Great River Energy recognized for commitments to workplace equality, well-being efforts and community outreach
Great River Energy was recently notified of several recognitions it received related to the cooperative’s dedication to employees and the communities where it serves and operates.
‘Equality 100 Award’ designation
Great River Energy received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2025 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality.
“The CEI is so much more than a score,” said Jason Vollbrecht, manager of benefits and retirement at Great River Energy. “It is a validation of the work we do as an organization for and in recognition of our continued commitment to upholding diversity, equality and inclusion in the workplace for all.”
The collective results of the 2025 index showcase how companies are promoting LGBTQ+ friendly workplace policies in the United States and abroad. The CEI rates employers providing these crucial protections to more than 22 million U.S. workers on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars:
- Non-discrimination policies across business entities
- Equitable benefits for LGBTQ+ workers and their families
- Supporting an inclusive culture
- Corporate social responsibility
Healthiest Employers of Minnesota
Great River Energy was once again recognized for its employee well-being efforts, placing second in the Healthiest Employers of Minnesota, mid-size category (500-4,999 employees). The cooperative was the only organization in the top five based in Minnesota.
“This accomplishment underscores Great River Energy’s ongoing commitment to investing in its employees and their families,” Vollbrecht said. “Our well-being efforts continually grow and evolve, building off our success and ensuring they create engagement and remain impactful year after year.”
Healthiest Employers began in 2009 to celebrate companies that prioritize their people by investing in their employees’ health. The application assessment consists of six categories, with a Healthiest Employers Index assigned to each application to help rank among companies of similar sizes.
Great River Energy has earned a place on the “Healthiest 100” list seven times since 2014 and was inducted into the Healthiest Employers “Hall of Fame” in 2022.
Keystone Program
For more than a decade, Great River Energy has had a place among Minnesota’s most charitable and community-minded organizations.
The Minnesota Keystone Program recognizes companies that donate at least 2% of their pre-tax earnings to the community and embody to Minnesota’s spirit of generosity and sense of community.
“Being a positive force in the communities served by our member-owners comes naturally to cooperatives,” said Great River Energy Communications and Marketing Manager Daniel Becchetti. “By supporting nonprofit organizations where we have members and employees, we are delivering on the cooperative principle of ‘concern for community.’”
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