The city of Colorado Springs and its municipally-owned utility earned high marks in the annual Military Friendly ratings for hiring and supporting the careers of military spouses and veterans.
Colorado Springs Utilities earned several Top 10 rankings: fifth as a military-friendly employer, eighth as a military-friendly company, ninth as a military spouse-friendly employer and 10th as a military-friendly brand, the agency said.
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The city received a bronze rating as a military-friendly employer, according to a city news release, placing it within 30% of the 10th-ranked organization.
More than 1,500 organizations compete in the annual rankings in various categories. The city and Utilities compete in the government and nonprofit category.
"We are proud of the city once again earning the designation as a military-friendly employer," Sallie Clark, Colorado Springs' senior advisor for government and military engagement, said in the Friday news release. "We are continually working with our military community and installations to make not only our city a military-friendly employer, but our entire region, open to employing veterans, spouses and family members of our active service members."
Nearly 20% of city employees and 12.5% of the utility's employees are veterans.
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"At Colorado Springs Utilities, we are proud to have veterans and active service members as part of our team. Their leadership, discipline and unique perspectives enrich our organization and inspire us all," the agency's Chief Executive Officer Travas Deal said in a written statement Friday.
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The city, Colorado Springs Utilities, Deloitte, USAA and UCHealth make up the Employer Roundtable. The roundtable develops and shares best practices with other employers, works with local military installations to address military spouse employment issues and encourages military spouse hiring.
Colorado Springs Utilities also has an internal veteran employee resource group "that provides a strong peer network within the organization to help attract and retain veteran employees," agency spokesman Eric Isaacson said.
The city participates in the Hiring our Heroes program for transitioning military servicemembers and spouses, and the Veterans Local Government Management Fellowship initiative that helps place transitioning veterans and spouses into fellowships.
Veteran-owned small business Viqtory Inc. owns the Military Friendly ratings.