Director - External Affairs

Hi. I'm John Szeliga, Director - External Affairs. My responsibilities include community relations, local government affairs, economic development, consumer education, urban relations and local media relations for Monmouth and Ocean Counties .

I also am responsible for local philanthropy and employee volunteerism, as well as disability and senior issues statewide.

In addition to my Verizon responsibilities, I have participated in many civic and community activities in my municipality, county and region of the state. I served for seven years as Councilman for the Borough of Belmar, the last year as Council President. I have spearheaded many environmental and planning initiatives, serving as past chairman of Belmar’s environmental commission and planning board. I have fought hard to protect and preserve the lakes, rivers, estuaries and watersheds of Monmouth and Ocean County through my active involvement in numerous environmental efforts.

I am a founding member and past chairman of both the Friends of Silver Lake and the Shark River Environmental Roundtable. I led a grassroots effort that resulted in the Shark River being designated a "Federal No-Discharge Zone," one of the first rivers in the state to receive this highest level of environmental protection.

My appointments and memberships include the Belmar Harbor Commission, the Friends of the Belmar Harbor, the Shark River Cleanup Coalition and Surfriders. I am a past board member of the Info-Age Science and Learning Center, I have also served on the Coastal Lakes Commission and the state’s Watershed 12 effort.

I also helped to establish an Arts Council in Belmar and led efforts to create a statewide juried art exhibition held annually in March.
I currently serve on the boards of Prevention First and the Monmouth Ocean Educational Services Commission (MOESC).
As a Director-External Affairs, I would be more than happy to talk with you about the kinds of services Verizon offers. I can tell you more about how Verizon is transforming itself into a next generation broadband company with our fiber network and our new FiOS services, which provide clearer voice, faster Internet and soon choice in the cable TV market with our FiOS TV service.

I also can share with you information about Verizon's many educational and economic development initiatives in the state.

Feel free to call me at 732 280-9124 or reach me via e-mail at john.p.szeliga@verizon.com.