SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- One day every year (Nov. 11), America honors those who've served in the armed forces.

But at Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), every day is Veterans Day. Throughout the year, PG&E is committed to hire more veterans and to support those already working at the company.

PG&E has shown its backing of veterans in many ways—including helping veteran-owned enterprises work with PG&E, seeking solutions to long-term unemployment among veterans and participating in Veterans Day parades and other community activities.

Helping Veteran-Owned Business Work With PG&E and Other Companies

On Dec. 8, PG&E will play host to the second "Boots to Business" workshop at the company's San Francisco offices. Nearly 100 businesses attended last year's event. "Boots to Business" is designed to help veteran and service-disabled veteran-owned enterprises work with PG&E and other companies. This three-hour session, held by PG&E's Supplier Diversity Department, details the steps towards becoming a PG&E supplier and available resources to help them succeed.

Focusing on Solving Long-Term Unemployment

PG&E's PowerPathway™ workforce development program continues to tackle an expected shortage of skilled workers and trained professionals in the utility industry—with a focus on training unemployed veterans. In 2013, more than 100 graduates of the program were military veterans.

On Jan. 31, PG&E announced a commitment to addressing the challenges facing the long-term unemployed and veteran populations through PowerPathway. At a White House event featuring veteran, PowerPathway graduate and PG&E employee Erick Varela introducing President Barack Obama, the utility committed the program to conduct two workforce development programs this year in the Fresno area focusing on long-term unemployed veterans.

The two programs (Entry to Gas Operations and Bridge to Utility Worker) resulted in 53 veterans graduating with 14 landing careers in the industry, including seven with PG&E.

PG&E also established a presence at various veteran-focused hiring job fairs. For example, more than 100 veterans attended a Fresno Hiring our Heroes event in August, which was co-sponsored by PG&E and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

"The utility industry has been a leader in veterans hiring," said PG&E Senior Vice President of Human Resources John Simon to a Congressional subcommittee in May. "We've made a commitment to increase our veterans hiring by 10 percent each year. We know the return on investment. Veterans have the training and skills we require—from their expertise to their inherent sense of safety, duty and leadership."

Helping Others

From Nov. 10-15, the Kern River Blue Star Moms, under the direction of chapter president and PG&E employee Shonda Abercrombie, will be collecting items for care packages to be sent to deployed soldiers overseas. Items can be dropped off at the Houchin Community Blood Bank in Bakersfield.

Through November and December, PG&E's Veterans Employee Resource Group (ERG) Fresno chapter will be holding a food drive to help returned veterans and spouses. In addition, the ERG will be collecting for Toys for Tots and look to adopt a veteran family in need for the holidays.

Participation at the Largest Veterans Day Parades Around

On Nov. 11, PG&E will be participating at the Petaluma Veterans Day Parade & Flyover. The parade, billed as the "largest Veterans Day parade north of the Golden Gate," will have nearly 30 PG&E employees and family members from the Sonoma Division Leadership Team (DLT) as well as the company's Veterans ERG marching in the event.

On the same day, more than 50 members of PG&E's Fresno DLT, Central Valley employees and Veterans ERG will be on a float at the 95^th Fresno Veterans Day Parade. People living in the Fresno area can watch the "largest Veterans Day parade west of the Mississippi" on local television (KSEE, Channel 24) and on the DoD News Channel (formerly The Pentagon Channel), which broadcasts military news and information to the 2.6 million members of the armed forces.

Internal Support of Veterans

PG&E has also shown its commitment to veterans who work for the company. In May, the company reaffirmed its long-standing endorsement of employees who serve in the National Guard and reserve by signing a Statement of Support from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). 

PG&E's Veterans ERG will celebrate its third anniversary on Veterans Day. Since its inception, membership has grown to more than 1,000 employees—with 60 percent of the membership having a military background or currently serving as reservists. Veterans ERG members have a chance to connect with other veterans to provide guidance in navigating around a corporate environment. In addition, ERG members can participate in community service through activities such as volunteering at food banks and raising money for scholarships.

Employees Showing Their Pride on Social Media

On Nov. 10, PG&E's Facebook page will showcase an album of more than 60 photographs from employees or family members who've served in the armed forces.  

About PG&E

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation's cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/ and www.pge.com/en/about/newsroom/index.page.

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SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)