Verizon New Jersey Vice President Peter Ventimiglia to Retire After More than 25 Years

NEWARK, N.J. - Peter J. Ventimiglia, Verizon New Jersey's vice president for external affairs, has announced plans to retire in January 2006 after more than 25 years with the company. During his career, he served in a variety of public relations, communications and project management positions.

Ventimiglia began his career in the public relations organization at New Jersey Bell, a Verizon predecessor company. Most recently, he led a team of external affairs directors who represent all facets of the company in the 526 communities that Verizon serves in New Jersey.

"Peter has been an integral part of Verizon and will be missed," said Verizon New Jersey President Dennis M. Bone. "Few executives have Peter's excellent credentials and wealth of experience. The Verizon team truly benefited from his leadership, respect and constant drive for success. We wish him well as he moves on to the next chapter of his life."

Ventimiglia said, "I'm leaving Verizon with an incredible sense of pride and accomplishment. I've enjoyed the opportunity of working with a devoted team of men and women who are leading the company into a new world of opportunities in the communications business. I will miss my colleagues and friends, and I wish them and the company continued success."

In addition to his many roles at Verizon, Ventimiglia has had a variety of special assignments, including serving as executive director of Gov. Florio's Quality Education Commission, where he was principal author of the commission's report entitled, "All Our Children: a Vision for New Jersey's Schools in the 21st Century." He also served as executive director of the employee communications group at the former Bell Atlantic's staff headquarters in Arlington, Va.

Ventimiglia serves on numerous boards including The Newark Museum, the Independent College Fund of New Jersey and the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey. He is vice chairman of the Business Coalition for Educational Excellence (BCEE), a project of the New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member of the Council of Regents at Felician College and a Leadership New Jersey Fellow.

He was president of the board of McCarter Theatre in Princeton for six years and recently was elected to its honorary board. He has served as vice president of the board of the New Community Foundation in Newark, chairman of the Cultural Advisory Committee for New Jersey Network and chairman of the Rutgers Newark Dean's Development Council.

Prior to joining Verizon, Ventimiglia was an assistant professor of English at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. He is a graduate of Fordham University, where he also received a Ph.D in English.

A replacement will be named at a later date.

Verizon Communications Inc.

With more than $71 billion in annual revenues, Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Verizon has a diverse work force of more than 214,000 in four business units: Domestic Telecom provides customers based in 28 states with wireline and other telecommunications services, including broadband. Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 47.4 million voice and data customers across the United States. Information Services operates directory publishing businesses and provides electronic commerce services. International includes wireline and wireless operations and investments, primarily in the Americas and Europe. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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