Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.59

                                 July 20, 2001

Ms. Chris A. Davis
101 Teresita Way
Los Gatos, CA  95032-6523

Dear Chris:

     I am very pleased to confirm our offer for you to join McLeodUSA
Incorporated (the "Company") as Chief Operating and Financial Officer and as a
                   -------
member of the Board of Directors (the "Board") and of the Executive Committee of
                                       -----
the Board.  The details of our employment offer are as follows:

1.  Our offer is subject to your signing this letter by August 1, 2001. We
    expect that you will join the Company as an employee on August 2, 2001 and
    will assume your duties on a full-time basis as Chief Operating and
    Financial Officer as soon thereafter as is practicable, but in no event
    later than August 13, 2001 .

2.  While you are employed by the Company, your base salary will be $400,000 per
    year, subject to annual increase, as determined by the Compensation
    Committee of the Board (the "Compensation Committee") in its sole
                                 ----------------------
    discretion, in order to provide you with annual base salary comparable to
    the annual base salary of similarly situated executives at companies in
    similar industries having similar revenues and compound annual growth rates.

3.  While you are employed by the Company, you will be entitled to receive
    annual bonus compensation based upon a target bonus opportunity of not less
    than 50% of your then-current annual base salary in effect for such year.
    For 2001, the bonus will be prorated for five months. Unless otherwise
    established for any given year by the Compensation Committee, the target
    bonus opportunity will be 50% as described above in this paragraph and the
    applicable performance criteria (which may be based on individual or
    corporate performance, or a combination thereof) to be achieved for such
    year to earn the bonus will be in accordance with the Company's bonus policy
    and practices generally applicable to its other senior executives for such
    year.
<PAGE>

4.  To compensate you for the loss of your unvested options on shares of common
    stock of ONI Systems Corp. ("ONI"), you will receive a one-time signing
                                 ---
    bonus of $5,000,000 within 30 days after you join the Company.

    In addition, to the extent that you exercise any vested portion of your
    option to purchase ONI common stock and, on the earliest possible date that
    you can sell shares of ONI common stock in an orderly fashion, you sell any
    shares of ONI common stock acquired upon the exercise and the gross sale
    price is less than $24 per share, then, for each share sold (up to a maximum
    of 162,500 shares), the Company will make an additional payment to you of
    the difference between the sale price and $24. Any such payment will be made
    within 30 days after the applicable sale.

5.  The Compensation Committee will grant you an option to purchase 6,000,000
    shares of common stock of the Company pursuant to the Company's standard
    option agreement, a copy of which has been previously provided to you. In
    particular, your option agreement will have the following specific terms:

    a.  This stock option will have an exercise price per share based on the
        closing price of the Company's common stock on the date immediately
        preceding the date of grant. The stock option will vest in respect of
        25% of the shares subject to the stock option upon the commencement of
        your employment and in respect of an additional 25% of the shares
        subject to the stock option on each of the next three anniversaries of
        such date, so long as you are employed by the Company on each such
        vesting date.

    b.  You will have the ability to transfer any Company stock options (or the
        common stock acquired upon exercise of the stock options) to family
        members, in accordance with section 12.2 of the Company's stock option
        plan.

    c.  The Company will not require you to wait six months from the date of
        grant of any Company stock option to exercise the stock option and sell
        the underlying shares of common stock, as set forth in section 17.3 of
        the Company's stock option plan.

6.  While you are employed by the Company, (1) Company benefits will be provided
    to you and your eligible dependents, including medical plan coverage, dental
    plan coverage, 401(k) plan and Employee Stock Purchase Plan participation,
    subject to satisfying applicable eligibility requirements (if any), (2) you
    will be eligible for 6 weeks of annual vacation and (3) the Company will
    provide you with such other benefits as are generally provided by the
    Company for or on behalf of the senior executives of the Company (other than
    Clark McLeod's split-dollar life insurance arrangement).

                                      -2-
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    In addition, while you are employed by the Company, you will be entitled to
    receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable and customary expenses that
    you incur in performing services hereunder, including all travel expenses
    and living expenses while away from home on business or at the request of
    and in the service of the Company, provided that such expenses are incurred
    and accounted for in accordance with the policies and procedures established
    by the Company.

    The Company will reimburse your reasonable relocation expenses in connection
    with your move to Hilton Head. Specifically, the Company agrees to pay for
    air fare for you and your family, packing, moving and unpacking of your
    household goods and the moving of three vehicles.

