By Spc. Zachary Schuster, 116th Public Affairs Detachment
BISMARCK, N.D. - More than a dozen civilian employers were recognized for their support to service members in the North Dakota National Guard at luncheons in Grand Forks and Bismarck hosted by the local committee of a national, Department of Defense-sponsored military-employer relations organization.
The two luncheons, hosted by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) organization at Canad Inn in Grand Forks April 30 and at Ramada Hotels in Bismarck May 7, primarily recognized employers of the 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, which was recently deployed to Washington, D.C., on a yearlong mission to protect the airspace of the National Capital Region.
"Many employers show their patriotism through their support of their service member employees," said Kevin Iverson, director of the local ESGR committee. "They never think they'll be recognized. It's almost always a surprise."
In order to be recognized, an employer must be nominated by a service member (or that service member's spouse) for their support. Each employer in attendance at the luncheons received a framed "Patriot Award" certificate and a short educational presentation on some aspect of military service.
Employers recognized at Grand Forks were: Dr. Noah Chelliah, cardiologist at The Heart Institute of North Dakota, nominated by Sgt. Christina Gess; James Richtor, shift supervisor, and Bill Galumbus, help desk supervisor at Restaurant Technology Services LLC, XEROX, nominated by Sgt. Tyler Nagel; Randy Kieffer, supervisor at Budweiser/Dakota Sales, nominated by Pfc. Oriana Pasch; Tina Fetch, production manager, and Zach Ahrens, advertising director at the Grand Forks Herald, nominated by Sgt. Ronald Olson; Mike Lannen and Chris Nero, managers at Menards, nominated by Sgt. Tyler Olson; Mike Morgan, manager of the Farmers Co-op Elevator in Thompson, nominated by Sgt. Kevin Sponsler; and Chris Dunnigan, IT manager at Alerus Financial, nominated by Spc. Nathan Erickson.
Employers recognized at Bismarck were: Ernie Thurman, safety and security officer at Sanford Health, nominated by Staff Sgt. Johnathan Schaf; Phil Mastrangelo, director of USDA's Wildlife Services division in North Dakota, nominated by Sgt. Kit Bramblee; Lynn Johnston, Owner of Energy Tech Systems, Mandan, nominated by Spc. Joseph Taborsky; Andrew Serri, CEO of Basin Electric Power Cooperative, nominated by Staff Sgt. Jason Anderson; Rick Oliver, general manager of Domino's Pizza in Mandan, nominated by Spc. Joseph Peterman; and Matt Gibbons, manager of Red Carpet Car Wash, north Bismarck, nominated by Spc. Zachery Vincent.
The ESGR, established in 1972, is intended "to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component Service members and their civilian employers and to assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee's military commitment," according to the organization's official description.
The next luncheon is planned for June 7 in Dickinson, N.D.
| Date Taken: | 05.22.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 05.22.2013 14:29 |
| Story ID: | 107378 |
| Location: | BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA, US |
| Web Views: | 107 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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