Whether you’re a veteran, or transitioning to civilian work, member of the National Guard reservist or a military spouse, I&M seeks candidates who are ready to redeploy their skill set and join our workforce. American Electric Power (AEP), our parent company, employs more than 1,600 veterans – including more than 370 at I&M and more than 270 at the D.C. Cook Nuclear Plant.
One of those veterans is Jennifer Demkovich, District Planner-Scheduler based in Three Rivers, Mich. She served four years in the United States Air Force. She was in Airfield Management ensuring pilots had the right flight path and in Air Traffic Control monitoring incoming and outgoing flights. She applied to I&M as her sister raved about working here and found her skills were a perfect fit.
“I’m very proud of my military background. Jumping into an environment where you don’t know anyone, you don’t know what to expect, you are miles away from home and someone is yelling at you because your shirt is pink – makes you resourceful, resilient and accepting of change,” Demkovich said.
Cory Schmidt started as an active-duty Infantry Marine and transitioned into the Army National Guard – where he still serves while working on high-voltage transmission substations.
“I have always felt support from AEP and I&M,” said Schmidt. “My supervisors and the company have communicated and worked with me when it comes to my involvement in the Army National Guard. They ensure our veterans are reflected in a positive light.”
Schmidt bragged about how I&M values veterans and active-duty employees to Drew Smith – who has a thriving career as a Transmission Station Supervisor based in Niles, Mich.
“Cory and I actually served together in the Indiana National Guard,” Smith said. “During our many discussions his positive remarks about I&M and how it supports veterans of all kinds provided the push for me to apply.”
Smith has been a Field Artillery officer with the Indiana National Guard for 11 years. This fall, Smith will deploy for a year to serve in Kuwait. I&M and AEP have programs and accommodations for employees in the Reserves and National Guard who are ordered to active duty.
Along with that benefit, there is the Military Veterans Employee Resource Group or MVERG. One of the co-founders of the I&M MVERG chapter is Jesse LaFromboise. He served five years in the United States Marine Corps as an I-Level Jet engine mechanic and Propeller Systems Tech for the C-130 and transitioned into his civilian career working in the energy industry. LaFromboise manages I&M line workers, work plan team, customer design representatives and various other employees as the manager of Distribution System for Fort Wayne, IN.
“Due to my military background and utility experience, it was a no brainer to join the I&M team,” LaFromboise said. “With I&M’s MVERG chapter, we constantly look for avenues to support our veterans and current enlisted employees with a growing networking system and supporting employees who help veterans in our communities.”
Helping fellow military members is deeply important to Jason Rodman, Network (underground power lines) System Supervisor for South Bend and Elkhart, Ind. He served for nearly seven years as a Combat Medic in the Army with the majority of his service in the 101st Airborne/Air Assault, which included a deployment to Afghanistan. He is heavily involved with I&M’s MVERG chapter.
“MVERG welcomes all employees with military connections. Whether that’s veterans, reserve-component military members, military spouses or those who align with our mission to be apart of the group,” Rodman said. “MVERG members will discover a community of individuals who are not only committed to a meaningful mission but are also enthusiastic about making valuable contributions and taking action.”
Thank you to those who answered the call to serve our country, including our own employees. With your jobs from supervisors to lineworkers to managers, thank you for making a difference serving our I&M customers with safe and reliable power.
For more information on how veterans can start a career at AEP, click here.