    The Company recognizes that certain of your personal belongings will
    ultimately be moved to Cedar Rapids and, as part of the relocation package,
    you will be reimbursed for the final relocation of these items in whatever
    fashion is most convenient for you and your family. For up to six months,
    the Company will provide interim transportation and interim housing in a
    Company corporate apartment or will reimburse you for equivalent
    accommodations. All relocation reimbursement will be provided to you on a
    basis on which you suffer no tax disadvantage.

    If, notwithstanding your best efforts to do so, you are unable to sell your
    residence in San Jose within the first 90 days of your listing it for sale
    with a reputable broker, the Company will, or will arrange for a third party
    to, purchase your home for $4.3 million net proceeds after any commission
    payable and, if the sale is to the Company, the Company will upon the sale
    become solely responsible for all obligations, liabilities and risks
    associated with the ownership of the residence. This arrangement will be
    structured on a basis on which you suffer no tax disadvantage.

    While you are employed by the Company, the Company will provide you with
    round-trip transportation one time per week between Hilton Head (or, if
    applicable, San Jose) and Cedar Rapids on a Company airplane. All such
    transportation will be provided to you on a basis on which you suffer no tax
    disadvantage.

7.  Effective as of the commencement of your employment, the Company and you
    will enter into the Employment Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A. When
    you sign the Employment Agreement, it, rather than this letter, will control
    in the event of a dispute over the matters covered by paragraphs 2 through 5
    of this letter. Paragraph 6, which relates to certain obligations with
    respect to benefits, relocation and your San Jose residence, is covered only
    by this letter and is therefore governed by it.

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8.  The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this letter
    shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to its
    conflicts of law principles.

    Should you have any questions regarding the above items, please do not
hesitate to call me, Ted or Tom.  If all of the above comports with your
understanding of our agreement, please sign and return one copy to me by
July 31, 2001 and retain one copy for your records.

    We are very excited to welcome you as a partner, as a member of the Board
of Directors and its Executive Committee and as a member of the McLeodUSA team.
We look forward to working with you to make McLeodUSA an even more successful
company.

                                         With warm regards,

                                         McLeodUSA Incorporated

                                         /s/   Stephen C. Gray
                                         --------------------------------------
                                         By:   Stephen C. Gray
                                         Its:  President and Co-Chief Executive
                                               Officer

Accepted this 22nd day of July, 2001.

 /s/ Chris A. Davis
------------------------------------
By:  Chris A. Davis

                                      -4-<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.60

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                              --------------------

     AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") made this 1st day of August, 2001, between
McLeodUSA, Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Chris A.
Davis (the "Executive").

     WHEREAS, the Executive has agreed to serve as the Chief Operating and
Financial Officer of the Company;

     WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive have entered into a letter
agreement, dated as of July 20, 2001, which contemplates that the Company and
the Executive shall enter into this Agreement; and

     WHEREAS, the Company has deemed it advisable and in the best interests of
the Company and its stockholders to set forth the terms and conditions of the
Executive's employment, the circumstances under which the Executive's employment
with the Company may be terminated and the compensation and benefits to which
the Executive would be entitled upon any such termination;

     Accordingly, in consideration of the premises and the respective covenants
and agreements of the parties herein contained, and intending to be legally
bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

          SECTION 1.  Employment.  The Company hereby agrees to employ the
                      -----------
Executive, and the Executive hereby agrees to serve the Company, on the terms
and conditions set forth herein.

          SECTION 2.  Term.  The employment of the Executive by the Company as
                      -----
provided in Section 1 shall commence on August 2, 2001, and the Executive shall
have assumed her duties of employment as provided in Section 3 on a full-time
basis not later than August 13, 2001 (the "Commencement Date").  The employment
of the Executive by the Company shall end on the third anniversary of the
Commencement Date, unless sooner terminated as hereinafter provided (as may be
sooner terminated, the "Term").

          SECTION 3.  Position and Duties.  The Executive shall serve as Chief
                      --------------------
Operating and Financial Officer of the Company and shall have such
responsibilities, duties and authority as may from time to time be assigned to
the Executive by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") that are
consistent with such position.  The Executive shall also serve as a member of
the Board and of the Executive Committee of the Board.  The Executive shall
devote substantially all of her working time and efforts to

                                      -1-
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the business and affairs of the Company; provided, however, that she may serve
                                         --------  -------
on boards of directors of civic and charitable organizations, other corporations
and as a Special Limited Partner of Forstmann Little as long as such
participation in board or Forstmann Little activities does not interfere in any
significant respect with her obligations under this Agreement.

          SECTION 4.  Place of Performance.  In connection with the Executive's
                      ---------------------
employment by the Company, the Executive shall be based at the principal
executive offices of the Company, which shall be maintained in Cedar Rapids,
Iowa, except for reasonably required travel on the Company's or any of its
subsidiaries' business.

