Ameren ranks as top military-friendly employer in Missouri

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- G.I. Jobs magazine, a publication of Victory Media, announced that Ameren Corporation was recognized as 50th among the top 100 Military Friendly® Employers in the United States. For the seventh consecutive year, Ameren ranks highest among all Missouri-based companies making the list.

G.I. Jobs analyzed the benefits of more than 5,000 companies on the strength of military recruiting efforts, the percentage of new hires with prior military service, and company policies regarding National Guard and Reserve service. The top 100 Military Friendly Employers list will be featured in the magazine's December 2015 issue.

"We are honored to be a military-friendly employer, and we continue to look to former military personnel to fill key positions throughout our company," said Mark Lindgren, Ameren senior vice president, corporate communications, and chief human resources officer. "Veterans are skilled, hard-working and motivated employees who understand the importance of teamwork and service. We are proud of the contributions they've made to our country and our company."

Ameren's efforts to recruit military members include military parade sponsorships, base visits and participation in career fairs targeted at military members. Since 2012, Ameren has hired 150 military veterans and spouses, closing in on the goal of hiring 200 in five years as part of the White House's Joining Forces initiative. The company also sponsors the Ameren Military-Veteran Employees (AMVE) group, which serves as a resource for military veterans and their families, and provides generous benefits to support members and their families during times of deployment.

"From sending care packages to deployed troops to building wheelchair ramps for disabled veterans in Missouri and Illinois, Ameren and AMVE are dedicated to providing the kind of support veterans need where and when they need it," said Darin Hendry, an Ameren supervisor and U.S. Army veteran who also leads AMVE. "This year we are proud to support retired Cmdr. Richard Valenta, an Ameren retiree and World War II veteran, on an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., to see the World War II memorial. We can't think of a better way to recognize him for his service."

Valenta, who worked at Ameren (formerly Union Electric) for 23 years, served as a merchant marine in World War II, volunteered for the Korean conflict and retired from military service in 1974. Ameren and AMVE are covering the cost for Valenta's flight and the cost for his son to accompany him on the Honor Flight as the required guardian.   

"It's outstanding that Ameren stepped in and did this for me," said Valenta.

Ameren has demonstrated a solid history of military-friendly pursuits, earning recognition from other organizations. Ameren is a past recipient of the Secretary of Defense Freedom Award, the highest honor given by the U.S. government to employers for their outstanding support of employees serving in the National Guard and Reserves. In addition, the company has consistently been ranked a top employer for diversity by DiversityInc and continues to support employee diversity and inclusion efforts through its six employee resource groups: Ameren Military-Veteran Employees; Ameren Network of Minority Employees; Powering Connections for All Abilities; Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, Transgender Employees and Allies Network; Multi-Generational Resource Group; and Women Influencing Success in Energy.

The full list of 100 Military Friendly Employers can be accessed here: Militaryfriendly.com/2016employers/.

About Ameren Corporation
St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation powers the quality of life for 2.4 million electric customers and more than 900,000 natural gas customers in a 64,000-square-mile area through its Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois rate-regulated utility subsidiaries. Ameren Illinois provides electric delivery and transmission service as well as natural gas delivery service while Ameren Missouri provides vertically integrated electric service, with generating capacity of 10,300 megawatts, and natural gas delivery service. Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois develops regional electric transmission projects. Follow the company on Twitter @AmerenCorp. For more information, visit Ameren.com.

About Military Friendly® Employers
The Military Friendly® Employers designation process includes extensive research and a data-driven survey of companies with annual revenue over $100 million nationwide; the Top 100 Military Friendly® Employers list includes companies with annual revenue over $500 million. The survey, methodology, criteria and weightings are developed with the assistance of an independent Advisory Board comprised of higher education, recruiting, HR and diversity professionals from across the country. The survey is administered for free and open to companies meeting the eligibility criteria. The methodology and more information about the program, along with the complete list of employers, can be found on MilitaryFriendly.com.

SOURCE Ameren Corporation

Related Links

http://www.ameren.com