Verizon Business CIO Judy Spitz Included in Computerworld Magazine's Premier 100 IT Leaders Award for 2007

NEW YORK -- IDG's Computerworld magazine has recognized Judy Spitz, Verizon Business chief information officer, as one of the magazine's 2007 Premier 100 IT Leaders. This annual award honors individuals who have made a positive impact on their organizations through technology.

Spitz oversees all IT functions related to sales and marketing, customer service, network, billing, product development, human resources and finance as well as IT planning, architecture, and integration for both U.S. and international Verizon Business initiatives.

"In many respects, a company is only as good as its IT systems. Judy's leadership in this area makes not only Judy, but Verizon Business, a true premier leader in the IT arena," said John Killian, president of Verizon Business. "Judy's leadership especially shines as she led her team this year in making significant strides in our IT initiatives of simplification, accuracy, transparency and customer solutions."

The 2007 recipients were selected from nearly 500 nominees. "This year's class of honorees is characterized by a diversity that demonstrates the value of unique backgrounds and approaches in building an outstanding IT organization," said Don Tennant, editor –in-chief, Computerworld. "Yet, what these individuals have in common is an expertise born of hard work and an intangible leadership quality they can tap to successfully champion IT not only as a business enabler, but as a business influencer." 

Prior to her current position, Spitz was senior vice president for network and national operations systems for Verizon, including the delivery of the systems to support Verizon's fiber-to-the-premises launch.

Spitz was named to CIO Magazine's 2005 Ones to Watch list. She also is a three-time recipient of Verizon's Quality/Excellence Awards. She holds a bachelor's degree from Boston University, a master's degree from Washington University and a Ph.D. from the City University of New York's Graduate Center.

Honorees will receive their awards at Computerworld's Premier 100 IT Leaders Conference, March 4 – 6, 2007, at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort in Palm Desert, Calif.

About Verizon Business
Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), is a leading provider of advanced communications and information technology (IT) solutions to large business and government customers worldwide.  Combining unsurpassed global network reach with advanced technology and professional service capabilities, Verizon Business delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  For more information, visit www.verizonbusiness.com

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About Computerworld
Computerworld is recognized worldwide as the premier source for news, information and opinion on the critical technology and management issues affecting senior technology professionals. Computerworld's award-winning weekly publication, Computerworld.com Web site, focused conference series and custom research, form the hub of the world's largest (58-edition) global IT media network. In the past five years alone, Computerworld has won more than 100 awards, including the 2004 and 2006 Magazine of the Year Award from the American Society of Business Publication Editors and Folio Magazine's 2006 Gold EDDIE Award for the best technology/computing magazine. Computerworld has an online audience of over 1.5 million unique monthly visitors (Omniture) and a total print audience of 1,337,000 (IntelliQuest CIMS Spring 2006). Computerworld is on the Web at www.computerworld.com.

Computerworld is a business unit of International Data Group (IDG), the world's leading technology media, research and events company. A privately held company, IDG publishes more than 300 magazines and newspapers, including CIO, CSO, Computerworld, GamePro, InfoWorld, Network World and PC World. The company features the largest network of technology-specific Web sites, with more than 400 around the world. IDG is also a leading producer of more than 170 computer-related events worldwide, including Storage Networking World®, Premier 100®, LinuxWorld Conference & Expo®, Macworld Conference & Expo, DEMO® and IDC Directions. IDC provides global market research and advice through offices in 50 countries. Company information is available at http://www.idg.com.