          SECTION 5.  Compensation and Related Matters.  (a)  Salary.  During
                      ---------------------------------       -------
the period of the Executive's employment hereunder, the Company shall pay to the
Executive an annual base salary at a rate of $400,000, such salary to be paid in
substantially equal installments in accordance with the Company's payroll
practices for its other executives.  This salary shall be subject to annual
increase, as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the
"Compensation Committee") in its sole discretion, in order to provide the
Executive with annual base salary comparable to the annual base salary of
similarly situated executives at companies in similar industries having similar
revenues and compound annual growth rates.  Compensation of the Executive by
salary payments shall not be deemed exclusive and shall not prevent the
Executive from participating in any other compensation or benefit plan of the
Company.  The salary payments (including any increased salary payments)
hereunder shall not in any way limit or reduce any other obligation of the
Company hereunder, and no other compensation, benefit or payment hereunder shall
in any way limit or reduce the obligation of the Company to pay the Executive's
salary hereunder.

          (b)  Bonus Compensation.  The Executive shall be entitled to receive
               -------------------
annual bonus compensation based upon a target bonus opportunity of not less than
50% of the Executive's then current annual base salary in effect for such year.
For 2001, the bonus will be prorated for five months.  Unless otherwise
established for any given year by the Compensation Committee, the target bonus
opportunity shall be 50% as described above in this paragraph and the applicable
performance criteria (which may be based on individual or corporate performance,
or a combination thereof) to be achieved for such year to earn the bonus shall
be in accordance with the Company's bonus policy and practices generally
applicable to its other executives for each given year.

          (c)  Equity Compensation.  The Executive shall receive a grant of
               -------------------
options to purchase 6,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $.01 per
share, of the Company ("Common Stock") at an exercise price (or option price as
it is called in the Company's 1996 Employee Stock Option Plan) per share
established in accordance with the current processes and policies of the Company
and shall contain such other terms and conditions as are provided under such
plan except as otherwise specifically provided

                                      -2-
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hereunder. The Executive shall also be eligible for additional option grants
during the Term on or about each anniversary of the Commencement Date as the
Compensation Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine. The initial
grant of 6,000,000 options shall be fully exercisable (1) in respect of 25% of
the shares subject to the options as of the Commencement Date and in respect of
an additional 25% of the shares subject to the options on each of the next three
anniversaries of the Commencement Date, so long as the Executive is employed by
the Company on each such vesting date, or (2) as provided in Section 8(d)(iii).
The Company shall take all steps necessary such that the Executive shall not be
required to wait six months from the date of grant of any Company stock option
to exercise the stock option and sell the underlying shares of common stock, as
currently set forth in section 17.3 of the Company's 1996 Employee Stock Option
Plan. Upon a Change in Control (as defined in Section 7(d)(iii)) all outstanding
options to purchase Common Stock of the Company which have been granted to the
Executive during the Executive's employment with the Company shall become
immediately vested and exercisable in full, irrespective of whether such options
were otherwise vested and exercisable on such date.

          (d) (i)  To compensate the Executive for the loss of her unvested
options on shares of common stock of ONI Systems Corp. ("ONI"), the Company
                                                         ---
shall pay the Executive a one-time signing bonus of $5,000,000 on or prior to
September 2, 2001.

          (ii)  To the extent that the Executive exercises any exercisable
portion of her option to purchase ONI common stock and, on the earliest possible
date that she can sell shares of ONI common stock in an orderly fashion, she
sells any shares of ONI common stock acquired upon such exercise and the gross
sale price is less than $24 per share, then, for each share sold (up to a
maximum of 162,500 shares), the Company shall make an additional payment to her
of the difference between the sale price and $24.  Any such payment will be made
within thirty (30) days after the applicable sale.

          (e)  Expenses.  During the term of the Executive's employment
               ---------
hereunder, the Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for
all reasonable and customary expenses incurred by the Executive in performing
services hereunder, including all expenses of travel and living expenses while
away from home on business or at the request of and in the service of the
Company, provided that such expenses are incurred and accounted for in
accordance with the policies and procedures established by the Company.

          (f)  Other Benefits.  The Executive shall be entitled to participate
               ---------------
in or receive benefits under any employee benefit plan or arrangement made
available by the Company in the future to its executives and key management
employees, subject to and on a basis consistent with the terms, conditions and
overall administration of such plans and arrangements.  Nothing paid to the
Executive under any plan or arrangement presently in effect or made available in
the future shall be deemed to be in lieu of the

                                      -3-
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salary payable to the Executive pursuant to Section 5(a). Any payments or
benefits payable to the Executive under this Section 5(f) in respect of any
calendar year during which the Executive is employed by the Company for less
than the entire such year shall, unless otherwise provided in the applicable
plan or arrangement, be prorated in accordance with the number of days in such
calendar year during which she is so employed.

