Monica F. Azare was named a director in 2007. She serves as vice president and deputy general counsel for video franchising at Verizon Communications and has applied her extensive public policy background in several previous leadership positions during her nearly 20 years at Verizon, including senior vice president of corporate communications and employee engagement; region president for New York and Connecticut; and executive director and senior counsel of federal affairs. Ms. Azare’s distinguished career also includes service as vice president of federal affairs for Insight Communication, as well as chief counsel to then House Energy and Commerce Chairman Billy Tauzin. Ms. Azare is a member of the Federal Communications Bar Association, the Louisiana State Bar Association, and the Corporate Counsel of Women of Color. She was a 2006-2007 David Rockefeller Fellow.

Ms. Azare serves for a number of non-profit organizations, including board positions with the Partnership for New York City Foundation (Audit Committee); New York City Citizen’s Union; Metropolitan Museum of Art Advisory Council on Cultural Engagement; and Louisiana State University Foundation National Board. A Louisiana native, Ms. Azare received a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and earned her law degree from the Southern University Law Center.