On October 29, 2014, Yuri Berg, the Governor and Chairman of the Government of the Orenburg region, handed in the honorary award to Viktor Kazhaev, Deputy Director of IDGC of Volga, JSC and Director of Orenburgenergo branch. The branch was awarded in five categories. Thus, Orenburgenergo became the silver winner in the main category, “Economy Leader”. The jury assessed participating companies by such criteria as production, economic and financial indicators, levels of social responsibility and employee protection and investments. Orenburgenergo became the winner in the category “Company of High Social Efficiency”. The contest committee gave a high rating to the company’s activities in such areas as employee training practices, occupational safety and improvement of working conditions, participation in the professional skills contests and employee benefits. As for “Environmental Liability” category, the leadership of Orenburgenergo, a branch of IDGC of Volga, JSC is undisputable. The jury highly appraised the Bird Conservation Initiatives implemented by the branch as part of its integrated environmental program. Besides, the jury recognized the individual input of two employees of Orenburgenergo: Yulia Lagazina, Deputy Director for Sales of Services from Vostochnye (Eastern) Electrical Grids was awarded with the Laureate Diploma in the category “Best Female Executive Officer”, and Yulia Petrova became the winner in the category “Best Young Executive Officer”. For reference: Participants of the XIV Annual Regional Contest “Economy Leader” included 63 businesses and organizations and 15 municipal authorities. As specified in the Regulations on the Contest approved by executive order No. 138-ðof the Acting Governor of the Orenburg region approved on June 09, 2014, the contest is held in 9 categories. This year, 53 businesses and organizations became the prize winners.