          (g)  Vacations.  The Executive shall be entitled to six (6) weeks of
               ----------
vacation per year during each year of employment with the Company.  The
Executive shall also be entitled to all paid holidays and personal days given by
the Company to its executives.

          (h)  Registration Rights.  The Company shall file a Form S-8 or other
               -------------------
applicable registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
to the extent such a registration statement is not otherwise already on file and
effective, in order to enable the Executive to sell or otherwise dispose of 15%
of her aggregate common equity ownership in the Company each year during the
Term.  For purposes hereof, the Executive's annual 15% registration rights shall
be cumulative and determined on a fully diluted basis, including in such
determination all then outstanding unexercised options to acquire Common Stock
(whether or not vested) which the Executive has been granted by the Company.

          SECTION 6.  Offices.  Subject to Sections 3 and 4, the Executive shall
                      --------
serve without additional compensation, if elected or appointed thereto, as a
director of the Company and any of its subsidiaries and in one or more executive
offices of any of the Company's subsidiaries.

          SECTION 7.  Termination.  The Executive's employment hereunder may be
                      ------------
terminated without any breach of this Agreement only under the following
circumstances:

          (a)  Death.  The Executive's employment hereunder shall terminate upon
               ------
     her death.

          (b)  Disability.  If, as a result of the Executive's incapacity due to
               -----------
     physical or mental illness, the Executive shall have been absent from her
     duties hereunder on a full-time basis for the entire period of six
     consecutive months, and within thirty (30) days after written notice of
     termination is given (which may occur before or after the end of such six
     month period) shall not have returned to the performance of her duties
     hereunder on a full-time basis, the Company may terminate the Executive's
     employment hereunder.

          (c)  Cause.  The Company may terminate the Executive's employment
               ------
     hereunder for Cause.  For purposes of this Agreement, the Company shall
     have "Cause" to terminate the Executive's employment hereunder upon (i) the
     willful

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

     and continued failure by the Executive to substantially perform her duties
     hereunder (other than any such failure resulting from the Executive's
     incapacity due to physical or mental illness or any such actual or
     anticipated failure after the issuance of a Notice of Termination, as
     defined in Section 7(e), by the Executive for Good Reason, as defined in
     Section 7(d)(ii)), after demand for substantial performance is delivered by
     the Company that specifically identifies the manner in which the Company
     believes the Executive has not substantially performed her duties, (ii) the
     willful engaging by the Executive in misconduct which is materially
     injurious to the Company, monetarily or otherwise (including, but not
     limited to, conduct that constitutes Competitive Activity, as defined in
     Section 10), or (iii) the Executive's conviction of a felony or the
     entering of a plea of nolo contendere to a felony charge. For purposes of
                           ---------------
     this Section 7(c), no act, or failure to act, on the Executive's part shall
     be considered "willful" unless done, or omitted to be done, by her not in
     good faith and without reasonable belief that her action or omission was in
     the best interest of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
     Executive may not be terminated for Cause pursuant to clause (i) or (ii)
     above without (1) reasonable notice in writing from the Board to the
     Executive setting forth the reasons for the Company's intention to
     terminate for Cause, (2) an opportunity for the Executive, together with
     her counsel, to be heard before the Board, and (3) delivery to the
     Executive of a Notice of Termination from the Board finding that, in the
     good faith opinion of three-quarters (3/4) of the Board, the Executive was
     guilty of conduct set forth in clause (i) or (ii) above, as applicable, and
     specifying the particulars thereof in detail. No such notice or meeting
     before the Board shall be required if the termination for Cause is due to
     conduct described in clause (iii) of the second sentence of this
     Section 7(c).

          (d)  Termination by the Executive.  (i)  The Executive may terminate
               -----------------------------
     her employment hereunder (A) for Good Reason, (B) if her health should
     become impaired to an extent that makes her continued performance of her
     duties hereunder hazardous to her physical or mental health or her life,
     provided that the Executive shall have furnished the Company with a written
     statement from a qualified doctor to such effect and provided, further,
     that, at the Company's request, the Executive shall submit to an
     examination by a doctor selected by the Company and such doctor shall have
     concurred in the conclusion of the Executive's doctor or (C) for any other
     reason.

