Verlink Appoints VP

CENTENNIAL, Colo. -- Verilink Corporation (NASDAQ: VRLK), a leading provider of broadband access solutions, today announced the promotion and appointment of Thomas E. Abernathy Jr. to Vice President of Operations.

Mr. Abernathy has over twenty-eight years of operations and manufacturing experience within the telecommunications and electronics industries, with increasing roles and management responsibilities. Mr. Abernathy joined Verilink in 1987 and was previously Director of Materials with responsibilities across operations, manufacturing, MRP/ERP systems, including purchasing, inventory control, and master scheduling. His experience includes supply chain strategy and implementation, as well as onshore and offshore manufacturing. Prior to Verilink, Mr. Abernathy was with Avco Electronics, a contract manufacturer of electronic products and assemblies for the telecommunications industry. Mr. Abernathy held production management and supervisory positions at Gray Telephone Supply from 1978 - 1984, and at GTE, where he began his career in 1977. Mr. Abernathy served in the U.S. Army in Mainz, Germany, in a battalion operations role and studied Business Administration at John C. Calhoun College in Decatur, Alabama.

"Tom has made many significant contributions in operational and management roles over the course of his nineteen years at Verilink, particularly related to the integration of acquired businesses and product lines into the Verilink operation," said Leigh S. Belden, President and CEO of Verilink. "Having played an instrumental role over the years in the establishment and evolution of Verilink's ISO-compliant manufacturing process, combined with his knowledge and experience in internal and outsourced manufacturing and quality systems, Tom is extremely well-qualified to lead our operations function. We look forward to Tom's leadership as we continue our product line cost improvements and improve efficiencies of our manufacturing and business operations, further positioning Verilink to serve a growing global base of customers with world-class products that enable a new generation of communications services."

Verilink Corp.