Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Selects Orlando D. Montán for the Organization's Highest Award

DENVER - Verizon's Orlando D. Montán will receive the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers' highest individual award Friday (Jan. 12) during the SHPE's National Technical & Career Conference here.

The Jaime Oaxaca Award recognizes an individual's unselfish and outstanding contributions, including mentoring, in the fields of engineering and science and to the Hispanic-American community, over an extended period of time.

"Orlando Montán epitomizes all the reasons for which the Jaime Oaxaca Award was instituted," said past SHPE President Orlando A. Gutierrez in a letter supporting Montán's nomination for the honor. "He encompasses a truly felt interest and dedication to the advancement of Hispanics in American society, as well as successful professional accomplishments in his technical field." 

Montán has been a member of SHPE, the leading national organization for Hispanics in engineering, math and science, for more than two decades. He joined the organization while he was a student at SUNY Stony Brook, where he helped found the school's SHPE chapter. He later become president of the organization's New York City chapter and has served as co-chair of the SHPE Eastern Technical & Career Conference.

Montán's biggest contribution to SHPE is his role as mentor to numerous SHPE members. He has served as workshop facilitator at SHPE conferences and as a speaker encouraging children to excel in math and science. He has played an instrumental role in organizing and managing Verizon's close relationship with SHPE. In addition, he has worked closely with the Hispanic Support Organization at Verizon to expand mentoring opportunities to its members.

At Verizon, Montán is director of sales support for multicultural/VZ plus and is responsible for directing the staff supporting 62 Verizon Plus stores. Previously, he was director of Verizon's Fiber Solutions Center, West Coast region.

"This award is very significant to me because of the example and inspiration that my parents provided to me and my siblings," said Montán. "They instilled in us a tremendous sense of pride in our heritage and a relentless desire to strive to be the very best." 

Montán is also a past recipient of the President's Club, Leaders in Excellence Award for Community Service and the SHPE Pioneer Award. He also has received the Career FOCUS Eagle Award, which salutes executives who exemplify and practice principled leadership in both their corporate and community involvement.

About SHPE
SHPE, Inc. founded in 1974, is the leading national organization for Hispanics in engineering, math and science. SHPE has 10,000 student and professional members in the United States and Puerto Rico. SHPE is the source for quality Hispanic engineers and technical talent.

About Verizon Communications
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), a New York-based Dow 30 company, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving nearly 57 million customers nationwide.  Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which operates one of the most expansive wholly-owned global IP networks, and Verizon Telecom, which is deploying the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network to deliver the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services to customers.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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