William R. Roberts, Verizon Regional President for Maryland and Washington, D.C., to Retire After 31 Years of Service

William R. Roberts, Verizon's regional president for Maryland and Washington, D.C., has announced that he will retire at the end of the year after 31 years of service with Verizon.

"With strong ties to the communities in which he has lived and worked, Bill has been a tireless champion of Verizon and the good we bring to our customers and communities," said Colleen McCloskey, Verizon senior vice president-state government affairs.  "We thank Bill for his many contributions to Verizon, and we wish him well in his retirement."

Roberts said, "I have thoroughly enjoyed the many challenges and all that I have learned during my career with C&P, Bell Atlantic and Verizon.  During that time, I've been able to work with talented people and experience dramatic changes in the competitive marketplace.  I leave with gratitude for the opportunities I have had and pride for what I have been able to accomplish."

Born and raised in Talbot County on Maryland's Eastern Shore, Roberts began his career with C&P Telephone Company in Washington, D.C., in 1980 as a business office manager.  He went on to hold positions of increasing responsibility in operations, human resources, marketing, public affairs, and government relations at C&P and Bell Atlantic before assuming responsibility in 2000 for Verizon's public policy initiatives in Maryland as president.  Roberts was named region president for Verizon Maryland and Verizon Washington, D.C., in December 2007. 

Roberts serves as a board member of the Federal City Council, Greater Baltimore Committee, Greater Washington Board of Trade, Kennedy-Krieger Institute and MedStar Health.  He also serves on the Morgan State University Board of Regents.

Roberts graduated from Morgan State University and attended graduate school at Howard University and Eastern Michigan University.  He has two honorary degrees: a doctorate of humane letters from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and a doctorate of public service from the University of Maryland University College.

Organizational changes resulting from Roberts' retirement will be determined at a later date.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 106 million total connections nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 196,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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