Wilmington Attorney Named to Head Government Affairs For Verizon in Delaware

DOVER, Del. -- Verizon Delaware today named Bonnie L. Metz to the newly-created position of vice president, government affairs. Metz will oversee all legislative matters and contacts with state and federal regulatory agencies, as well as community relations initiatives.

Metz joins Verizon after a 11-year career as an attorney with two Wilmington law firms, where she specialized in telecommunications law. She will report to Joshua W. Martin III, president of Verizon Delaware. Martin called Metz an excellent choice. "Bonnie has distinguished herself as a member of the Delaware Bar, and she has worked closely with Verizon as a legal consultant in Delaware regulatory cases for the last eight years. I am confident that she will use the wisdom and experience that she demonstrated in her law career to strengthen Verizon's relationships with key stakeholders."

Since March 2000, Metz has been a partner with Klett, Rooney, Lieber & Schorling, where she represented Verizon Delaware in regulatory matters before the Delaware Public Service Commission and in state and federal courts.

Previously Metz was a partner with the firm of Duane Morris & Heckscher, where her practice focused on telecommunications regulation and general administrative law. She joined Duane Morris in 1990.

Metz is active in Delaware civic and professional organizations and is the recipient of the 2001 Governor's Outstanding Volunteer Award for her work with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Delaware. She currently serves on the board of directors of Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the United States Human Rights Project. Metz has also served on the executive committee of the Delaware State Bar Association.

A magna cum laude graduate of The Kings College in New York, Metz holds a law degree from Villanova University.

Metz and her husband reside in Wilmington.

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 128.5 million access line equivalents and 28.7 million wireless customers. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world. A Fortune 10 company with 256,000 employees and approximately $65 billion in annual revenues, Verizon's global presence extends to more than 40 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.

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