Verizon Southeast President Alan Ciamporcero to Retire; Company Selects Michelle Robinson to Lead Public Policy Effort in Southeast

TAMPA, Fla. - Alan F. Ciamporcero, Verizon regional president in Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina, has announced he will retire July 25 after nearly 20 years in the telecommunications industry - the last 10 with Verizon. 

Michelle A. Robinson, currently senior vice president for Verizon's Southern region, will assume Ciamporcero's responsibilities in the three states, as well as in Alabama and Georgia.

Robinson will assume responsibility for Verizon's public policy, government and external affairs matters in the five-state region.

"Alan's legacy is one of leadership and accomplishment for Verizon and its employees in Florida and the Carolinas," said Colleen McCloskey, Verizon senior vice president-state public policy and external affairs.  "He worked tirelessly to secure the required franchises that now enable Verizon to bring choice in cable television to hundreds of thousands of Floridians over our company's all-fiber-optic network.

"Michelle - with 12 years of experience in the communications industry - will build on Alan's foundation as Verizon continues to transform into the nation's leading broadband and entertainment company amid fierce competition in the Southeast," McCloskey said. 

Ciamporcero said, "My career has been fulfilling and fun.  I'm particularly pleased to have been part of the Verizon transition to the new networks that will help our country meet its future economic and environmental challenges."

Robinson said, "Verizon has the best employees and offers the best products in the Southeast market.  I'm eager to get started."

Ciamporcero joined Verizon predecessor GTE in 1998 as liaison to the Federal Communications Commission.  He went on to serve in positions of increasing responsibility in public affairs and regulatory matters before assuming his present position in January 2003.  Prior to Verizon, Ciamporcero worked on the staff for the U.S. House of Representatives, as a law clerk for the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and as an antitrust attorney for Pacific Telesis.

Robinson began her Verizon career 10 years ago and has held a variety of positions in public policy and government relations.  Prior to her present job, Robinson was vice president for Verizon in California, where she was responsible for the company's public policy positions before the state Public Utilities Commission.

Robinson holds a bachelor's degree in political science from UCLA and a master's degree in public policy analysis from the University of Southern California.  She will relocate to Tampa.

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 67 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 employed a diverse workforce of approximately 232,000 as of the end of the first quarter 2008 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of $93.5 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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