JEANNIE H. DIEFENDERFER

 

Jeannie Diefenderfer is Senior Vice President - Global Engineering & Planning for Verizon wireline business, a position she's held since December of 2008. She is responsible for the planning and design of Verizon's global data, voice and IP wireline networks which span cities in 150 countries across 6 continents. Ms. Diefenderfer's responsibilities also include the engineering of Verizon's fiber to the premises (FTTP) platform which supports the award-winning FiOS Data and TV service.

Prior to her current assignment, Ms. Diefenderfer was Vice President - Global Operations for Verizon Business, responsible for the installation, repair and maintenance of Verizon Business's global network and technical facilities.

Ms. Diefenderfer has held a variety of key positions within Verizon, including: senior vice president for Verizon's Network Services Group; vice president - Network Process Assurance; vice president - Network Operations Support; group president - Advanced Networks; and senior vice president - Corporate Sourcing.

Ms. Diefenderfer joined NYNEX in 1984 as a management trainee in the Equipment Installation department and took on increasingly higher positions as project manager of Network Services, director of EEO/AAP, director of Engineering & Construction, and executive director of Equipment Installation.

Ms. Diefenderfer serves on the boards of the Ms. Foundation for Women and Tufts University. From 2001 to 2008, she was a member of the board of Independent Trustees at Citizens Funds, an SRI mutual fund complex. Internal to Verizon, she has served on the boards of the Minority Multicultural Association of NYNEX, Women's Association of Verizon Employees, and the Asian Focus Group. Mrs. Diefenderfer was featured in the 1999 Crain's New York Business "40 under 40," as one of 40 young "rising stars" and was a member of the 1999 class of the David Rockefeller Fellows Program. In addition, she received the 1999 Corporate Achievement Award from the Organization of Chinese Americans and the 2001 Star Award from the New York Women's Agenda.

A native of Seoul, South Korea, Ms. Diefenderfer immigrated to the US when she was 13 years old. She holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from Tufts University, and an MBA from Babson College.

Ms. Diefenderfer and her husband, George, have two children, daughter, Mia, and son, Derek. She was elected to the Tufts University Board of Trustees in 2008.

Last updated: March 2009