Columbia Gas of Virginia is a winner in this year’s Richmond-Times Dispatch’s Top Workplaces. Headquartered in Chester with a dedicated total workforce of more than 500 employees, the utility provides reliable natural gas service to over 290,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in 98 communities across Virginia. NiSource Inc., Columbia Gas of Virginia’s parent company, is the highest-ranked utility on Forbes magazine’s list of America’s Best Large Employers.
Below is a Q&A with Jennifer Montague, president and chief operating officer for Columbia Gas of Virginia.
In just a few words, how would you describe what is special about your business?
The employees of Columbia Gas of Virginia are what make our company special. Their hard work, dedication and commitment to the communities we serve are unmatched.
How has being named a Top Workplace for 2026 impacted your business internally?
This is a huge honor for which we are deeply grateful. It’s a testament to our employees and all that they do day in and day out to carry out our mission of providing safe and reliable natural gas service to our approximately 293,000 residential, industrial and commercial customers in Virginia.
How do you think this designation has helped you recruit and retain new talent?
Winning this award exemplifies our commitment to creating an excellent experience for our existing and prospective employees.
What qualities do you believe make your business a Top Workplace?
Hard work, dedication and commitment to service make Columbia Gas of Virginia a Top Workplace. With more than 175 years of service in the Commonwealth, our employees are the reason we’ve enjoyed success and growth through the years, and we are so appreciative of all that they do for our customers and the communities we serve.
What are some things you have done internally to communicate about Top Workplaces to encourage participation across the organization?
We plan to officially share the great news with our employees as we get closer to the announcement date.
From a workplace culture standpoint, what is something you are most proud of that you have implemented, or something unique that others outside of your organization may not know?
In addition to carrying out our day-to-day mission, our employees are also extremely involved in their communities, serving on boards and volunteering for local organizations. They all care deeply about this. Their volunteer efforts and community service efforts come from the heart. You can tell how much our employees care about serving as volunteers.
For more information, please visit columbiagasva.com.Â
