NORCO — Forbes magazine has recognized Valero Energy as one of “America’s Best Employers 2019,” the highest-ranked independent refiner on the list.

Valero is a joint venture partner in Diamond Green Diesel, which operates a renewable diesel plant in Norco. Diamond Green Diesel is North America’s largest biomass-based diesel plant. Valero made the list of 500 top large companies with more than 5,000 U.S. employees, based on anonymous surveys of employees across the U.S.

“Employees are our greatest asset, so we’re very pleased to receive this recognition,” said Joe Gorder, Valero Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Forbes teamed with market research company Statista, which surveyed 30,000 Americans working for businesses with at least 1,000 employees.

Respondents were asked to rate, on a scale of zero to 10, how likely they’d be to recommend their employer to others.

Statista then asked respondents to nominate organizations in industries outside their own. The final list ranks the 500 large and 500 midsize employers (less than 5,000 employees) that received the most recommendations.

“We were so pleased when we heard that Valero made the 2019 Forbes list of America’s Best Employers. The idea that if a company takes care of its employees, its employees will continue to work hard for their company holds true in my opinion. At Valero St. Charles Refinery, we are so fortunate to have some of the best, hardest-working people in Louisiana working for us,” said VP and General Manager Jerry Stumbo.