Verizon West Virginia President H. Stan Cavendish Announces Plan to Retire

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - After 31 years of service with Verizon in West Virginia, including the last four years as the company's state president, H. Stan Cavendish will retire effective at the end of October.  A successor will be named in the near future.

"As president of Verizon West Virginia, Stan has worked tirelessly for our customers, our employees and our communities," said Colleen McCloskey, Verizon's senior vice president of state public affairs, policy and communications.  "Stan's leadership and extensive experience have led Verizon through a period of dramatic change in West Virginia's telecommunications landscape.  We thank Stan for his many contributions to Verizon and wish him all the best in his retirement."

Cavendish said, "I'm proud of this company and the telecommunications professionals who work for it.  There is much important work still to be done here, but I'm confident that I'm leaving the company in good hands.  This is a perfect time to make a transition to new leadership."

Verizon recently announced a number of upgrades to its telecommunications network in West Virginia, focusing on the more rural portions of its coverage area.  The company currently is installing a new fiber-optic and Ethernet switching system for advanced business services in the state, and Verizon Wireless also has announced its acquisition and upgrade of West Virginia Wireless' operations.  In addition, Verizon West Virginia recently announced its support of Connected Nation, a project designed to expand high-speed Internet service to more rural communities.

A West Virginia native, Cavendish began his telecommunications career in 1976 with C&P Telephone of West Virginia, where he held a number of positions in regulatory and public affairs.  He was named president of Verizon West Virginia in December 2003. 

Cavendish led the company's successful Office of the Future economic development program, which brought dozens of new teleservices centers to West Virginia, and the World School program, which connected the state's 800 public schools with high-speed Internet access.  West Virginia was the first state in the nation to achieve this milestone for public-school Internet connections.

Cavendish and his wife, Carolyn, plan to remain in West Virginia.

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 62 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 has a diverse workforce of more than 238,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $88 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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