Verizon to Open New Customer Service and Support Center in Livingston, N.J.

NEWARK, N.J. - Verizon announced plans on Tuesday (Feb. 17) to open a new customer service and support center in Livingston later this year.  The center, to be staffed by more than 950 employees from northern New Jersey, will be located in 153,000 square feet of space that the company is leasing at the Eisenhower Corporate Campus.

"This is an excellent opportunity for Verizon to streamline our operations while creating a more productive work environment in a prime location in New Jersey," said Dennis Bone, president of Verizon New Jersey.  "With consumers embracing our award-winning products and services, including Verizon FiOS, this new facility will enable our sales and customer service representatives and other support personnel to handle several growing areas of our business in ways that all benefit the consumer."

In addition to customer sales and support functions, various engineering teams, network technicians and other operational groups will be located at the center. The company expects the first group of employees to move into the new facility in the third quarter of this year.

"Verizon has been a committed corporate partner, and its support and concern to help Essex County enhance our residents' quality of life has been invaluable," said Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr.  "Opening a new customer service and support center in Livingston is a great opportunity for us because it will bring more jobs into Essex County, support our local tax base, and enhance the services to our residents."

The employees in Livingston will be transferred primarily from Verizon facilities in Madison and Scotch Plains.  In a related move, the company is in the process of selling its building at 540 Broad St. in Newark, although it plans to lease back space in the facility and keep Verizon New Jersey's headquarters there.  The company does not expect to add employees as part of the consolidation.

The Eisenhower Corporate Campus is located at 290 West Mt. Pleasant Ave. in Livingston and owned by an affiliate of Eastman Management Corp.  The facility was formerly occupied by Bellcore, and most recently by Prudential.  The campus offers a full-service cafeteria, state-of-the-art teleconferencing facilities and other amenities.  It also offers easy access to existing employees being relocated from other Verizon facilities.

"Work is already under way to accommodate Verizon's specific office and common-area requirements," said Eric Maurer, director of leasing for Livingston-based Eastman Companies.  "With Verizon moving to Livingston, we foresee a spike in the area's economy and a great opportunity for our newest tenant.  We join with our host community in enthusiastically welcoming this exceptional company to the Eastman portfolio and the West Essex suburban market."

The Garibaldi Group handled the transaction on behalf of Eastman.  Grubb & Ellis represented Verizon.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), headquartered in New York, 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 more than 80 million customers nationwide.  Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon Telecom, which brings customers the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 224,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $97 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

####