Verizon Wireless Opens First Retail Store In McHenry, Illinois, Hires 11 New Staff Members

MCHENRY, IL — Verizon Wireless has opened its first retail store in McHenry at 3501 Diamond Drive, bringing to local consumers the coolest wireless phones and newest technology operating on the nation's most reliable network.

The 3,500-square-foot store is one of the first in the nation to showcase a new and highly interactive retail concept that is a departure from Verizon Wireless' traditional retail store design. The new design integrates a number of innovative systems and operational enhancements intended to streamline the sales process and increase customer satisfaction. Among the new store's features are:

• Oversized high-definition plasma screens showcasing the latest wireless multimedia applications such as V CAST and Get It Now®.
• A bright, open Demo Bar where customer interaction is guided by product-savvy sales staff, enabling customers to get a sense of the look and feel of a broad range of equipment and services.
• More than 75 working models of handsets, air cards and other devices for customers to handle and test.
• A Greeter Kiosk that enables customers to check in electronically, browse the store and then visit with a representative who already has the customer's account background and reason for visit keyed up on the customer service computer.
• A Bill Payment Kiosk that enables customers to pay their bills quickly and easily using checks, cash or credit/debit cards.
• Customer Service and Technical Support departments, making it easy for customers to get account information, customer service and address technical issues from trained in-store staff.

"Residents in the McHenry area now have much easier accessibility to the exceptional products and services that Verizon Wireless customers deserve and expect," says T.J. Fox, president—Illinois/Wisconsin Region, Verizon Wireless. "This new retail concept is the blueprint for an entirely new approach to customer service, and it delivers a shopping experience currently not offered by any other wireless provider."

Brenda Chinn of Harvard has been named store manager and will oversee a group of nine employees, five of whom have been recently hired by the company. These newly hired employees are:

• Matt Craft of McHenry — Retail Sales Representative
• John Hendle of Woodstock — Retail Sales Representative
• Wray Peck of Port Barrington — Retail Sales Representative
• Meredith Haze of McHenry — Customer Service Representative
• Stephanie Williams of McHenry — Customer Service Representative

Employees transferring from other Verizon Wireless locations are:

• Jessica Bathauer of Lake of the Hills — Assistant Store Manager
• Andrew Gullo of McHenry — Assistant Store Manager
• Carolina Cardenes of Lake of the Hills — Customer Service Representative
• Michael Smith of Crystal Lake — Retail Sales Representative

Verizon Wireless' Communications Store in McHenry is open Monday though Saturday 9 a.m. — 8 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. — 6 p.m. It also has extended holiday hours. The store's phone number is 815-344-2177.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 70.8 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 71,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.  

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