               (ii)  For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean
     the occurrence (without the Executive's express written consent) of any one
     of the following acts by the Company, or failures by the Company to act,
     unless, in the case of any act or failure to act described in paragraph
     (A), (B), (D), (E) or (F) below, such act or failure to act is corrected
     prior to the Date of Termination (as defined in Section 7(f)) given in
     respect thereof:

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

               (A)  the assignment to the Executive of any duties materially
          inconsistent with the Executive's status as a senior executive officer
          of the Company or a material diminution in the nature or status of the
          Executive's responsibilities from those in effect as of the
          Commencement Date;

               (B)  a reduction by the Company in the Executive's annual base
          salary or target bonus opportunity as in effect on the date hereof or
          as the same may be increased from time to time;

               (C)  the relocation of the Company's principal executive offices
          to a location outside the Cedar Rapids, Iowa Metropolitan Area (or, if
          different, the metropolitan area in which such offices are located
          immediately prior to a Change in Control;

               (D)  the failure of the Company to obtain the written assumption
          of its obligation to perform this Agreement by a successor to all or
          substantially all of the assets of the Company within 15 days after a
          merger, consolidation, sale or similar transaction;

               (E)  any purported termination of the Executive's employment
          which is not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying
          the requirements of Section 7(e); for purposes of this Agreement, no
          such purported termination shall be effective;

               (F)  the failure by the Company to comply with any material
          provision of this Agreement; or

               (G)  a Change in Control.

               The Executive's right to terminate the Executive's employment for
     Good Reason shall not be affected by the Executive's incapacity due to
     physical or mental illness.  The Executive's continued employment shall not
     constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to, any act or
     failure to act constituting Good Reason hereunder.

               (iii)  For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change in Control"
     shall be deemed to have occurred if the conditions set forth in any one of
     the following paragraphs shall have been satisfied:

               (A)  any "person" (within the meaning of Section 3(a)(9) of the
          Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) is
          or becomes the "beneficial owner" (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3
          under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the
          Company (not including in the securities beneficially owned by such
          person any securities

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

          acquired directly from the Company or its affiliates) representing 25%
          or more of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding
          securities; excluding, however, the following: (1) any acquisition
          directly from the Company, other than an acquisition by virtue of the
          exercise of a conversion privilege unless the security being so
          converted was itself acquired directly from the Company, (2) any
          acquisition by the Company, or (3) any acquisition by any employee
          benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company
          or any corporation controlled by the Company; or

               (B)  during any period of two consecutive years (not including
          any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who
          at the beginning of such period constitute the Board and any new
          director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered
          into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described
          in clause (A), (C) or (D) of this paragraph whose election by the
          Board or nomination for election by the Company's stockholders was
          approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then
          still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the
          period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so
          approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or

               (C)  the shareholders of the Company approve a merger or
          consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other than
          (i) a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting
          securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto
          continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being
          converted into voting securities of the surviving entity), in
          combination with the ownership of any trustee or other fiduciary
          holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, at
          least 75% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the
          Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such
          merger or consolidation, or (ii) a merger or consolidation effected to
          implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction)
          in which no person acquires more than 50% of the combined voting power
          of the Company's then outstanding securities; or

               (D)  the shareholders of the Company approve a plan of complete
          liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition
          by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company's assets.

          (e)  Notice of Termination.  Any termination of the Executive's
               ----------------------
     employment by the Company or by the Executive (other than termination
     pursuant to Section 7(a)) shall be communicated by written Notice of
     Termination to the other

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

     party hereto in accordance with Section 13. For purposes of this Agreement,
     a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a notice 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 the Executive's employment under the provision so
     indicated.

          (f)  Date of Termination.  "Date of Termination" shall mean (i) if the
               --------------------
     Executive's employment is terminated by her death, the date of her death,
     (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to Section 7(b),
     thirty (30) days after Notice of Termination is given (provided that the
     Executive shall not have returned to the performance of her duties on a
     full-time basis during such thirty (30)-day period), (iii) if the
     Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to Section 7(c) above, the
     date specified in the Notice of Termination, and (iv) if the Executive's
     employment is terminated for any other reason, the date on which a Notice
     of Termination is given.

          (g)  Resignation from the Board.  On any termination of the
               ---------------------------
     Executive's employment with the Company, the Executive shall be deemed to
     have resigned from the Board and from all other offices and directorships
     held by the Executive with the Company and all of its affiliates.

