Welcome to Colorado ESGR. Our purpose is to have an informative newsletter that will educate, inform,

and promote service by and to ESGR while fulfilling our mission of supporting Employers, Guard/Reserve

members, Military and Veteran Employment Initiatives and our COESGR Volunteers.

November 2014

Continued next page……. 1

“Denver metro area leaders and CEOs have announced the launch of a new effort to increase the hiring of veterans. This resolution was agreed upon at a meeting organized by former board president of Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Bill Lindsay, president of the Benefit Group, Lockton Companies, and retired Rear Admiral Dick Young, USN. Young chairs Colorado Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense agency charged with facilitating employment and support of past and present service personnel. The meeting was hosted by DaVita, the 2013 recipient of DOD's highest award, the Freedom Award.

The Chamber board of directors in its September board meeting unanimously passed a motion to encourage its members to make hiring veterans a priority. Subsequently, the Chamber cooperated with ESGR in the formation of this important kick-off event.

In attendance were CEOs of a number of leading Colorado corporations including Chamber board president Bob Deibel, owner/president of OfficeScapes, and Mike Stevens, CEO of the Mountain States Employment Council, as well as Barbara McBride, Operations Director, and Elaine Edon, Veterans’ Program Director, both from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.

Mike Staffieri, DaVita’s COO, welcomed the group and described some of the meaningful efforts DaVita takes to obtain and retain their many veteran, Guard, and Reserve employees. From Mr. Bill Lindsay, a U.S. Marine who served in Viet Nam, the attendees heard several personal stories of why veterans make such great employees and how important it sometimes is for employers to look outside the box in order to find that right employee.

He noted that “supporting veterans returning to the workplace is not only the right thing to do; it is „smart business‟. He pointed out that these men and women bring disciplined, dedicated, mission focused attitudes to their work. They also offer the diversity that many businesses in Denver are seeking.”

Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Department of Defense’s Employer Support of the

Guard and Reserve, launch veterans hiring effort

Bill Lindsay Dick Young

Scott Cuthbertson, Deputy Director of the Colorado Department of Transportation, who served in the Army for twenty-six years, also described why veterans make such good employees. He introduced Ryan Rice who served a number of years in Iraq and Afghanistan organizing and running major transportation systems there, and now does similar work for CDOT as Director of Transportation Systems and Operations. "My job over there,” Rice said, “was a little bit more difficult as our highways and bridges kept being blown up.” Cuthbertson pointed out, “It was that actual on-the-job experience that we were looking for. And we found it in Ryan.”

Admiral Young encouraged the attending CEOs and other senior executives to take the next important steps. That is, not only to get their suppliers and business-partner companies to join in this effort, but to get the word down their own chain of command to have their HR personnel attend a half-day workshop hosted by DaVita on Wednesday, December 10, 2014. The purpose of this workshop will be for HR personnel to participate and learn from others how to break down the hurdles that many veterans face when they start to enter the civilian work place.

One CEO said “I need to hire 50 people in the next several months. I want to hire veterans, as many of them will have had the experience that I am looking for. How do I find them?”

More information for employers wishing to join this effort, and to have their HR personnel attend the December 10th half-day session, please e-mail the ESGR office at: brent.l.hamilton2ctr@gmail.com, or call the ESGR office at 720-250-1176

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The Friars Club, Lincoln Awards: A Concert for Veterans & the Military Family will be the first event of its kind to recognize outstanding achievement and excellence in providing opportunities and support to our nation’s veterans and military families. It will be

presented in Washington D.C. by The Friars Foundation, the charitable arm of the legendary Friars Club. The event will take place over the course of two days, with honors awarded in ten categories at a special ceremony on January 6, 2015 with an All-Star concert, taking place on January 7, 2015 at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts Concert Hall. The event will be packaged for national primetime broadcast to coincide with the March 4, 2015, 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s landmark Second Inaugural Address, where he stated America’s commitment “to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan.”

“We are incredibly proud to honor this exceptional group” Dr, Tommy Sowers, Veteran, visiting faculty at Duke University and Founder/Event Chairman for The Lincoln Awards, said. “Thanks to the tireless work of our Selection Committee and our honorees, we can shine a light on the very best of the broad American community supporting veterans and the military family.”

