Verizon names new Pa. president

Verizon Communications Inc. announced today that Gale Y. Given, regional president for Verizon's Great Lakes region, will become president of Verizon Pennsylvania, effective immediately.

She will replace William B. Petersen, who was named vice president and associate general counsel for state regulatory matters in the Northeast.

Given began her career in 1979 at the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Co. of West Virginia in the central office engineering organization, then went to work for Bell Communications Research. She held several positions in regulatory matters for former Verizon entities before being named president of Verizon West Virginia in June 2000. Given was named president of Verizon's Great Lakes region in November 2003.

Verizon also announced that Philadelphia native Tabb J. Bishop, director of public policy, was promoted to vice president-public policy at Verizon Pennsylvania. Bishop, who will report to Given, will be responsible for strategic policy, regulatory and external initiatives across the state.

Bishop, the son of State Rep. Louise Williams Bishop (D., Phila.), was deputy chief of staff in the executive office of the president of Temple University before joining Verizon Pennsylvania in March 2007. He also worked in government relations and was director of the Philadelphia delegation to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.