October 2013

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.

A Freedom Award Ceremony Experience

Article by ESGR volunteer, Col Mark Hustedt, USAF (Ret) I experienced the crowning jewel of my first 2 years of
ESGR service as a recent attendee of the 2013 Freedom Award Ceremony (FAC). The ESGR Freedom Award is the highest honor bestowed to a company for their above and beyond support to its Guard and Reserve employees. I was honored when I received the call from our State Chair (Richard Young) to be one of two escorts for this years event. The reason; because of the three categories for the Freedom Award (Small Business, Large Business, and Public Sector), Colorado proudly had two recipients. Our winners were Jerry Forte, Denise Forte, Col Mark Hustedt, DaVita in the Large Business category and Colorado Springs Utilities USAF, Ret., Admiral Richard Young, USN, Ret. for the Public Sector category. The ESGR State Chair is traditionally the escort for those worthy enough to garner such an accomplishment. But given that Colorado had two winners (a good problem), we were authorized to send an additional member. I propose for FY14 we send our State Chair and two additional members if you get my drift. Wow, what an event! Upon showing up to our nations capital, I quickly learned that the FAC was the culmination of a weeklong ESGR National Leadership Meeting. In the midst of ESGR conducting their national meeting, New Chair Training, Volunteer of the Year activities, key participants were swiftly rallied by the Award Ceremonys Officer -in- Charge (Lt Col Mellissa Phillips) on the quickly approaching event details. Under the watchful eyes of ESGRs Deputy Director, Mr. Fessel, key players garnered the information to make every facet of the ceremony a smashing hit. As ESGR leaders conducted their week long leadership meeting, 15 prestigious companies and their entourage made their way to the beautiful Renaissance Hotel in downtown DC. The Freedom Award Support Staff ensured the nominators and recipients received a first class experience. Their 3-day activities included not only an incredible awards ceremony but a Pentagon tour which included meeting with members from the Secretary of Defense and a luncheon with the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (Honorable Jessica Wright) along with ESGRs National Chair (Mr. Paul Mock). Even more impressive was that national recipients got to meet the President of the United States at the White House. However nothing topped the emotions and experience of witnessing the Freedom Award ceremony for the first time. The ceremony took place on September 26, 2013 at the Ronald Reagan and International Trade Center . It was evident by every gleaming detail of the incredible effort contributed by so many gracious volunteers. As Admiral Young and I arrived promptly at 5pm, we were overwhelmed by excitement and the sheer beauty of the place. At 6pm we eagerly met each of our honored guests from DaVita and Colorado Springs Utilities. ESGR allocated each winning company a total of 10 personnel from their company. Both Colorado Springs Utilities and DaVita proudly brought its maximum. And in the hour long reception of the Atrium Ballroom, a rare combination of pride, humbleness and surrealism peaked. The Admiral and I, with our winners beaming, had the rare opportunity for each Colorado team to mingle.

Continued next page.

Leon Harris, Master of Ceremonies

That was an exciting time as all national winners recipients gathered and we soon transitioned into the carefully planned ceremony room. The room was spectacular with its red white and blue themed dcor and tables dressed in every degree of elegance. The stage was precisely set with the brilliant Freedom Award Trophy and an ARMY Brass Quintet at the ready to usher in the color guard. The evening kicked off with our Emmy-winning Master of Ceremonies (Leon Harris) followed by impacting words from our Keynote speaker, Under Secretary Jessica L. Wright. For the next hour we feasted on food that would quench anybodys palate until we reached the pinnacle of the evening; the presentation of the Freedom Award. A unique and moving part of the ceremony was where a nominator from each of the three award categories shared personal testimonies regarding their respective employer. It was incredibly touching to watch our very own Lt Col Hermina Yarde of DaVita, Inc. stand up and share with the audience her deep appreciation for her employer. Those personal moments shared by our Reserve and Guard members were only trumped by brief seconds when Colorado Springs Utilities' CEO Jerry Forte and DaVitas CEO David Grams took the stage to receive the prestigious Freedom Award trophy. I couldnt have been more thrilled to sit next to Colorado Springs Utilities' nominator, Chief Chris Ortiz and his lovely wife Christina. The MC even made the comment that the morale was extremely high at Colorado Springs Utilities because they were the loudest table when the trophies were being awarded. It truly was a magical evening and I count myself incredibly honored to have been a part of it.