          SECTION 8.  Compensation Upon Termination or During Disability.  (a)
                      ---------------------------------------------------
During any period that the Executive fails to perform her duties hereunder as a
result of incapacity due to physical or mental illness ("disability period"),
the Executive shall continue to receive her full salary at the rate then in
effect for such period until her employment is terminated pursuant to Section
7(b), provided that payments so made to the Executive during the first 180 days
of the disability period shall be reduced by the sum of the amounts, if any,
payable to the Executive at or prior to the time of any such payment under
disability benefit plans of the Company or under the Social Security disability
insurance program, and which amounts were not previously applied to reduce any
such payment.  If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of her
disability pursuant to Section 7(b), all of her then outstanding options to
purchase common stock of the Company shall become immediately vested and
exercisable in full upon the giving of Notice of Termination, irrespective of
whether such options were vested and exercisable on such date, and all such
options shall remain exercisable for one year following the Date of Termination
(but not beyond their original expiration dates).

          (b)  If the Executive's employment is terminated by her death, the
Company shall pay any amounts due to the Executive under Section 5 through the
date of her death. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of her
death, all of her then outstanding options to purchase common stock of the
Company shall become immediately vested and exercisable in full upon the date of
her death, irrespective of whether such options were vested and exercisable on
such date, and all such options shall

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

remain exercisable for one year following such date (but not beyond their
original expiration dates).

          (c)  If the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for
Cause or by the Executive for other than Good Reason, (1) the Company shall pay
the Executive her full salary through the Date of Termination at the rate in
effect at the time Notice of Termination is given, and (2) the Executive will
have 90 days to exercise the exercisable portion of any Company stock options
she then holds, and the Company shall have no further obligations to the
Executive under this Agreement.

          (d)  If (A) in breach of this Agreement, the Company terminates the
Executive's employment (it being understood that a purported termination for
disability pursuant to Section 7(b) or for Cause which is disputed and finally
determined not to have been proper shall be a termination by the Company in
breach of this Agreement), or (B) the Executive terminates her employment for
Good Reason, then

     (i)   the Company shall pay the Executive her full salary through the Date
     of Termination at the rate in effect at the time Notice of Termination is
     given and all other unpaid amounts, if any, to which the Executive is
     entitled as of the Date of Termination under any compensation plan or
     program of the Company, at the time such payments are due; and

     (ii)  in lieu of any further salary payments to the Executive for
     periods subsequent to the Date of Termination, the Company shall pay as
     liquidated damages to the Executive an amount equal to the number of years
     (including partial years) remaining in the Term had the Executive's
     employment not been terminated, times the sum of (1) the Executive's annual
     salary rate in effect as of the Date of Termination and (2) the higher of
     the annual bonus amount, if any, paid or awarded by the Company to the
     Executive in respect of the calendar year prior to the year in which such
     Date of Termination occurs or the Executive's target bonus opportunity for
     the year in which Date of Termination occurs; such payment to be made in a
     lump sum on or before the fifth day following the Date of Termination;

     (iii) all outstanding options to purchase common stock of the Company
     granted to the Executive during the Term shall become immediately vested
     and exercisable in full upon the giving of the Notice of Termination,
     irrespective of whether such options were vested and exercisable on such
     date, and all options granted on or after the Commencement Date shall
     remain exercisable for four years after the Date of Termination (but not
     beyond their original expiration dates); and

     (iv)  the Company shall maintain in full force and effect, for the
     continued benefit of the Executive for the number of years (including
     partial years) remaining in the original three-year Term had the
     Executive's employment not been terminated, all

                                      -9-
<PAGE>

     medical, dental and life insurance plans and programs in which the
     Executive was entitled to participate immediately prior to the Date of
     Termination on the same basis (including costs) then available to active
     employees provided that the Executive's continued participation is possible
     under the general terms and provisions of such plans and programs;
     provided, however, that in the event that the Executive's participation in
     --------  -------
     any such plan or program is barred, the Company shall arrange to provide
     the Executive with benefits substantially similar to those which the
     Executive would otherwise have been entitled to receive under such plans
     and programs from which her continued participation is barred; and, further
                                                                         -------
     provided, that if (i) the Executive becomes reemployed after her Date of
     --------
     Termination and (ii) her new employer offers medical and dental insurance
     plans or programs under which she will be eligible to participate, any such
     continuing medical and dental coverage shall be secondary to such new
     employer's coverage.

          (e)  If the Executive terminates her employment under Section
7(d)(i)(B), the Company shall pay the Executive her full salary through the Date
of Termination at the rate in effect at the time Notice of Termination is given.