DICK YOUNG

Recipient of the Standard Bearer Award for outstanding lifetime achievement and excellence by a

veteran in exemplifying selfless service. Now 82 and going strong, Retired Rear Admiral Young,

now serving his sixth year in the volunteer position as State Chair of the Department of Defense’s

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) has been an active volunteer throughout his

entire adult life. He served 35 years in the U.S. Navy, both Active and Reserve, and was awarded

the Legion of Merit Award three times, one of the highest peacetime awards a Navy Reservist can

receive. Admiral Young received the National Navy League’s John Paul Jones Inspirational

Leadership Award in 1988, the only Naval Reservist to ever receive the National Navy League’s

highest award.

Lincoln Award Winners

JUSTIN CONSTANTINE -Veteran Award

KEN FISHER - Citizen Award

JACKIE GARRICK - Public Service Award

DEAN KAMEN - Medical and Science Award

BRITNEE KINARD - Caregiver Award

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - Entertainer Award

TEAM RUBICON - Non-profit Citizen Award

WALMART - Corporate Citizen Award

KAYLA WILLIAMS - Artist Award

DICK YOUNG - Standard Bearer Award

http://www.friarsclub.com/the-lincoln-awards-

2014-winners/

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WHEREAS, with 47% of our Military being in our Guard and Reserve, and who have served admirably and effectively alongside their active duty counterparts during our recent as well as past conflicts, they need to have a secure and meaningful civilian job to be effective in their military service; and

WHEREAS, many service people in leaving active military service, including Guardsmen and Reservists, face difficulties finding employment, partly because many employers do not understand the military, and the military members, having spent much of their adult life in the military, don’t understand the civilian employment world; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Defense in 1972 created the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) to be its lead agency to work with civilian employers to support and value the employment and military service of members of the National Guard and Reserve; and

WHEREAS, in Denver, ESGR has helped build a coalition of governmental agencies that have responsibilities to our military members with employment. These agencies are the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, the Colorado National Guard, the U.S. Department of Labor (VETS) and the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs; and

WHEREAS, over the past four years this coalition, together with many local chambers of commerce, SHRM, veterans related organizations, non-profits, and volunteers from all walks of life, have developed, organized, and ran meaningful and successful 3 day hiring EXPOs that have been very effective in getting our military personnel hired; and

WHEREAS, the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce has recently passed a resolution which adds considerable weight to these efforts, with many of its members becoming actively involved; and

WHEREAS, it is appropriate in this week that the City and County of Denver, as does our entire country, honor and celebrate our veterans for their loyalty and courage, these efforts at getting our Veterans back into our civilian work force be recognized..

NOW, THEREFORE, I, MICHAEL B. HANCOCK, MAYOR of the City and County of Denver, by virtue of the authority vested in me, do hereby officially proclaim this week of

NOVEMBER 9-16, 2014, to be known as:

“DENVER VETERANS, GUARD AND RESERVE EMPLOYMENT WEEK”

At a ceremony in the Mayor’s office on November 12th, Colorado ESGR Chairman, Dick Young read a Proclamation signed by Mayor Michael B. Hancock to the attendees pictured. Mayor Hancock spoke to and thanked each of attending Guard and Reserve members for their service. The Mayor spoke briefly about the importance of Veterans Day and getting veterans and Guard and Reserve members hired. The Mayor was also presented with an ESGR Seven Seals Award and affirmed his commitment to the Guard and Reserve with a signed Statement of Support.

Pictured: Mayor Michael Hancock (Seven Seals Award) and Colorado Employer

Support of the Guard and Reserve State Chair, Richard E. Young (with proclamation)

along with attending Guard and Reserve members and Colorado ESGR volunteers.

Michael B. Hancock

Mayor of Denver

Denver Mayor proclaims, “Denver

Veterans, Guard and Reserve

Employment Week”

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In the year since W.J. Bradley Mortgage Capital, LLC in Centennial, Colorado began its relationship with the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) through a Statement of Support, it has quickly become a true force for active Guard and Reserve members and veteran employees.

In addition to providing an unparalleled support for Citizen Warriors across the services through measures such as flexible work schedules, awarded time off prior to - and after - deployment, caring for families, and granting supportive leaves of absence if - and when – needed, W.J. Bradley (WJB) has found a

unique way, through the celebration of military service birthdays, to bring all employees together to gain a better understanding of what it means to serve.

These celebrations give WJB a chance to acknowledge veterans and their family members, and to celebrate those currently serving in active National Guard and Reserve roles. While the service birthday celebrations began as very small events with limited participation, the greater Centennial-based WJB employee community has become more involved with each celebration. While a variety of the employees currently attending the birthday events have no previous military background themselves, they have veteran family members or friends who have served, and the birthday celebrations provide an opportunity for them to acknowledge the service of their loved ones. Excitingly, the ceremonies are providing a forum for recognizing veterans and for unifying an entire workforce around principles of service, support and community.

