#WomenCrushingWednesday – Kynnie Martin

Kynnie Martin joined Xcel Energy in 2013 to spearhead the company’s Veteran hiring program. She has since led the company’s philanthropic efforts in Colorado, and is now an account manager working with large commercial customers and communities. Kynnie was commissioned through ROTC at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, and is a U.S. Army Veteran, having served five years on active duty as a Military Intelligence Officer.  She deployed to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn (formerly Iraqi Freedom) from 2005-06 as a platoon leader with the 3rd Infantry Division’s first Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Company (drones).   She was honorably discharged as a Captain in 2007, and is a recipient of the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, and the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge.

For her work in veteran employment and in the energy sector, she has been recognized by the Denver Business Journal in the Top Women in Energy 2019, 40 Under 40 Class of 2015, CivilianJobs.com as a Top 40 Under 40 for Military (2014) and was recognized by the Call of Duty Endowment as an Outstanding Female Veteran (2012).

Kynnie earned her Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Management from Regis University. Her current board service includes being the Chair for the Xcel Energy Military Ombudsmen for Veterans and Employees (MOVE) Business Resource Group, Colorado Nonprofit Association, Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus, Aurora Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Aurora, and serves on the advisory board for the Center for American Values. Kynnie’s military service is featured in the Emmy award-winning documentary, “Women Warriors: A Vision of Valor” which is housed in the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project.

She and her husband, Joel, West Point class of 2002, have two daughters and reside in Wash Park.

“As a young teenager, I was in a traumatic situation where I was told my voice did not matter. The leaders and peers the Army brought into my life helped me find that voice,  and the courage to use it to effectively influence change. It is from that experience that I am passionate about serving others who have lost their voice, or like me, was told their voice doesn’t matter, so that they regain their confidence in all they do.”