          (f)  In the event that the Executive becomes entitled to the payments
provided in clauses (i)-(iv) of Section 8(d) (the "Severance Payments"), if any
of the Severance Payments will be subject to the excise tax imposed under
section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") (the
"Excise Tax"), the Company shall pay to the Executive an additional amount (the
"Gross-Up Payment") such that the net amount retained by the Executive, after
deduction of any Excise Tax on the Severance Payments and any Federal, state and
local income and employment tax and Excise Tax upon the payment provided for by
this Section 8(f), shall be equal to the Severance Payments.  For purposes of
determining whether any of the Severance Payments will be subject to the Excise
Tax and the amount of such Excise Tax, (i) any other payments or benefits
received or to be received by the Executive in connection with a change in
ownership or control (within the meaning of section 280G of the Code and the
regulations promulgated thereunder) of the Company or the Executive's
termination of employment (whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or
any other plan, arrangement or agreement with the Company, any person whose
actions result in a change in control or any person affiliated with the Company
or such person) shall be treated as "parachute payments" within the meaning of
section 280G(b)(2) of the Code, and all "excess parachute payment" within the
meaning of section 280G(b)(1) of the Code shall be treated as subject to the
Excise Tax, unless in the opinion of tax counsel selected by the Company's
independent auditors and reasonably acceptable to the Executive such other
payments or benefits (in whole or in part) do not constitute parachute payments,
including by reason of section 280G(b)(4)(A) of the Code, or such excess
parachute payments (in whole or in part) represent reasonable compensation for
services actually rendered, within the meaning of section 280G(b)(4)(B) of the
Code, in excess of the "base

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

amount" allocable to such reasonable compensation, or are otherwise not subject
to the Excise Tax, (ii) the amount of the Severance Payments which shall be
treated as subject to the Excise Tax shall be equal to the lesser of (A) the
total amount of the Severance Payments or (B) the amount of excess parachute
payments within the meaning of section 280(G)(b)(1) of the Code (after applying
clause (i), above), and (iii) the value of any non-cash benefits or any deferred
payment or benefit shall be determined by the Company's independent auditors in
accordance with the principles of sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code. For
purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-Up Payment, the Executive shall
be deemed to pay Federal income taxes at the highest marginal rate of Federal
income taxation in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made
and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation in the
state and locality of the Executive's residence on the Date of Termination, net
of the maximum reduction in Federal income taxes which could be obtained from
deduction of such state and local taxes.

          (g) The compensation and benefits, if any, payable under this Section
8 shall be in addition to any vested accrued compensation or benefits to which
the Executive may be entitled under the Company's (or any of its subsidiaries')
employee benefit plans and arrangements; provided, however, that the Executive
                                         --------  -------
shall not be entitled to any compensation or benefits under any severance plan
or arrangement of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to which she would
otherwise be entitled under the terms thereof.

          SECTION 9.  No Mitigation; No Right of Offset.  The Executive shall
                      ----------------------------------
have no duty to mitigate damages by seeking other employment.  The Company shall
have no right of offset hereunder with respect to any compensation or benefits
received by the Executive from or in connection with any employment subsequent
to her employment termination with the Company.

          SECTION 10.  Noncompetition/Nonsolicitation.  During the three-year
                       --------------------------------
period commencing on the Commencement Date (without regard to any termination of
the Executive's employment occurring prior thereto), and, through the fourth
anniversary of the Commencement Date if the Executive voluntarily terminates
employment without Good Reason on or prior to the expiration of the Term, the
Executive shall not (i) directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate, join or
control, be employed by or participate in the ownership, management, operation
or control of, or be a consultant to or connected in any other manner with, any
business, firm or corporation which is similar to or competes with a principal
business of the Company or its subsidiaries anywhere within the United States (a
"Competitive Activity") or (ii) hire or solicit, or cause others to hire or
solicit, for employment by any person other than the Company or its affiliates
or any successor thereof, any employee of or person employed by, or who had been
within six (6) months been an employee of or employed by, the Company or its
affiliates, or otherwise

                                      -11-
<PAGE>

encourage such persons to leave employment with the Company or its affiliates.
For these purposes, the Executive's ownership of securities of a public company
not in excess of three percent of any class of such securities shall not be
considered to be competition with the Company or its subsidiaries.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of (i) a Change in Control, (ii) the
involuntary termination of the Executive's employment by the Company without
Cause or (iii) the termination by the Executive of her employment for Good
Reason, the provisions of the first sentence of this Section 10 extending the
noncompetition and nonsolicitation restrictive covenants for an additional year
through the fourth anniversary of the Commencement Date shall be null and void
and of no further force or effect.

