Rodney Slater, Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation, to Join Verizon Board of Directors

NEW YORK, Feb. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) today announced the election of Rodney E. Slater, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation, to the Verizon Board of Directors, effective March 5.

"Rodney Slater has had a long and distinguished career of accomplishment in both the public and private sectors.  He is nationally recognized for his expertise in forging public and private partnerships and for his leadership in infrastructure development," said Ivan Seidenberg, Verizon chairman and CEO.  "We look forward to the deep and unique experience he will bring to the Verizon Board."

The addition of Slater will bring Verizon's total board membership to 13.

Slater is currently a partner in the law firm of Patton Boggs LLP in Washington, D.C., where he focuses his practice in the areas of transportation and infrastructure and public policy.  He is also vice chairman and senior advisor at James Lee Witt Associates, an emergency preparedness consultancy based in Washington and affiliated with Global Options Group.

As Secretary of Transportation under President Bill Clinton from February 1997 to January 2001, Slater was responsible for overseeing national transportation policy, encouraging intermodal transportation, negotiating international transportation agreements and ensuring the fitness of U.S. airlines.

In that role, his bipartisan and inclusive approach to problem solving enabled him to maintain strong working relationships with the White House, Congress and business, labor and political leaders worldwide.  Under Slater's leadership, the Department of Transportation developed "best in government" strategic and performance plans, which expanded the scope and definition of transportation to include a focus on safety, mobility and access; economic development and trade; the environment; and national security.

From 1993 to 1997, Slater was the administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, which provides financial and technical support for constructing, improving and preserving the U.S. highway system.

Slater was recently selected as a fellow of the Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative.  He is also a fellow with the National Academy of Public Administration and the Clinton Global Initiative, and a NCAA Silver Anniversary Award recipient.  He is a director of Delta Air Lines, ICx Technologies, Kansas City Southern and Transurban Group, and a former director of Northwest Airlines.

A graduate of Eastern Michigan University, Slater has a law degree from the University of Arkansas.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 91 million customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of approximately 222,900 and last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news.  To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.

SOURCE Verizon Communications

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