October 2015

1

Colorado Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Depart-ment of Defense (DoD) office, is pleased to announce Mr. Mark Lilevjen of Colorado Springs as its new ESGR Chair for Colorado ESGR.

The chair is an official DoD volunteer position. Lilevjen took the oath of office and was sworn in during a formal ceremony at ESGR HQs in Alexandria, VA. He will serve under the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. The position carries a three-year term and is the equivalent to a military two-star flag officer under DoD protocol. Mark Lilevjen will provide leadership

and vision for a team of more than 250 dedicated volunteers who are spread all across Colorado.

Mr. Lilevjen completed 28 honorable years of active duty service with the United States Air Force (USAF), primarily in the roles of Intercontinental Ballistic Missile and Space Operations. He has held several positions central to our Nation’s defense to include Command Briefer and Future Concepts Staff Officer at Headquarters (HQ), Strategic Air Command; Minuteman Program Element Monitor; and the Strategic Forces representative on the Air Force Issues Team at HQ USAF; Instructor of the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, AL; Commander of the 509th Missile Squadron; Deputy Commander and Commander of the 351 Operations Group at Whiteman AFB, MO; Crew Commander of the Space Control Center, Missile Director in the Command Center, Director of Training at Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center; Deputy Commander of the 381st Training Group at Vandenberg AFB, CA; and finally as the Director of Training for Air Force Space Command.

He has a long and distinguished record of association with numerous community volunteer organizations.

With almost half of the Nation’s military force serving in the Guard or Reserve, Mark Lilevjen will have a direct impact on these men and women and their civilian employers.

“The patriotic support of America’s employers and the employees they share with the nation ensures the viability of the all-volunteer force, and thus our national security,” said Mark Lilevjen . “ESGR applauds employers who practice personnel policies that support employee participation in the Guard and Reserve.”

Lilevjen joins 53 other chairs who oversee the ESGR mission in the 50 states and four territories which make up this great nation.

ESGR seeks to foster a culture in which all employers support and value the employment and military service of members of the National Guard and Reserve in the United States. ESGR facilitates and promotes a cooperative culture of employer support for National Guard and Reserve service by developing and advocating mutually beneficial initiatives, recognizing outstanding employer support, increasing awareness of applicable laws and policies, resolving potential conflicts between employers and their service members, and acting as the employers’ principal advocate within DoD.

Paramount to

ESGR's mission is encouraging employment of Guardsmen and Reservists who bring integrity, global perspective and proven leadership to the civilian workforce.

Mark Lilevjen Sworn In As Our New Colorado Mark Lilevjen Sworn In As Our New Colorado

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve ChairEmployer Support of the Guard and Reserve Chair

2

3

The Ombudsman’s Corner

Reporting Back to Work -

Bio...

To qualify for USERRA protections, a service member must be available to return to work within certain time-limits. These time limits for returning to work depend upon the duration of the service member’s

military service.

Service of 1-30 days: service member must report back to work the first regularly scheduled work pe-riod following completion of service. This is usually the next day after drill. The service member must be allowed 8 hours of rest before returning to their

civilian job.

Service of 31-180 days: service member must submit an application for reemployment to employer no later

than 14 days after completion of military service.

Service of over 180 days: service member must sub-mit an application for reemployment to employer no

later than 90 days after completion of military service.

An employer has the right to request that a service member who is absent for more than 31 days on

military service provide documentation of that service.

Employers should contact our National Office at 1-800-336-4590 if they have issues or

questions.

Thank you for supporting ESGR!

Barron, Maria Blackmore, Megan Chapman, Phillip

Chase, Zoe Chavez, Maria

Cummings, Jay (Creative Director)

Farmer, Gloria Gallegos, Jennifer Gonzales, Gabriela

Gover, Alexis Harris, Jeremy Hawk, David Lopez, Diana Nouri, Nima Razo, Eddie Rigby, Ian

Robles, Adam Rodriguez, Daniel Rodriguez, Ivan

Siedow, Savannah Smith, Scot (President)

Street, Shannon Swanson, Myron Triestram, Caleb

Turner, Mike Ulibarri, Alisha Statement of Support signing and presentation for Rocky Mountain Apparel in Denver

4

On Friday, September 25th, David Pruett, Colorado ESGR presented an Above and Beyond Award to CaptionCall, a telecommunications service for the hearing impaired. The company has received two Statements of Support (SoS) and a Patriot award. Mr. Brad King, Center Manager, was nominated by Sergeant Brittany Heaney, U.S. Army Reserve.

CaptionCallCaptionCallCaptionCall

The Above and Beyond Award is presented by ESGR State Committees to recognize employers at the local level who have gone above and beyond the legal requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) by providing their Guard and Reserve employees additional, non-mandated benefits such as differential or full pay to offset lost wages, extended health benefits, and other similar benefits. The award is given in limited numbers by state committees to employers who have had at least one of their supervisors/managers recognized with a Patriot Award, and who have signed or agree to sign a statement of support (SoS).

Left to right; Christine-Ann Velez, Kathleen Boleyn, Laurie Works, Jennifer Wells, Brittany Heaney, Bradley King, David Pruett, Leah Thompson, Bob Landry, Nassia Duncan, Lynn Paigo

CaptionCall Family Readiness Group

5

Taking the Oath!

