Nia C. Mathis is region Vice President - State & Local Government Affairs at Verizon. In this role, Nia shapes public policy in 22 states across the central Midwest and New England in support of Verizon’s objectives. Nia leads a team of lobbyists and community engagement directors that advance Verizon’s interests through state and local government advocacy and through local grass roots and grass tops community engagement in Chicago, Boston, Denver, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Detroit, Indianapolis, Columbus, and other cities across the region.

 

Nia has held several roles in Verizon’s legal department. She served as general counsel to Visible, which is Verizon’s flanker wireless brand and “start up” subsidiary.  She also served as general counsel to a 12-state operating region of Verizon Wireless that was responsible for more than $10B in annual revenue to the company. In that role, she provided legal counsel on retail operations and she advanced Verizon’s 5G technology deployment through local advocacy and through enforcing Verizon’s rights under federal, state and local law. Prior roles include supporting Verizon Wireless’ digital distribution channel as a marketing attorney; developing and launching smart cities and ‘Internet of Things’ connected solutions as a product attorney, and negotiating high technology commercial transactions.  

 

Prior to joining Verizon in 2008, Nia was an associate at Latham & Watkins in the M&A and telecommunications practice groups. She started her legal career as an associate in Wiley Rein’s broadcast and communications law practice.  Nia attended law school at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Florida.

 

Nia married her high school sweetheart and they reside in the Chicago “southland” suburbs with their five children.  She is active in her local faith-based community and is passionate about fostering cultural change to ensure that the benefits of evolving technologies are accessible to all members of our communities and society.