Wise Joins Verizon in Celebrating New, Technology-Based Jobs in Huntington

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia Gov. Bob Wise joined community leaders and Verizon executives today to formally dedicate a new Verizon

work center in downtown Huntington. The center has recently brought nearly 100 advanced technology jobs to the area.

The Carrier Account Team Center is part of Verizon's burgeoning wholesale services division and is located on a remodeled second floor of the company's

building at 1135 Sixth Ave.

Employees at the center provide maintenance and repair services for telecommunications companies that buy data and local phone services wholesale from

Verizon. These companies then resell those services to the public under their own brands in competition with Verizon. Verizon's Huntington technicians serve

hundreds of competing local phone companies, long distance companies and Internet service providers operating not only in West Virginia, but also in Maryland,

Virginia and Washington, D.C.

"Verizon's new center could have located virtually anywhere," Wise said. "They chose our state, and specifically Huntington, because we

have a pool of educated, skilled workers. It's clear from this that if you develop your workforce, as we are doing in West Virginia, the technology-based jobs

will come."

"Verizon continues to demonstrate their leadership in economic development," said Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), who was unable to attend

today's dedication due to pressing Senate matters in Washington. "They've shown an appreciation for the quality of West Virginia's workforce, a

determination to be a good corporate citizen, and a dedication to the future of West Virginia. I applaud Gale Given and the entire Verizon team!"

"We are committed to doing all we can to help attract highly skilled, highly paid jobs to West Virginia, and these new jobs are evidence of that

commitment," said Given, president of Verizon West Virginia. "My colleagues at Verizon know West Virginia is an excellent place to live, work and

do business. We couldn't ask for better employees. Their performance has been outstanding."

Verizon began hiring for the new center last summer and immediately received a huge response from qualified applicants. The center currently employs nearly

100 employees.

Most of the new jobs at the center are central office technicians, who can earn as much as $1,000 a week, depending on their level of experience and length of

time in the job. Minimum qualifications include an understanding of electronics, digital telecommunications technology, circuitry and concepts of technical

documentation.

The new positions bring the company's workforce to nearly 200 in Huntington. Verizon is already one of the largest employers in West Virginia, employing more

than 3,200.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Verizon companies are the largest providers of

wireline and wireless communications in the United States, with 112 million access line equivalents and 27 million wireless customers. Verizon is also the largest

directory publisher in the world. A Fortune 10 company with approximately 260,000 employees and more than $65 billion in annual revenues, Verizon's global

presence extends to 40 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.

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