Verizon Wireless Named Maryland "Workplace Excellence" Winner for Second Consecutive Year

LAUREL, MD — Verizon Wireless has been named an "Excellent Place to Work" by the Maryland Work~Life Alliance for the second consecutive year. The "Workplace Excellence" awards recognize organizations that embrace work-life practices to meet the needs of their workforce, resulting in long-term growth and business success.

Verizon Wireless is the only wireless carrier to receive the annual "Workplace Excellence Seal." The company, which is the nation's largest wireless provider, has more than 1,100 employees in the state of Maryland.

"Congratulations to Verizon Wireless for its continued success as an 'Excellent Place to Work'," said Evelyne S. Steward, Chair, Maryland Work~Life Alliance. "We honor you for making quality of life a business imperative for the community at large."

The "Excellent Place To Work" designation is a seal of quality that the Alliance is working to spread as a recognized standard. The employers receiving the awards meet stringent standards and are reviewed by a panel of professors from University of Maryland, Johns-Hopkins University, and George Washington University; and Masters level students in business organization and human resources.

"At Verizon Wireless, we have a strong commitment to our employees. Their hard work has propelled our company to be the number one wireless provider in the nation," said Patrick Devlin, president, Washington-Baltimore-Virginia Region. "Because our employees are the key to our success, we wanted to create a work environment that supports and enhances their daily lives. This award lets us know that we're on the right track."

In addition to being named a Maryland Workplace Excellence award winner for the past two years, Verizon Wireless has been recognized by Working Mother magazine as one of the best places in the nation for a mother to work for three consecutive years. The company was also recognized in 2003 as a great place to work by Health magazine, Training magazine and THE? Washingtonian.

About The National Work-Life Alliance
The National Work~Life Alliance, a nonprofit organization founded and headquartered in Montgomery County, Maryland, is a private, public, nonprofit coalition committed to empowering employers nationwide to create and become recognized as "Excellent Places to Work." The Alliance offers work-life programs and services for employers such as the Workplace Excellence Seal of Approval, Trailblazer Awards, Information Resources and Best Practices, Policy and Program Implementation Tool Kits, Education Events and Networking Opportunities. Find more information on the Web at www.worklifealliance.org.  

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless is the nation's leading provider of wireless communications. The company has the largest nationwide wireless voice and data network and 37.5 million customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com. To receive broadcast-quality video footage of Verizon Wireless operations, log onto www.thenewsmarket.com.  

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