North Texas Commission

North Texas Commission Promotes Regional Literacy

9.16.05

Irving, Sept. 16, 2005 – The North Texas Commission (NTC) will host its 2005 Annual Membership Luncheon to announce the North Texas Future Fund’s (NTFF) new regional educational initiative, “Literacy & the 21st Century…Back to the Basics.” The luncheon will be held at noon on Friday, Sept. 30 at the Hyatt Regency DFW at DFW International Airport featuring Lawrence T. Babbio Jr., vice chairman and president of Verizon Communications in New York, as the keynote speaker.

As a result of recent collegial studies funded by the North Texas Future Fund, the NTFF Board and Advisory Panel determined that literacy is the most important asset needed to sustain a quality workforce and a healthy regional economy in the future.

According to NTC Board Chairman David O. Russell, vice president of external affairs with Verizon, "The North Texas Future Fund literacy program is the most important initiative we can undertake in this generation affecting the quality of life and economic development of the Metroplex.” Throughout his board tenure, Russell has emphasized the critical importance of the North Texas Future Fund’s role in making literacy skills a priority for this region.

Verizon President Lawrence T. Babbio Jr. will address essential components related to the new educational initiative and the investments by Verizon into the educational system in North Texas.

Babbio is responsible for Verizon’s domestic wireline business, long distance, information technology, procurement services and technology research. He began his communications career in 1966 with New Jersey Bell Telephone. In January 1995, he was elected vice chairman of Bell Atlantic Corporation, which merged with GTE in 2000 to become Verizon. Prior to the Bell Atlantic/GTE merger, Babbio was president and chief operating officer for Bell Atlantic. He shared oversight of, and responsibility for, all of the corporation’s business operations, restructuring of the business units, the GTE merger process, and developing new growth opportunities. Babbio also served as chairman of the company’s Global Wireless Group, one of the largest wireless operations worldwide. He was the lead executive in charge of developing Bell Atlantic’s domestic and international wireless communications strategy. Under his leadership, Bell Atlantic substantially increased the size and scope of its domestic and international wireless holdings.

Currently, Babbio serves on the board of directors at Hewlett-Packard Company and is chairman of the board of trustees of Stevens Institute of Technology, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. Babbio holds an MBA from New York University.

Created in 2001, the North Texas Future Fund is a non-profit corporation designed to identify, study and seek long-term solutions for issues affecting the region in the areas of education, economic development, regionalism, workforce development and population change. NTFF serves as the facilitator to lead cooperative regional forums in the development of strategies and partnerships to address these issues. The NTC Executive Committee functions as the board of directors of the North Texas Future Fund and oversees its operation.

For general information regarding the North Texas Commission Annual Membership Luncheon, for sponsorship opportunities, to reserve a table of eight ($750) or to purchase individual tickets ($60-members; $70-non members), contact Director of Community Relations Liz Samuel at (972) 621-0400 ext. 123 or by e-mail at liz@ntc-dfw.org. To register online, visit the Events & Registration section of NTC's website.

Established in 1971, the North Texas Commission is a regional non-profit consortium of businesses, cities, counties, chambers of commerce, economic development entities and higher education institutions in the North Texas Region. The Commission is the one and only public-private regional organization committed to enhancing the overall economic vitality and quality of life of North Texas. NTC improves the economy, infrastructure and lifestyle of North Texas by leading and directing regionally cooperative initiatives to accomplish objectives in four primary areas: transportation, aviation, environment and long-range strategies.