SOUTH PORTLAND – Dead River Company is the first Maine-based company to be recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor with its Gold Medallion award, an honor from the department’s HIRE Vets program, part of the Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act of 2017. The award was announced November 7 by the Labor Department’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Services (VETS).
 
“We’re honored to receive this award,” said Dead River Company President and CEO, Deanna Sherman in a news release. “Our company has a long history of recruiting military veterans because our motto of ‘delivering on a promise’ resonates with men and women who are mission-driven to serve others. They are independent thinkers who also work well as part of a team and who can push through sometimes adverse conditions—such as New England weather.”
 
Dead River Company’s selection for the Gold Medallion Award drew praise from Maine’s Governor, Janet Mills. “I could not be more pleased to congratulate Dead River Company on this achievement,” said Governor Janet Mills, in the release. “This well-deserved award is not only a testament to Dead River’s support of our veterans, but it is also proof that Maine companies are national leaders in hiring those who bravely served our nation.”
 
With nearly 12 percent of its workforce coming from the military, Dead River Company has developed a reputation as a company eager to help veterans transition to civilian life and willing to train qualified applicants who have no experience in the industry.
 
“We work closely with organizations such as Boots2Roots in recruiting employees,” said Guy Langevin, Dead River Company Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer. “Ours is a complex industry with a need for people with technical, intellectual, business, and practical skills. We need people who are adaptable to changing environments and situations, and people with a military background bring those skills. We can train them in the particulars of the industry because they bring the ability to learn and be trained.”

 
Names and Military Branches:
Dalton Simmons - US Marine Corp
Greg Gibson - US Army
Mark Ramsey - US Marine Corp Sea Bee
Tom Waters - US Navy Sea Bee
John Andreozzi - US Air Force
Rob Daniels - US Army
John Hammond - US Navy
Robert Eaton - Maine Air National Guard
Mike Aboud - US Coast Guard
Peter J Coggins - US Coast Guard
Casey Cramton - US Army

"Dead River Company understands the value that military members bring to the civilian workplace and takes every opportunity to diversify its skilled and executive workforce by utilizing the talent found in those with military training,” said Jen Fullmer, executive director of Boots2Roots. “Dead River Company has fostered an impressive team culture that forward-thinking, service-oriented professionals want to be a part of, and Boots2Roots is proud to partner with this fantastic company. The Gold Medallion is well earned and deserved.”
 
Headquartered in South Portland, with locally-operated fuel offices throughout its service footprint in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and western Massachusetts, Dead River Company is a family-owned company over a century old, with a strong commitment to the states and communities it serves, according to Dead River.
 
The Hire Vets Gold Medallion is the only veterans hiring award at the federal level that recognizes employer efforts to recruit, employ, and retain veterans.
 
About Dead River Company:
Founded in 1909 by Charles Hutchins, Dead River Company originated in the forest products industry, along the banks of the Dead River, from which the company took its name. Today, Dead River Company is the largest retailer of home heating products in northern New England. Trusted for their reliable, on-time fuel deliveries and highly-skilled and quality home heating equipment maintenance, Dead River Company is a full-service energy provider offering its customers around-the-clock, no-heat response service, as well as energy-efficiency advice.

For more information, visit www.deadriver.com