Under Secretary Jessica L. Wright

Lt Col Hermina Yarde, Davita, Inc..

Paul E. Mock, Jerry Forte, and Jessica L. Wright.

Paul E. Mock, David Grams, and Jessica L. Wright.

The following day as Admiral Young and I conducted business near Capitol Hill, his words still ring in my ear. He looked at me and said Mark, in order for a company to capture the Freedom Award, we need to help them prepare a year in advance. It wasnt rocket science but it hit home. I personally saw Colorado Springs Utilities do just that. They were very competitive in 2012. Their enthusiastic Human Resource experts, Shirley Martinez and Josie Colorado with stellar support from their CEO, had rock solid Reserve Component HR initiatives. And even though they had a great showing in 2012 by Freedom Award standards, they fell just a little shy of being a national contender. However, Colorado Springs Utilities being competitive in nature and desiring to continuously raise the bar, they set forth in 2013 with an even more robust Guard and Reserve initiatives. They actively engaged with ESGR and the community on some brilliant Guard and Reserve projects and ideas. Their motivation was not to simply garner a trophy, but to better serve their internal service members. They hit a home run and now their policies are being studied by other companies as Best Practices! Way to go Colorado Springs Utilities and also to your northern brethren DaVita for being 2 of only 15 nationally recognized organizations.

We at ESGR could not be more proud!

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2013 Annual Secretary of Defense Employer Freedom Award Banquet September 26, 2013 Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center Washington, D.C.

Colorado Recipients of 2013 Freedom Award

Colorado Springs Utilities Davita, Inc.

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Jessica L. Wright, acting Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness stated the following in her remarks: This event is a "monumental night" to formally honor the 15 recipients with the coveted Secretary of Defense Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Freedom Award. "Your energy and support for the warriors is enormous, and it is clearly appreciated," Wright told the employers, who represented public and private-sector companies and organizations from across the country. Jessica L. Wright, acting Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, and Paul E. Mock , ESGR National Chairman She said the support that employers provide to their deployed employees runs the gamut of small and large-scale needs, from helping spouses back home with child care, repairing a roof or shoveling snow. "They're always there to assist the families [with] a robust network of support," she said. One employer, Wright said, "even hired a spouse when her husband was deployed, after she lost her job." And employers have contributed millions of dollars to military support organizations, including support of disabled veterans. Paul E. Mock, Jerry Forte, and Jessica L. Wright., Colorado Springs Utilities

Colorado Springs Utilities Award nominator, Chief Petty Officer, Chris Ortiz, U. S. Navy Reserve

Colorado Springs Utilities

Davita, Inc. Paul E. Mock, David Grams, and Jessica L. Wright., Davita, Inc. Click on pictures or links for websites Award nominator, Lt. Col., Hermina Yarde , U. S. Air Force Reserve 4

Our dedicated volunteers come from all walks of life. They are business executives, civic leaders and patriotic citizens. Some volunteer activities include: Employer Outreach: Develop relationships with employers to promote advocacy for service in the Guard and Reserve. Ombudsman: Work with employers and service members to prevent, reduce or resolve misunderstandings regarding employment rights and responsibilities. Public Affairs: Work with military and civilian media organizations to promote public understanding of the ESGR mission. Military Outreach: Inform and educate members of the Guard and Reserve regarding their employment rights and responsibilities under USERRA. The involvement of our volunteers, through just a few hours a month and in whatever capacity they choose, improves the relationships our brave men and women have with their employers while they continually place themselves in harms way, leave their families, and put their careers on hold to preserve our way of life.

An ESGR volunteer has the opportunity to serve in support of our Nations defense. They personify the ESGR banner, We All Serve.

