Xcel Energy Chairman, President and CEO Ben Fowke was named a Corporate Responsibility magazine Responsible CEO of the Year on Oct. 22, 2015 at the COMMIT! Forum in New York City. The awards recognize CEOs who visibly exceed standards in the areas of employee relations, environmental impact and sustainability, human rights, philanthropy and corporate responsibility practices. Fowke was honored in part for Xcel Energy’s efforts to recruit military veterans as a key tenet of the company’s employment strategy.

“It’s an honor to accept this award on behalf of Xcel Energy’s more than 12,000 employees who work tirelessly on behalf of our customers every day,” said Fowke. “Our military veterans bring extraordinary leadership, teamwork and dedication to their roles – exactly the kind of skills we need as we embrace the rapid pace of change in our industry.”

Xcel Energy is committed to matching veterans, active duty military, National Guard and reservists to critical roles within the company. Through extensive outreach, including partnerships with active military bases, the White House’s “Joining Forces Initiative” and appearances on Capitol Hill, the company has a goal of at least 10 percent of all new hires coming from a military background.

Fowke has testified before the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee to outline Xcel Energy’s efforts to bolster military hiring practices, which have been held up as a model for other companies to follow.

Fowke was joined at the awards ceremony by nine Xcel Energy employee-veterans whose roles in the company range from plant operations to customer engagement. “Having some of our incredible veterans join me for this special occasion was the highlight of the evening, and I’m so grateful for their service to the country and to Xcel Energy,” added Fowke.

Prior to being named president and chief operating officer of Xcel Energy in 2009, Fowke held a variety of executive positions at the company, including the role of vice president and chief financial officer. He also serves on the board of directors of the Edison Electric Institute, Electric Power Research Institute, American Wind Energy Association, the Minnesota Business Partnership and Greater MSP.

Xcel Energy (NYSE:XEL) provides the energy that powers millions of homes and businesses across eight Western and Midwestern states. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the company is an industry leader in responsibly reducing carbon emissions and producing and delivering clean energy solutions from a variety of renewable sources at competitive prices. For more information, visit www.xcelenergy.com or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.