One of these employees, is Dianna Cohoon, WJB’s Director of Treasury Operations, whose father, Gilbert K.

Barber Jr., was an Air Force veteran. The celebration of the Air Force birthday in September provided her with an unexpected and moving connection to her father who recently passed away. It allowed her to share, with several veterans and other WJB colleagues, his Air Force photo and a small Bible issued to him as a young airman. Dianna also shared stories about her father’s service; even showing how he marked all of his duty stations in his small Bible, saying, “he was very much God, Country, Family, in that order and wrote his duty stations in his Bible. He never doubted his duty to his country and that Bible went all over the world with him, representing his faith and loyalty to service.”

Dianna’s story is a reflection of military connections throughout “Corporate America,” whether through active service in the Guard and Reserves, or prior service as a celebrated veteran. What began as a way to acknowledge military service birthdays, turned into an opportunity to gather as a group of like-minded professionals with one common goal. At WJB we are realizing the strength developed through partnership. That strength is a by-product of diverse backgrounds, life experiences, talents, skills and attributes. WJB is grateful for their veterans and their service, and is extremely proud to have them as members of their team and family.

(left to right): ESGR volunteers COL (ret) Pamela Martis, MAJ (ret) Robert Castle; special guest CPL (ret) Al Cooper, CEO Bill Bradley, WJB AF Guardsman Carla Hunstad, WJB AF Reservist Leotis Palmer, and WJB AF veterans Eric Berry and Kyle Lumpkin

W.J. Bradley Mortgage Capital, LLC, hosts

customary celebrations in recognition of each

military service birthday.

Story by J. ZOE WOOD , W.J. Bradley

(left to right): Craig Cooper, Al

Cooper (WWII Army CPL), and

WJB CAO Pam Cooper

Dianna Cohoon and

WJB AF veteran

Roby Roberson

(Group Marines (left to right): WJB Marine veter-ans Mike Loveless, Joel Delagardelle, and Mike Danzer; Special guest and ESGR volunteer Lt Col (ret) Dave Pruett; and WJB Marine veteran Derek Schultz

WJB Navy veterans Paul Argo and Chris Arias

Gilbert K. Barber Jr.

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NOW ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR THENOW ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR THE

2015 SECRETARY OF DEFENSE EMPLOYER SUPPORT FREEDOM AWARD2015 SECRETARY OF DEFENSE EMPLOYER SUPPORT FREEDOM AWARD

National Guard and Reserve Members National Guard and Reserve Members

Nominate Your Exceptional Civilian Employer for Nation‟s Top HonorNominate Your Exceptional Civilian Employer for Nation‟s Top Honor

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense office, is now accepting nominations for the 2015 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The Freedom Award is the Nation’s highest honor presented to civilian employers for exceptional support of their National Guard and Reserve employees. ESGR encourages Guardsmen, Reservists, or family members acting on their behalf, to submit nominations at www.FreedomAward.mil by January 19, 2015.

Guard and Reserve members comprise nearly one-half of our nation’s military force. They provide essential services to maintain national security and conduct humanitarian efforts at home and abroad. The unwavering commitment of their employers helps keep our military prepared and our Nation protected.

“Every day, employers large and small work to ease the burden on those who serve by providing

workplace flexibility, career opportunities and dedicated support,” said Paul Mock, ESGR National Chair.

"The Freedom Award is one way we can thank the employers that stand behind our Guardsmen,

Reservists and their families.”

A Freedom Award ceremony is held in Washington, D.C. for up to 15 deserving employers each year. The Freedom Award recognizes employers who go above and beyond in supporting members of the Guard and Reserve – from continuing benefits and healthcare during deployments, to helping with home maintenance and sponsoring veteran hiring initiatives. Service members can thank employers for their exemplary support by submitting a Freedom Award nomination today.

Continued next page…….

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Dr. Greg Arends, Founder of Colorado Center for Spine Medicine in Boulder, provided support to his medical supplier, Command Sergeant Major Rich Aldeman, U.S. Army Reserve, when his drill

schedule included last minute orders and trips. Dr. Arends is always quick to publically recognize CSM Aldeman’s performance. More importantly, when physicians demand and do not receive quick response from their medical suppliers the tendency is to switch providers. Instead, Dr. Arends remained a steady customer and not only understood but was very supportive of CSM Aldeman’s absence supporting the USAR mission.

