Consumers Energy Recognized at State, National Level for Commitment to Employing Military Veterans

JACKSON, Mich., May 25, 2017

Consumers Energy has been named a gold-level Veteran-Friendly Employer by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, one of only seven employers to earn the highest certification the state offers. In a separate, independent ranking, Military Times named the energy provider to its "Best for Vets" list.

"We're proud to be recognized for our ongoing work to provide an inclusive workplace for military veterans and people of all backgrounds," said John Broschak, a U.S. Navy veteran and Consumers Energy's vice president of generation operations. "One quarter of our new employees in the past year are military veterans, and we are a stronger company because of the skills and background they bring to provide service to our Michigan customers."

In both rankings, employers are recognized for efforts to recruit and retain military veterans, plus create a culture that supports their distinct needs. Some examples:

• Consumers Energy sponsors a Veterans Advisory Panel that provides resources to veterans who work for the company.
• The company makes accommodations for employees to fulfill active and reserve military commitments.
• Three company vice presidents are military veterans.
• Last year, Consumers Energy also collaborated with the Michigan National Guard and Power for America to create a Natural Gas Boot Camp to train qualified military veterans and provide them with job opportunities.

Consumers Energy also was recognized this month for its success in building a strong workplace culture for all employees. Forbes magazine ranked Consumers Energy as Michigan's best employer based on surveys of nearly 30,000 employees nationally.

"We want to leverage the skills of qualified military veterans as we continue to build a stronger, world class company that delivers hometown service," said Cathy Hendrian, Consumers Energy's senior vice president for energy resources. "We take this recognition to heart and will keep recruiting and creating a great place where veterans can continue their service to serve Michigan communities."