Tonia Martinez and Mark Saunders, Our October ESGR Volunteers in the Spotlight
Colorado Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve welcomes new volunteer, Tonia Martinez. In January, Tonia participated in MVEE at the LeaderQuest facility in Centennial, CO where she first learned of ESGR. She participated on the employer panel and the job fair. There she received an overwhelming response of candidates, In August, she attended a second MVEE event at the Pikes Peak Community College in Fort Carson, CO, again receiving an overwhelming response of candidates. This is where Tonia really began looking into volunteering with ESGR. Her experience with the volunteer staff and military personnel has been extremely rewarding. As an ex-Navy wife, stationed from 1997-2001 at the Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Tonia volunteered with the USS Grasp as a volunteer to assist the Ombudsman Program, she planned and participated in family functions with military spouses and families and loved connecting with the families through the six-month deployments. Tonia has a special insight into the challenges and stresses of military life as well as a strong desire to be connected and give back to our military personnel. In May 2014, Tonia will complete a Bachelors degree in Organization Development and a double minor, in Human Resources and Communications from Regis University. She and her boyfriend Izaak and family reside in Commerce City. Coming from a large extended family, which includes three brothers, twelve nieces and nephews and twelve great-nieces and nephews, Tonia learned an early age how to relate to others thoughtfully and compassionately. Currently employed as a Corporate Recruiter with Gonzales Consulting Services, Inc. & Resources Development Group, LLC in the Denver Tech Center, Tonia specializes in recruiting for positions with the Department of Homeland Security and GCS Security Services utilizing H2H to locate candidates. This has been extremely helpful for job placement on the public and private sector contracts. Selecting Employment Outreach as the directorate in which she will work as a coordinator, Tonia is already active in preparing to present three Patriot Awards in the month of October. Her experiences, education, and her enthusiasm and dedication are sure to make her an asset to the organization as well as making her time with ESGR personally rewarding. Continued next page...

Story written byfor ESGR Click on pictures or links websites Volunteer

Sherma Erholm

Mark Saunders retired from the active Army as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Infantry. He has recently found a new organization in which to serve his fellow military men and women and his countryESGR, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. Mark, himself, had a smooth transition from Army to civilian life. With plans and references in place before his retirement, he was immediately hired by MCI. Knowing it has not been so easy for others, it is his desire to give back by helping others with employment opportunities. When he learned about ESGR through Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) plus a personal contact by retired Colonel Nanette Mueller, a coffee meeting was arranged with State Chair retired Admiral Richard Young, and Mark became an enthusiastic volunteer. Army life was never new to Saunders. Born at Fitzsimmons Hospital in Denver, he says, Army green runs in the family. My dad and my younger brother also retired from the Army. While studying for his degree from Colorado State University, Mark joined the ROTC, and, in addition, served as an enlisted man with the 244th Engineering Battalion in Fort Collins. Named Soldier of the Year Reservist in 1964, he was recognized by the Denver Post and received a personal letter of commendation from editor and

publisher, Palmer Hoyt. Upon commissioning as a regular Army 2nd Lieutenant , he was deployed in 1966-67 to Viet Nam as rifle platoon leader, 1st Infantry Division. In 1969, he returned as a Captain, rifle company commander of the same division. Wounded, he was medevacked to Fitzsimmonshis place of birth. Mark retired as Lieutenant Colonel in 1986 after twenty years of active duty. His last job before retiring was as senior advisor to Infantry Reserve and Guard units in Indiana and Ohio. He has enjoyed the support of family, especially that of his wife, also a graduate of CSU. They were married in 1967 while he was on R&R and are parents of one son. During his service career, Mark says he dragged her all over several states and Germany, moving seventeen times. In civilian life, he is now retired, having been employed by MCI, other communications companies including Cisco Systems in various executive positions. Since he has had extensive experience in corporate as well as military life, Mark will lend knowledge and understanding in his position as ESGR's Employer Outreach Coordinator for Major Corporations . More than most, he is personally aware about the demands of military life, and is therefore able to relate to the challenges faced by veterans as well as Guard and Reserve members returning from deployment. ESGR is fortunate to be able to add him to our group of dedicated volunteers.

