Entergy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Join Forces to Hire More Military Veterans

'Hiring Our Heroes' Employment Fair Set for Feb. 2 in New Orleans

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Feb 01, 2012, 03:25 ET

NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) is taking a lead role in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's "Hiring Our Heroes" nationwide campaign to connect 100,000 veterans with job opportunities.

Entergy has signed on as a top sponsor of the hiring campaign, which targets all unemployed veterans but focuses on those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The drive's latest job fair will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Organizers expect more than 500 veterans will attend.

"We believe businesses of all sizes have a duty to recruit the men and women who have made such extraordinary sacrifices for our country. Just as importantly, Entergy and other employers need the type of disciplined, organized and skilled workers you regularly find among veterans," said Gary Taylor, president of utility operations at Entergy.

"Entergy has grown to be one of the largest operators of nuclear power plants in the world, and much of our success in that arena is thanks to the highly skilled and talented U.S. Navy veterans with nuclear experience we've hired over the years," Taylor said. "So when we were asked to participate in this nationwide campaign, the executive team quickly signed on to a leading role."

Entergy and the rest of the utility industry face a growing challenge in the years ahead as members of the Baby Boom head toward retirement. More than 50 percent of the industry's workforce is 45 years of age or older.

Kevin Schmiegel, vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and executive director of Hiring Our Heroes, said, "We are excited that Entergy is stepping up as a leader in the utility industry to hire veterans — not just because it's the right thing to do, but because it's right for their business. Entergy's commitment to help veterans find jobs in New Orleans, in the state of Louisiana and across America is an example for other companies to emulate, and we welcome their representation on the chamber's national Veterans Employment Advisory Council."

The Veterans Employment Advisory Council includes such companies as 3M, Wal-Mart, Union Pacific, Federal Express, and Chesapeake Energy. Entergy has joined the council's "Chairman's Circle" of top corporate sponsors, which includes companies like Prudential and CVS Caremark.

The Veterans Employment Advisory Council is committed to five principles: 1) hiring veterans and military spouses; 2) sharing best practices and adopting next practices for veteran and military spouse employment; 3) reporting measures such as job opportunities, interviews and job placements; 4) providing mentors to help transitioning service members and military spouses; and through the chamber's grassroots network 5) enlisting the commitment of thousands of small and medium-sized businesses across America to do the same.

Since March of 2011, "Hiring Our Heroes" has conducted 85 hiring fairs, connecting more than 84,000 veterans and military spouses to 4,300 employers. More than 7,300 have gotten jobs.

Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, and it is the second-largest nuclear generator in the United States. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.8 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $11 billion and approximately 15,000 employees.

Entergy.com

Twitter: @Entergy

SOURCE Entergy Corporation