          SECTION 11.  Confidential Information; Personal Relationships.  The
                       ------------------------------------------------
Executive acknowledges that the Company has a legitimate and continuing
proprietary interest in the protection of its confidential information and has
invested substantial sums and will continue to invest substantial sums to
develop, maintain and protect confidential information.  The Executive agrees
that, during the Term and thereafter, without the prior written consent of the
Board, the Executive shall keep secret and retain in strictest confidence, and
shall not knowingly use for the benefit of himself or others all confidential
matters relating to the Company's business including, without limitation,
operational methods, marketing or development plans or strategies, business
acquisition plans, joint venture proposals or plans, and new personnel
acquisition plans, learned by the Executive heretofore or hereafter (such
information shall be referred to herein collectively as "Confidential
Information"); provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit
               --------  -------
the Executive from disclosing or using any Confidential Information (A) in the
performance of her duties hereunder, (B) as required by applicable law,
regulatory authority, recognized subpoena power or any court of competent
jurisdiction, (C) in connection with the enforcement of her rights under this
Agreement or any other agreement with the Company, or (D) in connection with the
defense or settlement of any claim, suit or action brought or threatened against
the Executive by or in the right of the Company.  Notwithstanding any provision
contained herein to the contrary, the term "Confidential Information" shall not
be deemed to include any general knowledge, skills or experience acquired by the
Executive or any knowledge or information known or available to the public in
general (other than as a result of a breach of this provision by the Executive).

          SECTION 12.  Successors; Binding Agreement.  (a)  The Company will
                       ------------------------------
require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger,
consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or
assets of the Company, by agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the
Executive, to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same
manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it
if no such succession had taken place.  Failure of the Company to obtain such
assumption and agreement prior to the effectiveness of

                                      -12-
<PAGE>

any such succession shall be a breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the
Executive to compensation from the Company in the same amount and on the same
terms as she would be entitled to hereunder if she terminated her employment for
Good Reason, except that for purposes of implementing the foregoing, the date on
which any such succession becomes effective shall be deemed the Date of
Termination. As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean the Company as
hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as
aforesaid which executes and delivers the agreement provided for in this Section
12 or which otherwise becomes bound by all the terms and provisions of this
Agreement by operation of law.

          (b)  This Agreement and all rights of the Executive hereunder shall
inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's personal or legal
representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees,
devisees and legatees.  If the Executive should die while any amounts would
still be payable to her hereunder if she had continued to live, all such amounts
unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement to the Executive's devisee, legatee, or other designee or, if
there be no such designee, to the Executive's estate.

          SECTION 13.  Notice.  For the purposes of this Agreement, notices,
                       -------
demands and all other communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or (unless
otherwise specified) mailed by United States certified or registered mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

          If to the Executive:

          32 Ribaut Drive
          Hilton Head Island, SC  29926

          If to the Company:

          McLeodUSA Incorporated
          6400 C Street SW
          Cedar Rapids, IA  52406
          Attn:  General Counsel

or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the others in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall
be effective only upon receipt.

          SECTION 14.  Miscellaneous.  No provisions of this Agreement may be
                       --------------
modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is
agreed to in writing signed by the Executive and such officer of the Company as
may be

                                      -13-
<PAGE>

specifically designated by the Board. No waiver by either party hereto at any
time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any
condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party
shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at
the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations,
oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof
have been made by either party which are not set forth expressly in this
Agreement.

          SECTION 15.  Governing Law.  The validity, interpretation,
                       --------------
construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of
the State of Delaware without regard to its conflicts of law principles.

          SECTION 16.  Validity/Pooling Condition.  The invalidity or
                       ---------------------------
unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not
affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement,
which shall remain in full force and effect.  If (a) the Board approves a merger
or consolidation of the Company which is intended by the Board to satisfy the
accounting rules related to the pooling of interest method of accounting (the
"Pooling Rules") and (b) any provision of this Agreement would violate the
Pooling Rules, then such provision shall be deemed null and void ab initio.  In
                                                                 -- ------
such event, the Company and the Executive shall negotiate, in good faith, a
replacement provision of equivalent value which does not cause such a violation,
provided, and to the extent, that the Company's outside auditors determine that
any such replacement provision is permissible without violating the Pooling
Rules.

          SECTION 17.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or
                       -------------
more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of
which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

          SECTION 18.  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement sets forth the entire
                       -----------------
agreement of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained
herein and supersedes all prior agreements, promises, covenants, arrangements,
communications, representations or warranties, whether oral or written, by any
officer, employee or representative of any party hereto; and any prior agreement
of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein is
hereby terminated and canceled.

                            [signature page follows]

                                      -14-
<PAGE>

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the
date and year first above written.

EXECUTIVE                                 MCLEODUSA INCORPORATED

/s/ Chris A. Davis                          /s/ Stephen C. Gray
-------------------------------           -------------------------------------

                                          By:   Stephen C. Gray
                                               --------------------------------
                                          Its:  President & CEO
                                               --------------------------------

Attest:

     /s/ Patty Scott
--------------------------------
By:
    ----------------------------

                                      -15-

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