Tanya Penny

Vice President - Sourcing & Procurement Operations

Verizon Services Operations

Tanya Penny is vice president of Sourcing and Procurement Operations for Supply Chain Services, which is part of the newly created Verizon Services Operations (VSO) group. In her role, Penny is responsible for ensuring that Verizon?s Business, Telecom and Wireless units have access to the equipment and services needed to maintain industry leadership and gain a competitive advantage by building and operating the most advanced broadband and IP-based wireline and wireless networks.

With 25 years of business experience in telecommunications, Penny was appointed to her current role in April 2006 after Verizon completed its acquisition of MCI. Penny oversees a team of 350 procurement professionals that is responsible for domestic sourcing and purchasing activities for all of Verizon that totals more than $33 billion dollars annually.

Prior to her appointment, Penny played a leadership role for MCI during the merger and acquisition process. She identified synergy opportunities and developed strategies for integrating MCI?s finance and procurement operations first into the new Verizon Business enterprise unit and then into VSO, Verizon?s new centralized services unit.

Since joining the former MCI in 1981, Penny has held various positions with steadily increasing levels of responsibility. From 2002-2004, Penny served as vice president and controller of Accounting Operations at MCI. She was responsible for accounting for billions of dollars of assets, payroll and accounts payable nationwide.

Penny?s numerous financial and operational assignments at MCI have included manager of Corporate Development; manager of Eastern Region Network Engineering; senior manager of Technical Planning; director of Property Accounting and Records Management; director of Accounting Operations, and director of Corporate Planning

Penny also served as Director of Strategic Procurement. In this role, she spearheaded the implementation of the corporate "Strategic Procurement Model," an industry standard at Fortune 500 companies.

Penny has been recognized by the National Federation of Black Women Business Owners for her professional excellence in both the finance and telecommunications industries.

Penny is active in business and community affairs and has participated in several forums with young entrepreneurs. She also is a board member of the Women?s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and serves on its Strategic Sourcing Committee.

Penny holds a MBA from the Wharton School of Business and a Bachelor of Arts from Stanford University.

A native of Chicago, Illinois, Penny resides in Mitchellville, Maryland with her husband, Vernon, son, Jay and Goddaughter, Adrienne.