Nextel Partners Named ''Best Company to Work For'' For Second Consecutive Year

[Rich]

Friday June 7 12:00am

Recognizing its continued focus on 100 percent partner (employee) satisfaction, Nextel Partners (Nasdaq:NXTP) was named "Best Company to Work For" for the second year running.

The company, which provides digital wireless communication services under the Nextel brand name, was honored in the large company category by Washington CEO magazine at an awards dinner held yesterday in Seattle.

With its home office in Kirkland, Wash., and more than 2,100 partners throughout the country, the company was honored for its attraction and retention; organizational communication; working environment; decision making and supervision; performance management; rewards and recognition; benefits; career development and learning; and leadership.

"Nextel Partners has exceeded growth expectations in every quarter since becoming a public company despite these challenging economic times. Our cultural foundation is directly linked to the company's success, and this award is for all our great people across the country," said John Chapple, president, CEO and chairman of the board for Nextel Partners. "It's gratifying to be recognized, and even better two years in a row. This is really a tribute to the quality and dedication of each one of our partners."

Nextel Partners leads the industry in customer retention, lifetime value per customer and, along with its partner Nextel Communications, average revenue per customer (ARPU).

Hundreds of companies were considered for the awards, which recognize Washington-based companies for providing employees opportunities for growth, outstanding benefits, competitive pay and fun work environments. Companies are evaluated based on anonymous employee surveys representing all facets of employee life and a comprehensive entry form. The survey is conducted annually by Washington CEO, a business magazine serving more than 28,000 chief executive officers, presidents, business owners and entrepreneurs in Washington.

About Nextel Partners

Nextel Partners, Inc., (Nasdaq:NXTP), based in Kirkland, Wash., has the exclusive right to provide digital wireless communications services using the Nextel brand name in 30 states where approximately 51 million people reside. Nextel Partners offers its customers the same fully integrated, digital wireless communications services available from Nextel including digital cellular, text and numeric messaging, wireless Internet access and Nextel Direct Connect(R) digital two-way radio, all in a single wireless phone. Nextel Partners customers can seamlessly access these services anywhere on Nextel's or Nextel Partners' all-digital wireless network, which currently covers 197 of the top 200 U.S. markets. To learn more about Nextel Partners, visit nextelpartners.com. To learn more about Nextel's services, visit nextel.com.