Xcel Energy nurtures military veterans and ensures that they are on track for success. We have a 10 percent veteran hiring goal and we yield an enviable 95% retention rate. There is a robust culture of peer support and veteran-retention, grounded in the company’s military and veteran business resource group called Veterans and Employees Together in Service or VETS. VETS facilitates an internal mentor program that assists with career pathway building. VETS enables veterans to share experiences, voice concerns, tackle common problems and share struggles as they progress in their career. Xcel Energy’s sense of community among veterans begins at a two-day onboarding program called the “New Hire Connection,” where all the business resource groups are introduced, and the value of MOVE is nested into the greater vision, mission, and values of the company. Not only are veteran employees integrated into the company, but Xcel Energy begins outreach to ensure that potentially deploying Guard or Reserve members are identified so that they receive the full array of support from the company. Xcel Energy’s commitment to veterans extends beyond hiring them. Once on the job, an employee resource group helps veterans succeed by providing mentors and networking resources. Xcel Energy’s network of support services for veterans and active military is part of its longstanding commitment for diversity and inclusion in the workplace. In addition to its programs for hiring and retention, Xcel Energy does business with more than 140 veteran entrepreneurs and provides outreach to veterans groups in the communities it serves.