Bell Atlantic Executive Honored by Organization of Chinese Americans

Bell Atlantic Executive Honored by
Organization of Chinese Americans

Stamford Resident Jeannie H. Diefenderfer Receives
Corporate Achievement Award

October 29, 1999

NEW YORK -- Bell Atlantic Vice President - Corporate Sourcing Jeannie
H. Diefenderfer, of Stamford, Conn., is one of 13 Asian Americans who
will be honored this evening (10/29) for outstanding contributions to their
companies and communities.

The honorees will be recognized at the Organization of Chinese
Americans (OCA) annual National Asian American Corporate
Achievement Award Banquet in Detroit.

"Jeannie is an outstanding and visionary leader at Bell Atlantic and
in the telecommunications industry," said Patrick Gaston, Bell
Atlantic executive director, Strategic Alliances, who nominated Ms.
Diefenderfer for the award. "She has been instrumental in extending
economic and business opportunities to all minority-owned enterprises.
Under her leadership, Bell Atlantic boasts a best-in-class procurement
organization."

Individuals selected for the award exemplify excellence in their profession
and demonstrate leadership and commitment to their communities. They
are nominated by their employers.

Ms. Diefenderfer oversees $12 billion in annual purchases made by Bell
Atlantic, including everything from multi-million dollar
telecommunications switching and transport equipment to travel services
and office supplies. She has served on the boards of the Minority
Multicultural Association of NYNEX, Association of Bell Atlantic
Women and the Asian Focus Group of Bell Atlantic, the company's Asian
American employee resource group which she founded.

Earlier this year, Diefenderfer was featured in Crain's New York Business
magazine as one of New York's 40 rising stars less than 40 years old.

"OCA is proud to be able to highlight Asian Americans in corporate
America, with our Corporate Achievement Award," said George M.
Ong, OCA national president. "We commend the corporations that
honor their employees this evening. These companies are making a
significant statement about the importance of their Asian American
employees, who make valuable contributions to their company's
success."

A native of Seoul, South Korea, Ms. Diefenderfer immigrated to the
United States when she was 13 years old. She holds a Bachelor of Science
degree in Chemical Engineering from Tufts University and an MBA from
Babson College. She has been accepted as one of 14 New York City
executives in the 1999-2000 class of the David Rockefeller Fellows
Program. She lives in Stamford, Conn., with her husband George,
daughter Mia and son Derek.

Note to editors: Photo available upon request.

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and information
industry. With more than 43 million telephone access lines and more than 10
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.