Veterans comprise more of DTE Energy employee ranks
Company honors its vets, exceeds hiring goals
Company honors its vets, exceeds hiring goals
DETROIT, Nov. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- When Sgt. Glen Williams returned home from Iraq during the Gulf War, he felt honored to have served his country for eight years.
"On the plane with my fellow soldiers, there was such a sense of pride in America, and a feeling of being blessed to have served," he said.
But Williams had doubts, too. Doubts such as what he would do next.
He heard about DTE's Boot Camp program, which was developed to train workforce-ready employees and build a pipeline needed to fill the positions left by retiring baby boomers. He was accepted into the Natural Gas Boot Camp and was recently hired as a maintenance fitter apprentice.
"Being part of a world-class organization like DTE means the world to me," Williams said. "And I haven't met anyone who doesn't feel the same way. This was a life-changing event for me and it's nice to go to sleep knowing I have a career that allows me to support my family, help my kids through college and build a retirement."
DTE wants more veterans to feel the same way.
The company this year set a goal of having 7 percent of its hires come from the ranks of veterans. To date, 11 percent of DTE's new hires are veterans, another example of why the company has earned recognition as a silver-level Veteran Friendly Employer by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA).
MVAA recognizes employers such as DTE who commit to military veteran recruitment, training and retention practices by awarding them Gold-, Silver- and Bronze-level status as Veteran-Friendly Employers. MVAA's Veteran-Friendly Employer program helps qualified organizations recruit and retain top veteran talent while providing others a road map to improve their recruitment efforts. DTE is one of seven silver-level employers statewide; only one company is at the gold level.
DTE apprenticeships and Boot Camp programs, among other efforts, are credited with the company's veteran hiring success. DTE partners with the Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation, a Michigan Works Agency, and Oakland Community College for the boot camps.
"Veterans have the proven ability to quickly learn new skills and concepts," said Diane Antishin, DTE vice president, HR Operations. "They understand the value of teamwork and the importance of achieving goals even in the most difficult of circumstances. Our veterans, in serving our country, have acquired skills, acumen and demeanor that we value at DTE Energy."
Veterans have filled a variety of positions throughout the company, including professionals, skilled trades, engineers and management. DTE also recruits from both the Groton and Virginia Beach naval bases, and participates in the military's Transition Assistance Program.
DTE has a variety of well-paying career positions for which the company encourages veterans to apply. Veterans can apply at www.dteenergy.com/jobs. The website provides Military Occupational Codes and translates the codes to positions open at DTE.
About DTE Energy
DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE) is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide.
Its operating units include an electric utility serving 2.1 million customers in Southeastern Michigan and a natural gas utility serving 1.2 million customers in Michigan. The DTE Energy portfolio includes non-utility energy businesses focused on power and industrial projects, natural gas pipelines, gathering and storage, and energy marketing and trading. As one of Michigan's leading corporate citizens, DTE Energy is a force for growth and prosperity in the 450 Michigan communities it serves in a variety of ways, including philanthropy, volunteerism and economic progress. Information about DTE Energy is available at dteenergy.com, twitter.com/dte_energy and facebook.com/dteenergy.
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SOURCE DTE Energy
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