DETROIT, Nov. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — With a focus on enhancing the diversity and talents of its workforce, Consumers Energy is supporting the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) at the largest annual Hispanic STEM technical and career event in the country, Nov. 5^{th –} 9^th at Detroit’s Cobo Center.  SHPE, the leading national organization aimed at motivating Hispanics to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) is celebrating its 40^th anniversary conference in Detroit.

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The four-day event is expected to attract over 5,000 STEM professionals, students and corporate representatives for unique program workshops, featured guests speakers, award ceremonies, technical competitions and a large Career Fair & Graduate School Expo. The conference is an opportunity for companies to recruit top talent from SHPE membership. It also provides educational, technical and career opportunities for professionals and students in STEM. 

Consumers Energy is the Premier Sponsor of SHPE’s STAR Awards show, which takes place at the Grand Riverview Ballroom on Saturday, November 8^th from 7 to 10pm, where the keynote speaker will be Patti Poppe, Consumers Energy vice president of customer experience, rates and regulation.  The STAR Awards is SHPE’s premier event that honors the contributions of SHPE Members and Hispanic organizations in the STEM fields.  

“As Michigan’s largest utility, Consumers Energy recognizes the importance of diversity, both in terms of employee staffing and within our evolving customer base of nearly 6.5 million residents across the Lower Peninsula,” said Poppe. “We are excited to sponsor and take an active role in this SHPE conference. We want to create opportunities for qualified candidates in STEM to use their talents and help us fulfill our Promise to Michigan by delivering the energy you need, whenever you need it.”

Consumers Energy promotes STEM through various events and offers a Hispanic Outreach Team to foster leadership development, engagement and networking.  It also provides opportunities for employees like Karli Mayer, a recent engineering hire who is currently serving as the Gas Customer Attachment Program Project Manager to help bring natural gas to communities in Michigan. Mayer is also a member of the SHPE Detroit Professional Chapter.

“Consumers Energy not only recognizes my passions, but provides resources and flexibility to support them,” said Karli Mayer, engineer with Consumers Energy.  “The company’s commitment to organizations such as SHPE has allowed me to work with college students and help them embrace their diverse backgrounds in a way that will not only open more doors of opportunity, but to walk through with confidence.” 

“We are honored to have Consumers Energy as one of our top sponsors at the SHPE Conference in Detroit this year,” said Barry Cordero, SHPE President and Interim CEO.  “Consumers Energy has displayed a leading role in embracing change and taking risks to provide opportunities for our next generation of STEM leaders.  We are grateful for their tremendous support.”

About Consumers Energy
Consumers Energy is one of the nation’s largest combination utilities, providing electric and natural gas service to more than 6.8 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 counties in the Lower Peninsula counties.   For more information, visit www.consumersenergy.com.

About SHPE
The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers offers a network of more than 400 chapters nationally. SHPE’s mission is to change lives by empowering the Hispanic community to realize its fullest potential and to impact the world through STEM awareness, access, support and development. SHPE provides a variety of programming and resources including hosting the largest annual Hispanic STEM conference in the nation.  For more information, visit www.shpe.org.