altered, amended,
     ----------
revoked or waived except by an instrument in writing, signed by each party to
this Agreement.

15.  Binding Effect.  Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement shall
     --------------
be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective legal representatives, heirs, successors and assigns.

16.  Execution in Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of
     -------------------------
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

17.  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement (and the Company's arbitration procedures
     ----------------
described below) sets forth the entire agreement and understanding of the
parties and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements or representations
by or between the parties, whether written or oral, which relate in any way to
the subject matter hereof, including, without limitation, any previously
executed employment agreements or amendments thereto.

18.  Indemnification
     ---------------

     18.1 To the greatest extent allowable under applicable law, the Company
shall indemnify and defend Employee from and against all claims, demands and
liabilities arising from or relating to Employee's employment or other
relationships with the Company ("Indemnified Claims"), and advance to Employee
all costs and attorneys' fees incurred by him or on his behalf in connection
with any Indemnified Claim; provided that in no circumstances shall the
indemnification and/or cost advance requirements of this paragraph exceed the
scope of the indemnification and cost advance rights extended by the Company's
bylaws to the Company's executive officers.

     18.2 Employee represents and warrants that he is not in breach of his
obligations to any former employer under any agreement limiting his ability or
right to solicit or hire any individual, and agrees that he shall not during the
term of this Agreement  knowingly and intentionally violate any such obligation.
Provided that Employee has not knowingly and intentionally violated any
obligations described in the previous sentence, the Company shall fully
indemnify Employee concerning and defend him against any claim or demand by, or
liability by Employee to, Employee's former employer (including, without
limitation, any demand for repayment of cash, stock or stock options, or any
effort to cancel stock options or otherwise avoid any obligation relating
thereto) arising from or relating to any  contractual or other legal limitation
on or prohibition of the solicitation or hiring of any person, as an employee,
contractor or otherwise, by the Company or any affiliate thereof.

19.  Arbitration.  Any dispute arising out of this Agreement, the Employee's
     -----------
application for employment, the Employee's relationship with the Company, or the
Employee's employment or separation from employment shall be subject to
arbitration pursuant to the Company's arbitration procedures.  The Employee
acknowledges that a copy of the procedures has been delivered to and read by the
Employee prior to the time he/she executed this Agreement.  It is understood
that all sections of the Arbitration Procedures apply, except those sections
pertaining to at-will employment, which are superseded by this Employment
Agreement. In his or her final award,  the arbitrator shall award the party
substantially prevailing all costs incurred by that party in connection with the
arbitration, including reasonable attorneys' fees and that party's share, if
any, of the fees charged by the arbitrator, and all filing and/or arbitration
administration fees incurred by that party in connection with the arbitration.

Initials:            Date:
         ---------        --------
<PAGE>

Convergent Communications(TM)                            Proprietary Information


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                  Addendum A to Employment Services Agreement

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.   Additional Provisions. The Company and Employee agree to the following
     ---------------------
additions, changes and amendments to the Employment Services Agreement and the
Agreement Terms:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Section Reference      Additions, Changes or Amendments
--------------------   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C>                    <S>
         3.2           Employee's Performance Bonus described in Section 3.2 shall be guaranteed to be a minimum of
     (addendum)        $250,000 for the first fiscal year of Employee's employment which amount shall be offset by any
                       actual Performance Bonus earned in such year.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         3.3           Employee's monthly car allowance shall be $1,200 payable semi-monthly.
     (addendum)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         3.4           The Company hereby represents and warrants that all stock option grants contemplated or required by
     (addendum)        this Agreement are authorized by and permissible under its various stock option plans and programs,
                       and that it shall exercise its best efforts to obtain all board and/or shareholder approvals, if
                       any, required to allow such stock option grants to be made to Employee as, when and on the terms
                       specified hereunder.  Employee shall receive an option to purchase 1,500,000 shares of Company
                       common stock at an exercise price of $13.00 per share.  25% of the shares underlying the option
                       shall be immediately vested upon grant.  The remaining 75% of the shares underlying the option
                       shall vest in three equal installments on each of the succeeding three anniversaries of the date of
                       grant, provided that Employee is still employed by the Company on each such anniversary.   The
                       terms and conditions of the Company's Stock Incentive Plan shall govern all other aspects of the
                       stock option grant; provided that in the event of any conflict between any term of this Agreement
                       and any term of the Plan or any Option Certificate issued thereunder, the terms of this Agreement
                       shall control.



