Black Hills Energy Received 2024 HIRE Vets Medallion Award from the U.S. Department of Labor

Black Hills Energy Received 2024 HIRE Vets Medallion Award from the U.S. Department of Labor
CHEYENNE, Wyo., Date – Black Hills Energy is honored to be recognized as one of the 839 recipients of the 2024 HIRE Vets Medallion Award presented by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Acting Secretary of Labor, Julie A. Su. The Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act (HIRE Vets Act) Medallion Program is the only federal award program that recognizes employers who successfully recruit, hire and retain veterans.

“We're committed to building a diverse workforce representative of the communities we serve and a culture of belonging for all,” said Linn Evans, president and CEO of Black Hills Energy. “We recognize that each of our team members brings unique and valuable experiences, perspectives and talents to the organization. We especially appreciate our veteran colleagues and the dedication and leadership they bring to our team and culture.”

Veterans account for nearly 10% of the Black Hill Energy workforce. The company encourages participation in the many employee-led resource groups like the Veteran Engagement Team (VET). This group focuses on recruiting and retaining qualified individuals who serve or have served in our military, while also providing education and raising awareness about the benefits that military experience brings to the organization.

Wes Ashton, vice president of Wyoming Operations added, “In Wyoming, 12.15% of our workforce consists of military personnel or veterans. Our goal is to be a workplace of choice for veterans, active service members and military spouses, and we're proud to receive the HIRE Vets Gold Medallion Award. We have several initiatives to recruit, retain and advocate for military personnel and veterans to continue to grow that percentage."

Recipients of the 2024 HIRE Vets Medallion Award meet rigorous employment and veteran integration assistance criteria, including veteran hiring and retention percentages, availability of veteran-specific resources, leadership programming for veterans, dedicated human resource efforts, pay compensation and tuition assistance programs for veterans.

To learn more about Black Hills Energy’s commitment to building a diverse workforce and a culture of belonging with people with various backgrounds visit careers.blackhillsenergy.com.


Media contacts
Laurie Farkas, Sr. Public Affairs Manager 307.256.2301
Laurie.farkas@blackhillsenergy.com
Stacie Mcdonald, Sr. Public Affairs Manager 307.689.3592
Stacie.mcdonald@blackhillscorp.com
24-Hour media assistance
888-242-3969

About Black Hills Energy
Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) is a customer focused, growth-oriented utility company with a tradition of improving life with energy and a vision to be the energy partner of choice. Based in Rapid City, South Dakota, the company serves 1.34 million natural gas and electric utility customers in eight states: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. More information is available at www.blackhillscorp.com and www.blackhillsenergy.com.

About the HIRE Vets Medallion Program
The HIRE Vets Medallion Award is earned by businesses that demonstrate unparalleled commitment to attracting, hiring and retaining veterans. The 2025 HIRE Vets Medallion Award application period will open to employers on Jan. 31, 2025. For more information about the program and the application process, visit HIREVets.gov.
There are different awards for large employers (500-plus employees), medium employers (51-499 employees) and small employers (50 or fewer employees). Additionally, there are two award tiers: platinum and gold.