Sarasota firm calls on former Verizon lobbyist

SARASOTA — National rural telecommunications lobbyist Shirley Bloomfield, who has also worked for Qwest and Verizon, has been named to the advisory board of Sarasota-based wireless communication firm xG Technology.

Bloomfield is currently CEO of the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association — The Rural Broadband Association, according to a release. Bloomfield has also worked on Capitol Hill as a congressional aide to former U.S. Rep David Obey, D-Wisconsin, in addition to lobbying work with telecom giants Qwest and Verizon. Bloomfield was senior vice president of federal relations at Qwest, which CenturyLink bought in 2011. She was later named vice president of federal relations for Verizon.

At xG, Bloomfield will advise the firm on its mission to bring its patented system for Internet-based phone calls to more rural markets. Sarasota-based xG has more than 200 patents and pending patent applications worldwide, including 60 in the United States.

“As someone who has always been a staunch advocate for America's independent telecom companies and the critical role they play in our society, I welcome the opportunity to join the xG Technology advisory board,” Bloomfield says in the release.

Bloomfield is also a board member of GlobalWin, an organization of women leaders in the high-tech industry, where she mentors people interested in developing their telecommunications careers.

“We are honored that Bloomfield has agreed to give us the benefit of her well-deserved reputation, considerable industry expertise and seasoned leadership by becoming a valued member of the xG Advisory Board,” xG Executive Chairman George Schmitt says in the statement.