Eversource Receives Nation’s Highest Award for Supporting Employees in the Military

BOSTON — Eversource Energy has been selected as a winner of the 2019 Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the government’s highest honor for a company for its support of employees who participate in the U.S. National Guard and Reserves. Eversource is one of only 15 companies nationwide that were selected among more than 2,400 nominations.

The award is the result of the perseverance of Bill Gelinas, a control-room supervisor for Eversource in Berlin, Conn. Gelinas wanted to show his appreciation for the support he received from the company and its employees throughout his 15-year military service, which included four overseas deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

“This is an accomplishment that is truly inspiring and is a testament to the support provided to the Guard and Reserve members who work at Eversource,” said Gelinas, a 12-year employee of the company.

Gelinas said he was deeply touched by the warmth and support he has received from his Eversource colleagues, especially during his numerous deployments. Each time he went overseas, he was overwhelmed by thoughtful care packages and almost daily encouraging e-mails from employees and company leaders.

It also made him empathetic of other soldiers who didn’t have a support system like he did. “It made me realize how special it was and made me want to engage even more to help support other service members,” added Gelinas, who also serves as president of Eversource’s Veterans Assoc.

“We are deeply proud of Bill and honored to be selected for this award,” said Eversource Chairman, President, and CEO Jim Judge. “The Freedom Award speaks to our commitment as a longtime supporter of military and veteran employees. In addition to having a job to come back to and the personal outreach of our employees, our veterans are given formal training to provide them with the opportunity to advance to supervisory-level positions.”

The Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is administered by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense program that since 1966 has promoted relations and understanding between military reservists and their civilian employers. The winning companies will be invited to Washington, D.C. to receive the award from the Secretary of Defense at a ceremony held at the Pentagon in August.