Vermont Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve has announced its 2017 award recipients for service and support to Vermont’s Guard and Reserve members. At their annual banquet held recently in Montpelier, Vt ESGR recognized over 30 employers who provided outstanding support over the past year. Guest speaker for the event was retired Major General Will Roy, former Commander of the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT), Vermont Army National Guard, and currently Vermont Director, US Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Services. State Treasurer Beth Pearce participated in recognizing employers and providing closing comments. Interim Vermont Deputy Adjutant General Brigadier General Joel Clark also attended the event.
Top award recipients receiving the “Pro Patria” award were Control Technologies, Inc, of Williston, small business private sector category, and LORD Corporation Sensing Systems (MicroStrain), also of Williston, large business private sector category. The Pro Patria is the highest award that a state ESGR office can present.
Other awards presented or recognized included the “Above and Beyond” award, for support that well exceeds basic requirements under Federal law. Recipients included AT&T Mobility, Williston; EIV Technical Services, Williston; FedEx Freight, Berlin; Keurig Green Mountain, Waterbury and Burlington (MA); LORD Corporation Sensing Systems (MicroStrain); Mediware Information Systems, Williston; Perrigo Nutritionals, Georgia; USCIS-Vermont Service Center, Essex Junction; Vermont Donut Enterprises, Morrisville; Vermont State Employees Association, Montpelier; and Vermont Technical College, Randolph Center and statewide. VT. ESGR also recognized five Vermont employers who were nominated by their citizen service member employees for the prestigious Secretary of Defense Freedom Award. This is the highest award presented nationwide to employers who provide exceptional support to their citizen soldiers, airmen, sailors, Marines, and Coast Guard members. First level nominees included Control Technologies, Inc, Williston; Dartmouth-Putnam Physicians’ Group, Bennington; LORD Corporation Sensing Systems (MicroStrain), Williston; United Parcel Service, St Johnsbury; USCIS-Vermont Service Center, St Albans; UVM Facilities Division, Burlington; and Vermont Donut Enterprise (Colchester);. Vermont has won this award twice since its inception and this year, Control Technologies and LORD Corporation were part of only 148 of over 3,000 nominees nationwide who moved on to second level.
The “Seven Seals” award was presented to agencies and individuals who have supported the ESGR mission of enhancing relationships among members of the Guard and Reserve, their families, and their civilian employers. Recipients were Tania Hong, Director, UVM Medical Center Lab Services, and Thom Anderson, Veterans Club Advisor and Associate Dean of Academic Programs at Lyndon State College.
The following recipients of the ESGR Patriot Award were also recognized. In many cases, the Patriot Award was the foundation for the higher level awards. Recipients included:
Advanced Answering Systems – Amy Downey – Mendon
AT&T – John Glump – Williston
Brattleboro Subaru – Nate Haskell – Brattleboro
Easter Seals Vermont – Mark Johnson – Berlin
EIV Technical Services – Jacquelyn Dagesse – Williston
FedEx Feight – Mathew Amadon – Berlin
Holiday Inn Express – Stephanie Parker – Springfield
Keurig Green Mountain – Elizabeth Jackson – Waterbury and Burlington (MA)
Mediware Information systems – Clayton Wrisley – Williston
Monument Farms Dairy – Dan James – Weybridge
National Life Group – Christine Gloor – Montpelier
Norwich University – Dr. Frank Vanecek – Northfield
NTT Data – Lori Lewis – Montpelier
NuHarbor Security – Justin Fimlaid, Scott Mosher, Matthew Kittle – Essex Junction
Pathways of the River Valley – Debbie Smith – Lebanon (NH)
Perrigo Nutritionals – Amjad Khanfar and Sean Walsh - Georgia
Spillane’s Towing – Kevin Spillane – So. Burlington
Town of Hinesburg – Trevor Lashua – Hinesburg
USCIS – Vermont Service Center – Heather Urie – Essex Junction
UVM Facilities Division – Rick Weld and Shannon Cavanaugh – Burlington
UVM Medical Center Emergency Dept. – Kristin Baker and Deborah Smith-McMahon
UVM Medical Center Non-invasive Cardiology – Joelyn Niggel and Melissa Petry – Burlington
Verizon Wireless Store – Ray Plante – Burlington
Vermont Bottling Company – Andrew Bessy – Colchester
Vermont Donut Enterprise – Aristotle Souliotis – Morrisville
Vermont State Police – Michael Studin – Rutland
Vermont Technical College – Jessica Van Deren – Randolph Center and statewide
Our heartfelt thanks goes out to all of these and other employers who “serve” in their own right by supporting our Vermont Guard and Reserve members and their spouses.