Carl E. Erhart is president - Southwest Region, for Verizon. He is responsible for Verizon's public policy, government, regulatory and external affairs matters for Verizon in the Southwest & Great Lakes Region, encompassing Texas, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

Carl is a 25-year veteran of the telecommunications industry, having held positions at MCI, Contel, GTE and Verizon in accounting, finance, strategic planning, wireless, regulatory and governmental affairs.  He assumed his current position in June 2008.

Carl holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh, Pa., and a master's in business administration from George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.  He will continue to be located in Austin, Texas.