On 12 October, ESGR volunteers Darrel

Williamson and Mark Craig traveled to Southwest

Plaza Mall to present a Patriot Award to Nate

Gonzales, with the Universal Protection Services.

Mr. Gonzales was a former Marine and is the

supervisor for the security force at the mall. Mark

Craig also presented Mr. Gonzales with a

Statement of Support. SPC Mariah Nixon with the

98th

Signal Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve,

nominated her supervisor for the award.

Darrel Williamson presenting the

Patriot Award to Nate Gonzales

with SPC Mariah Nixon who

submitted the nomination for the

award.

Mark Craig presenting the

Statement of Support to Nate

Gonzales with SPC Mariah

Nixon.

Colorado’s Supporting Employers

6

Kellile Roe, Principal, Clear Sky Elementary School

Kat Matic, Service Manager, Texas Roadhouse Restaurant, Parker

Abel Garcia, Asst Store Director, Safeway Jennifer Scott, Manager, Sprouts

Ryan Lucero, Asst Mgr, Big 5 Sporting

Goods.. Steve Schirner, General Manager, Chili’s Restaurant

Colorado Employers in Colorado Employers in

Castle Rock and Parker Castle Rock and Parker

signing Statements of signing Statements of

Support with ESGR Support with ESGR

Volunteer Robert Rotruck.Volunteer Robert Rotruck.

7 John Paulson, Managing Partner, Lost Coffee Bill Moore, President , Moore lumber Company

U n d e r w a t e r C o n n e c t i o n , , Colorado Springs, presented by ESGR volunteer, Delos Howard

Marcelo Birckenstaedt, General Manager, Holiday Inn Express

Steve Peterson, President Christian Brothers Automotive

James Aragon, Manager, Jing Restaurant, Greenwood Village

Colorado Employers in Castle Rock, Colorado Springs, and Greenwood Village signing Statements of Support with ESGR Volunteer Robert Rotruck and Delos Howard (not pictured)

Left to right, John Williams, Battalion Chief, Ken Watkins, Department Chief, and Statement of Support presenter Lou Brackett, ESGR volunteer. The Grand Junction Fire Department has a very strong work environment that enthusiastically supports the National Guard And Reserve.

8

Statement of Support signed by Grand Junction Fire Department.

Upcoming

Events

Western Union’s Veterans Career Open House

Friday, November 6, 2015, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

at Western Union Headquarters

12500 E. Belford Avenue Englewood, Colorado 80112

Learn about Western Union’s corporate culture and the exciting career opportunities available to military members

Hear how you can apply your military back-ground and work with Western Union colleagues from around the globe

Hear from key leaders within Western Union as well as other veterans and reservists who are making a difference

Hear about Western Union’s new U.S. military benefits

Gain useful career advice from Western Union recruiters

**Refreshments will be provided.**

Please Click Here to register online and find out more information.

FA Award Nomination Window Opens Thu, Oct 1 State Chair Unavailable Wed, Oct 14 to Sun, Oct 25 Halloween Sat, Oct 31 National Leader's Meeting Wed, Nov 4 to Sat, Nov 7 Employers luncheon ESGR Thu, Nov 5 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Veteran's Day Wed, Nov 11 Thanksgiving Thu, Nov 26 Christmas Eve Thu, Dec 24

Christmas Fri, Dec 25 FA Nomination Window Closes Thu, Dec 31

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

Toni Ware – AST-Administrative Support Technician 720.250.1189 tware@e3federal.com

Rebecca S. Small - Employment Coordinator 720-250-1188 rebecca.s.small.ctr@mail.mil

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

EMPLOYER OUTREACH AREA CHAIRS

Alamosa Dan Powell

Boulder Tonia Martinez

Colorado Springs Bob Landry

Cortez Area Robert Valencia

Denver Area Bruce Erek Rick White

Douglas County Area

Bob Rotruck Dick Wilson

Estes Park Area Chair Open

Fort Lyon/Tri County Leanne Wheeler

Larimer/Weld County Jeanie & Brian Hand

Grand Junction Lou Brackett Bret Mixon

Montrose Emily Smith Rich Parr

Pueblo Harry Vogel

Jon Brude

Steamboat Springs Jim Stanko

State ESGR Chair Mark T. Lilevjen

COLORADO ESGR DIRECTORS

Military Outreach

Darrell Williamson - Director

Employer Outreach Bev Skinner - Co-director

Dave Pruett - Co-director

Major Corporations - Jeff Brodeur

Bosslift Coordinator - Brian Bartony

Ombudsmen

Martin Cobb- Director

Aaron Lechner - Co- Director Lara Makinen - Coordinator

Training

Lynn Albi

Paula Kauffman - Dep. Dir.

Special Programs

Kip Cheroutes - Director

National Guard Liaison

Liz Kelpis

Public Affairs

Brian Moore - Director Sandy Tiegen - Dep. Dir.

James Garrett - Newsletter Editor

Employer Initiatives Elaine Edon - Director

Robby Castle - Deputy

Mentors Coordinators - AL Duff

Tracey Fria

9

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

National Site News and Information Join Facebook and Twitter

Become a fan of Colorado ESGR

COESGR Twitter COESGR LinkedIn

Today! Nominate your

employer for the 2016 Award @

www.freedomaward.mil