Verizon Wireless Recognized For Commitment To Diversity-Owned Businesses

BEDMINSTER, NJ — Verizon Wireless today announced it has been selected as one of the nation's top corporations for multicultural businesses. For the second straight year, Verizon Wireless was the only wireless company named to the DiversityBusiness.com Div50 - a list of the Top 50 Corporate Buyers of Diversity Products and Services in the U.S., voted on by over 350,000 women-, minority-, and qualified veteran-owned small businesses*.

Through its Supply Chain Diversity Initiative, Verizon Wireless makes it a priority to purchase products and services from small, disadvantaged businesses in information technology, marketing, network and general and administrative categories. Over the past six years, Verizon Wireless has spent more than $2.7 billion with these small businesses.

In a letter to suppliers, Denny Strigl, Verizon Wireless president and CEO, outlines the importance of supply chain diversity. "At Verizon Wireless, we view supply chain diversity as a competitive imperative that enables us to meet the expectations of our diverse and demanding marketplace. Just as we recognize that a diverse and talented workforce reflects and best serves our national customer base, we know that our success will be enhanced as well by a high-quality supplier network that reflects the marketplace's diversity."

The annual Div50 list identifies organizations that consistently provide the highest quality and most substantial business opportunities for diversity-owned companies. Selection to the Div50 list is based on such factors as the volume, consistency and quality of business opportunities a company grants to diversity-owned suppliers.

Verizon Wireless will be honored, along with all other selected companies, during the 6th Annual National Multicultural Business Conference, taking place March 29-31 in Las Vegas.

To learn more about Verizon Wireless' Supply Chain Diversity Initiatives, please visit www.verizonwireless.com/supplierdiversity.  

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 51.3 million voice and data 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 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.

* Small, Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (SDBEs), which include: women-, minority-, and qualified veteran-owned business enterprises.

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