Veteran Bell Atlantic - Washington Spokesperson To Retire

Veteran Bell Atlantic - Washington Spokesperson To Retire

Daley Ends 27-Year Career

March 21, 2000

WASHINGTON - Michel L. Daley, spokesperson for Bell Atlantic in Washington since 1990, has announced his retirement, effective April 7. Sandra Arnette, currently spokesperson for the company in Maryland, will assume Daley's duties on an interim basis in addition to her Maryland responsibilities.

"Michel Daley has been an excellent voice and face of Bell Atlantic in Washington," said Marie C. Johns, Bell Atlantic-Washington president and CEO. "We will miss Michel's talent and energy, and we wish him all the best.

"Sandy Arnette has worked often with the Washington press in her present position in Maryland, and she will represent Bell Atlantic well here," she added.

Daley's retirement concludes a 27-year Bell Atlantic career that spanned a time of tremendous change in the telecommunications industry. A native of New Orleans, La., Daley began his Bell Atlantic career in 1973 as a customer service representative for The Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Co. in Washington (now known as Bell Atlantic-Washington).

He was promoted to group supervisor in the business service center in 1977 and held several other assignments in the general business organization. In 1986, Daley became an assistant manager in public relations. He was promoted to media relations manager in 1990.

Daley will remain in Washington where he has numerous business interests, including Zanzibar on the Waterfront, a restaurant and entertainment facility he co-founded last year.

Arnette comes to Bell Atlantic from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials in Washington, D.C., where she supervised the organization's public affairs activities. She brings to her position over a decade of experience in both public relations and journalism, having reported for The Prince George's (Md.) Journal, the Associated Press in Washington, D.C., and WJLA Television in Washington.

Arnette will maintain offices in Washington and Baltimore.

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and information industry. With nearly 44 million telephone access lines and 12 million wireless customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic companies are premier providers of advanced wireline voice and data services, market leaders in wireless services and the world's largest publishers of directory information. Bell Atlantic companies are also among the world's largest investors in high-growth global communications markets, with operations and investments in 23 countries.