On 23 October, retired Colonel Jeff Brodeur (ESGR), CSM Rich Adleman, and Dr. Jackie Arends (spouse) presented a very surprised Dr. Greg Arends the Patriot Award. He was appreciative and very proud and quickly signed a Statement of Support.

L/R) CSM Rich Aldeman, Dr. Greg Arends, Dr. Jackie Arends

“The support given by Dr. Arends and his practice towards me for my service has been fantastic. They support my last minute trips, my last minute orders and are the first to publicly recognize me. It makes life easier to be an active drilling reservist when you have the support of a company such as this behind you!”

Colorado Center for Spine MedicineColorado Center for Spine Medicine

Boulder, ColoradoBoulder, Colorado

Dr. Greg ArendsDr. Greg Arends

Patriot Award and Statement of SupportPatriot Award and Statement of Support

The Patriot Award reflects the The Patriot Award reflects the

efforts made to support Citizen efforts made to support Citizen

Warriors through a wideWarriors through a wide--range of range of

measures including flexible measures including flexible

schedules, time off prior to and schedules, time off prior to and

after deployment, caring for after deployment, caring for

families and granting leaves of families and granting leaves of

absence if needed. absence if needed.

Nominate Your Employer!!

Continued next page…….

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Colorado Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense (DoD) office, announced that four members of the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office were honored today with a Patriot Award in recognition of extraordinary support of their employee, Sergeant First Class (SFC) Ryan Armagost, serving in the National Guard. Those honored

were Sheriff Justin Smith, Cathy Davis (Sherif f Personnel Coordinator), Susanne Byers (Senior Accounting Technician), and Tim Palmer (Captain, Division Commander, Jail Division.)

Deputy Armagost related the following reasons for nominating these very supportive supervisors for the

Patriot Award;

“Sheriff Smith has been very helpful in getting me processed for my deployment and helped me get all of the benefits and pay that I am able to earn in my absence. He has been more than supportive of my service, and has made this a very easy transition. Sheriff Smith has gone out of his way to assist the National Guard in the multiple disasters that have occurred in Larimer County, which we were activated for. He has helped us fulfill our duties to our National Guard units during these natural disasters, as well as our Sheriff‟s office obligations. He has made multiple public recognitions of National Guard members, for their service and support of Larimer County residents. He is a great leader, but especially in the way that he sees and acknowledges all of the service that is given by both law enforcement and military

members toward our communities. I am proud to work for such a great agency and Sheriff.”

“Captain Palmer has been more than supportive in my service and has made this a very easy transition. He has been supportive in past activations for flood and fire disasters in past state emergencies. He

takes into account for the military experience that I bring to the job and recognizes me for it.”

“Cathy Davis as the personnel coordinator and Susanne Byers who works with payroll, time keeping, etc, have been very helpful in my processing for deployment and supportive in ensuring benefits and pay that I will earn in my absence on deployment. They have been very supportive in my service and

have made the transition very easy.”

Larimer County Sheriff‟s officeLarimer County Sheriff‟s office

Ft Collins, ColoradoFt Collins, Colorado

Patriot AwardsPatriot Awards

Top picture, left to right, Cathy Davis, Sheriff Justin Smith, Susanne Byers, SFC Ryan Armagost, Captain Tim Palmer,

and James Garrett, ESGR volunteer

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Photo of Colorado ESGR’s Initial Training for new ESGR Volunteers. Stopping by, as he often does, to thank all those for joining ESGR was Major General Michael Edwards, Adjutant General for the State of Colorado (Center). Along with Gen Edwards and Dick Young, Colorado ESGR Chairman, are some of the Colorado ESGR Directors, Coordinators and Staff who participate in the half day training. These Initial Training sessions are held about every two and a half months.

The Citadel Security & Investigations in Rifle, CO, specifically supervisor Joshua Hale was presented with a Department of Defense Patriot Award for support of military employees and families. CEO Justin Hale received and signed an ESGR Statement of Support. Joshua Hale was nominated by his employee, U.S. Army Reserve Specialist Alfred Rankin for the following: “My supervisor recognizes the importance of my military schedule, and works to make sure I'm able to take the necessary time off. He is very flexible when the schedule changes and is always able to fill my position when the need arises.”

Pictured left to right; Alfred Rankin, Joshua Hale holding the Patriot Award, Lou Brackett, and CEO Justin Hale holding the signed Statement of Support.

