Michael Boland Joins Verizon as Senior Vice President For Federal Government Relations

WASHINGTON - Michael Boland, the former chief executive of one of Washington's premier government relations firms, has been named senior vice president - Federal Government Relations for Verizon.

Boland, former CEO of Boland & Madigan, Inc., served for three years as chief counsel and floor assistant to the Republican Whip, Rep. Trent Lott (R-MS), and six years as counsel to the Committee on Energy and Commerce in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Boland will be responsible for federal government affairs and legislative matters for Verizon's interests nationwide. He assumes his new post immediately.

"When I served in Congress, we considered Mike one of the smartest and savviest people on the Hill," said Tom Tauke, Verizon senior vice president for Public Policy & External Affairs. "We're very fortunate to have someone with his qualities, stature and experience join our team at Verizon."

"I'm tremendously excited about this opportunity with Verizon," said Boland. "It is a great challenge professionally and a great privilege to be joining the company."

Boland has held a number of high profile positions in federal government relations in Washington, D.C.

His firm, Boland & Madigan, Inc., represented corporate clients in the telecommunications and technology sector as well as in the financial services, defense, energy and transportation and international arenas.

He served as the principal leadership aide in the U.S. House of Representatives to Trent Lott during the second term of the Reagan Administration. During his tenure, he was involved in nearly every policy matter considered by the House including telecommunications and technology policy, defense matters and general economic regulatory issues.

Prior to this post, Boland served six years as senior counsel to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Boland currently serves as a director of a charitable organization in Ireland supporting the peace agreement. He also has served as chairman of the board of directors of the National Energy Resources Organization and on various civic, political and philanthropic boards.

He is a 1975 graduate of the University of Notre Dame and received his J.D. degree in 1978 from Gonzaga University of Law in Spokane, Wash.
Boland is a native of Washington, D.C. and now resides in Maryland with his wife Debbie. He has two sons, Kevin and Timothy.

Verizon Communications

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States, with nearly 109 million access line equivalents and more than 27.5 million wireless customers. Verizon is also the world's largest provider of print and online directory information. A Fortune 10 company with approximately 260,000 employees and more than $63 billion in annual revenues, Verizon's global presence extends to 40 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.