Verizon's Edgerton to retire

Jerry Edgerton, a 19-year veteran of the federal telecommunications business, plans to retire from Verizon soon. Susan Zeleniak, previously sales and customer support leader of the company’s federal civilian networks division, has been named vice president of the federal government business.Edgerton and Zeleniak both came to Verizon through the company's 2005 merger with MCI.Zeleniak said she sees her new role as a challenge. Edgerton will "be hard to replace," she said.Her first priority will be winning the forthcoming Networx and Washington Interagency Telecommunications System contracts, two major General Services Administration vehicles that will account for billions of dollars in business in the coming years, Zeleniak said.John Okay, president of Topside Consulting, said Edgerton has been an innovator and a leading figure for nearly two decades, but that Zeleniak is a good choice to succeed him.Edgerton and Zeleniak will work together until March, Zeleniak said, and then she will take over.