Citadel Security and Investigations is a veteran owned organization that was established in 2006. The organization has gone above and beyond in support of their employees who have served and are currently serving in the U. S. Military. The number of military employees at the current time number fifteen and are employed in Colorado, Missouri, North and South Dakota, and Montana just to name a few of the states.

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Douglas Lumber

Pictured left to right, John Jones, owner of Douglas Lumber &

Building Supply, Inc. in Castle Rock, ESGR Volunteer Bob Rotruck

in Parker

Today’s Nursery

Mitch Peterson at Today’s Nursery in Castle Rock is presented with

Statement of Support by Bob Rotruck, ESGR

Rocky Mountain Health

Don Schneider, ESGR volunteer, Warrant Officer Frankie

Orr, Army National Guard, CEO Steve Erkenbrack, and Lou

Brackett, ESGR volunteer.

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Click on pictures or links for websites

STAFF AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Brent Hamilton - Program Support Technician

720-250-1176 brent.l.hamilton2.ctr@mail.mil

Chandra Hance – AST-Administrative Support Technician 720.250.1189 chandra.l.hance.ctr@mail.mil

Becky Small - Employment Coordinator

720-250-1188 rsmall@a-teamsolutions.com

https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/jobs

COESGR Business Office

12200 East Briarwood Avenue, Suite 160

Centennial, Co 80112 FAX: 720.250.1199

State ESGR Vice Chair Tom Mills, Brigadier General,

CONG (Ret).

EMPLOYER OUTREACH AREA CHAIRS

Boulder/Longmont Brad Gallup

Tonia Martinez

Colorado Springs John Schutt Bob Landry

Cortez Area Robert Valencia

Denver Area Bruce Erek Rick White

Douglas County Area

Jimmy Graham Bob Rotruck

Estes Park Area Chair Open

Fort Lyon/Tri County Leanne Wheeler

Larimer/Weld County Jeanie & Brian Hand Grand Junction

Lou Brackett David Popham

Montrose Emily Smith

Fred Fusselman

Pueblo Harry Vogel

Jon Brude

Steamboat Springs Jim Stanko

State ESGR Chair Richard E. Young, RADM, USN (Ret)

COLORADO ESGR

DIRECTORS

Military Outreach

Mary Miller - Director Miles Montgomery - Dep. Dir.

Employer Outreach

Bev Skinner - Co-director Dave Pruett - Co-director

EO Coordinator, Major Corporations- Jim Jensen - Denver Bill Price - Area Chair Coordinator

Ombudsmen

Bill Belz - Director Martin Cobb - Co- Director Aaron Lechner - Dep. Dir.

Lara Makinen - Coordinator

Training Lynn Albi

Paula Kauffman - Dep. Dir.

Special Programs

Kip Cheroutes - Director

National Guard Liaison Liz Kelpis

Public Affairs

Sandy Tiegen - Director

Employer Initiatives

Robby Castle - Director Paul Dunbar - Deputy

H2H Coordinator - Becky Small Mentors Coordinator - Zach Jacobsen Job Fairs Coordinator - Chase Dinkler

MVEE Coordinators - Jason Shireman Elaine Edon

Bosslift Coordinator - Brian Bartony

National Site News and Information

Join Facebook and Twitter Become a fan of Colorado ESGR

COESGR Twitter COESGR LinkedIn

Events Calendar

November 3 - Freedom Award Nominations

Open

November 13 - ESGR Brief, Grand Junction

November 15 - ESGR Brief, NOSC Denver

November 21 - MVEE Planning Committee

Mtg

November 27 - Thanksgiving Day

December 13- New volunteer initial training

and COESGR Directors Meeting

Colorado‟s ESGR Electronic Newsletter is published not only for the information and benefit of the members of the Colorado ESGR but most importantly to our Guard and Reserve members and their employers. The contents of this newsletter highlight activities and events conducted by Colorado ESGR.

Send comments regarding this publication to the Newsletter Editor: James Garrett at ESGRcolorado@yahoo.com

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Click on the picture above for the link for KREX TV News Chanel 5 in Grand Junction evening news spot (1 minute+) which aired on 11/13/14 covering an ESGR Employer Luncheon & recognition of J.G. Management Systems Freedom Award at the Army National Guard Readiness Center in Grand Junction on 11/13/14.

The spot features Jeni Brown, CFO of J.G. Management Systems and Col. Lou Brackett, ESGR Employer Outreach Grand Junction Area Co-chair.

ESGR reps hosting this event were Bev Skinner, Brent Hamilton, Lou Brackett and Don Schneider.