                                                    {Rest of Page Intentionally Blank}
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                 <C>                                        <C>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.6                 3.6.1  The Company shall pay Employee a signing bonus comprised of a combination of
(new)               cash and Common Stock with a total value of $20 million ("Signing Bonus"), which shall
                    be payable in two equal installments as follows:  (i) $10 million in cash or Common
                    Stock in a combination designated by Employee as provided in section 3.6.2, below, on
                    the later of (a) 31 days after the Company receives Employee's designation or (b) the
                    date by which the Company has executed definitive Securities Purchase Agreements with
                    one or more investors whereby the Company will receive a minimum of $150 million in
                    gross proceeds pursuant to the sale of certain securities ("Initial Installment"), and
                    (ii) $10 million in cash or Common Stock in a combination designated by Employee as
                    provided in section 3.6.2, on the earlier to occur of (a) the closing of the merger of
                    US West Communications, Inc. and Qwest Communications, Inc., and (b) December 31, 2000
                    ("Final Installment").

                    3.6.2  On or before March 29, 2000, Employee shall deliver to the company a written
                    designation (the "Designation") specifying the combination of cash and Common Stock
                    that shall together comprise the Initial Installment and the Final Installment (which
                    may be comprised of different combinations of cash and Common Stock).  To the extent
                    that Employee elects to receive any portion of Signing Bonus payable in the Initial
                    Installment in the form of Common Stock, the number of shares of Common Stock to be so
                    granted shall be determined by dividing the number of dollars of the Signing Bonus
                    designated by Employee to be payable in Common Stock by $13.00  To the extent that
                    Employee elects to receive any portion of Signing Bonus payable in the Final
                    Installment in the form of Common Stock, the number of shares of Common Stock to be so
                    granted shall be determined by dividing the number of dollars of the Signing Bonus
                    designated by Employee to be payable in Common Stock by the volume-weighted average
                    closing price of the Common Stock on the NASDAQ National Market for the twenty trading
                    days immediately preceding the date of the grant.  Employee shall have the right,
                    before his first date of active employment under this Agreement, to defer any cash
                    payment received as a result of a designation under this section 3.6.2 into a deferred
                    compensation plan established by the Company.  Upon Employee's request, the Company
                    shall establish a deferred compensation plan as of Employee's first day of active
                    employment under this Agreement giving effect to Employee's deferral election.
                    Employee and the Company shall cooperate concerning the terms and conditions of such a
                    plan.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     3.6.3  In the event that Employee's employment is terminated prior to the earlier to
                    occur of (i) the closing of the merger of US West Communications, Inc. and Qwest
                    communications, Inc., and (ii) December 31, 2000 and is (A) voluntarily terminated by
                    Employee without Good Reason or (B) terminated by the Company pursuant to Section 5.4
                    of this Agreement, then Employee hereby agrees and acknowledges that he shall, only
                    with respect to the Initial Installment of the Signing Bonus, repay the net cash
                    portion (after taxes withheld) of the Signing Bonus and return any shares of Common
                    Stock received by Employee as the Common Stock portion of the Signing Bonus to the
                    Company within twenty (20) days after such termination of employment.

                    3.6.4  In the event that, after Employee receives the Final Installment,  Employee's
                    employment is (A) voluntarily terminated by Employee without Good Reason or (B)
                    terminated by the Company pursuant to Section 5.4 of this Agreement, then Employee
                    hereby agrees and acknowledges that he shall, only with respect to the Final
                    Installment of the Signing Bonus, repay the net cash portion (after taxes withheld) of
                    the Signing Bonus and return any shares of Common Stock received by Employee as the
                    Common Stock portion of the Signing Bonus to the Company within twenty (20) days after
                    such termination of employment in accordance with the following schedule:

</TABLE>
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                      Date of Termination of Employment              Cash, Common Stock Portion of Final
                      (based upon the applicable period of      Installment of Signing Bonus to be Returned to
                      time following Employee's receipt of                      Company
                      the Final Installment of the Signing
                                     Bonus)
                   <S>                                                            <C>
                    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          During the 1st through 3rd month                        80%
                    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          During the 4th through 6th month                        60%
                    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          During the 7th through 9th month                        40%
                    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          During the 10th through 12th month                      20%
                    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    3.6.5  The Company shall have the right to offset and/or withhold any amounts accrued
                    or owed to Employee in order to satisfy all or any portion of Employee's obligations
                    under this Section 3.6.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

2.   Part of Agreement. This Addendum is a part of the Employment Services
     -----------------
Agreement executed on the same date as this Addendum.

3.   Other Terms and Conditions.  All other terms and conditions of the
     --------------------------
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, as if fully stated herein.

4.   Capitalized Terms.  Capitalized terms, and other defined terms, shall have
     -----------------
the same meaning as that accorded to them in the Agreement, unless the context
requires otherwise.

5.   Conflict.  If there are any conflicting terms or conditions between the
     --------
terms and conditions of this Addendum and the terms and conditions of the
Agreement, the terms and conditions of this Addendum shall control.