Verizon Wireless And Bronx Borough President Announce Opportunities For Local Entrepreneurs, Search For Bilingual Employees

BRONX, NY — Verizon Wireless New York Metro Region President Charles Hand joined with Bronx Borough President Aldolfo Carriớn today to announce the company's plans add nearly 100 authorized retail agent locations in the Bronx and throughout the New York Metro. The company also is aggressively seeking bilingual English-Spanish speaking candidates to fill jobs in customer-facing positions to meet the growing demand for its wireless voice and data products and services by the region's growing Hispanic population.

Verizon Wireless, which plans to hire some 400 customer-facing employees in the New York Metro area this year, will hold a job fair at the New York City Business Solutions Center in the Bronx on February 21, 2007 to help fill immediate openings for retail sales and customer service professionals in the company's 139 NY Metro area Communications Stores, as well as for its telesales and business-to-business sales teams.

"The appetite of New York area consumers and businesses for our exciting new wireless phones and broadband data services, like V CAST multimedia service for consumers and high-speed BroadbandAccess service for business, continues to fuel our need for intelligent and energetic employees," Hand said. "The Bronx is a national example of urban renewal with its vibrant workforce and entrepreneurial spirit. We invite qualified Bronx residents to be part of our success story. We are looking for candidates with high standards, excellent communications skills and a passion for superior customer service."

In addition to job opportunities, Hand said Verizon Wireless is actively seeking small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs interested in joining the Verizon Wireless team of exclusive authorized retail agents in the Bronx and throughout the area.

Authorized retailers play a key role in the company's retail sales distribution strategy, which includes more than 2,200 company-owned and operated Verizon Wireless Communications Stores nationwide. The New York Metro area's agent team currently includes nearly 400 independent business locations serving the wireless communications needs of local neighborhoods, including eight agent locations in the Bronx.

The company provides its exclusive authorized retail agents with a number of incentives including build-out funds, advertising and merchandising support, extensive training, and competitive commissions. For more information about becoming an exclusive Verizon Wireless authorized retailer, send an e-mail to NewAgents@verizonwireless.com.  

Borough President Carrion said, "This partnership with Verizon Wireless is indicative of the optimism businesses have in the Bronx and another great example of the unprecedented economic development taking place in our borough. Through the Bronx at Work initiative we continue to attract new business investment to the Bronx and connect residents with jobs in the borough, the City and the region. We have made great strides in combating unemployment and these new job opportunities — brought to you by our great friends at Verizon Wireless -- will further strengthen our growing job market and small businesses. This is great news for the Bronx and City-wide."

The Bronx job fair will be held Wednesday, February 21, 2007, at The Workforce One Career Center at 358 East 149th Street. Interested candidates should call Workforce One at 718-960-7988 for more information. Walk-ins will not be accepted but candidates also may send resumes directly to Verizon Wireless via e-mail at http://www.verizonwireless.com/careers, and enter job link number 185759 for retail sales representative positions or 185760 for customer care representative positions.

The company offers highly competitive salaries and benefits that include health care coverage that begins on the first day of employment, 401(k) dollar for dollar match of the employee's contribution up to 6% of the employee's salary, profit-sharing, tuition reimbursement for continuing education and long-term incentive plans. Employees also can take advantage of numerous opportunities for career advancement.

Job requirements include a high school diploma and one-to-two years of retail sales experience. A college degree is highly desirable.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving more than 59 million customers. The largest US wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 65,000 employees nationwide. The company 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.

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