Story written by ESGR Volunteer Sherma Erholm

Statement of Support was presented at a meeting of Military Ministry members by ESGR volunteer Sherma Erholm. The Military Ministry of Trinity United Methodist Church was honored for their continuing support of deployed troops, both with supplying material needs and in helping with morale. They have provided numerous phone cards, care boxes, Christmas cards and presents, and have now continued such support by adopting a chaplain who serves 700 military men and women. Sherma Erholm and Clark Rheem, leader of Trinity United Methodist Church Military Ministry
Click on pictures or links for websites

They were proud to be recognized by ESGR and representatives say the certificate and presentation will have a positive impact on their ministry at the church.
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Colorado National Guard, Army Soldiers rescue more than 2,100 people displaced by massive floods

Soldiers and Airmen from the Colorado National G u a r d, along wi t h members of civilian emergency response agencies, d i st r i b ut e sandbags to overly saturated areas of Jefferson County, Colo., Sept. 15, 2013. Rescue units have evacuated thousands of people and animals in areas of Colorado that have been d e va st at ed by the record-setting flood. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Nicole Manzanares/Released)

Read More..
CENTENNIAL, Colo. (10/1/13) Approximately 650 full-time Colorado National Guard military technicians have been furloughed without pay due to the government shut down. However, National Guard support to flood relief will continue as scheduled. Read More..

Byron Bateman, Jackie Lyman

Click here for entire article

US Labor Department announces final rules to improve employment of veterans, people with disabilities. Is your company prepared? The best place to find veterans to hire for FREE is H2H.Jobs! Michelle Olson, Employment Transition Coordinator for Employment
Initiative Program

Marvin Joe Burke, Gavino Barrera

ESGR volunteer, Mark D. Hustedt presented a Patriot Award to Pinkerton Government Services. SPC Gavino Barrera (ARNG) submitted the Regional Director, Mr. Marvin Joe Burke. Mr. Burke was not aware he and his company had been nominated; always the funniest way to present an award. SPC Barrera nominated his employer for their incredible support of his 17 week basic training and his nearly no-notice one year deployment to Kuwait. He is a Blackhawk Mechanic. His civilian boss Mr. Burke is a retired Sergeant Major. And their Admin rep, Mr. Ken Venable told me that due to their security mission for the Front Range, they are nearly 50% veteran employees; awesome! Statement of Support (SoS) signing at the Castle Rock Adventist Hospital. CEO Todd Folkenberg who signed and is holding the SoS told his Veteran audience, "If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask," in reference to Veterans issues. About 2/3rds of the a tte ndee s we re ve t eran s. Standing to Todds right is ESGR volunteer, Robert Rotruck who presented the Statement of Support

For employers wondering when their employee will return to work; the following is provided to advise on that concern. Contact Colorado ESGR if you have questions or concerns.

As our Soldiers and Airmen return from the field they are receiving up to two days to recover their gear and their equipment. They will still be on State Active Duty orders for the recovery period. We are unable to confirm the current status of each Guard member or when their duty will end. However, each Guard member will receive orders documenting their duty. It is appropriate for an employer to request the order for verification. Though the drawdown of National Guard forces is widely publicized, our service to our communities is not finished. Our primary missions now are security checkpoints since there are still a large number of evacuees who are not allowed to return home due to safety and infra-structure issues. We cant express enough how important the support of employers is to the work we do. Without the outstanding support youve provided we could never helped our neighbors in northern Colorado as swiftly and effectively as we have.
================== Darin Overstreet, Capt. State Public Affairs Officer, Colorado National Guard 720-250-1050 darin.l.overstreet.mil@mail.mil

October 2013 Events Calendar

November 1 - Freedom Award Nominations Open November 6-20 Colorado. H2H Job Store Van in

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.hance@us.army.mil Michelle Olson - ETC (Employment Transition Coordinator) 720-250-1195 Michelle.k.olson@us.army.mil

November 16-20 Military Officers of America Association (MOAA) Annual Meeting - Colorado Springs

COESGR Business Office 12200 East Briarwood Avenue, Suite 160 Centennial, Co 80112

State ESGR Chair

Richard E. Young, RADM, USN (Ret)

State ESGR Vice Chair

Tom Mills, Brigadier General, CONG (Ret).

COLORADO ESGR DIRECTORS

Military Outreach
Pete CallawayDirector

EMPLOYER OUTREACH AREA CHAIRS

Boulder/Longmont
Brad Gallup

Employer Outreach
Bev Skinner - Co-director Dave Pruett - Co-director EO Coordinator, Major CorporationsMark Saunders

Colorado Springs
Mark Hustedt Mary Miller

Cortez Area
Robert Valencia

Colorado Springs Utilities, 2013 Freedom Award winner, created a video, Deployment to Employment: Valuing our Military and Veteran Employees. Click on the picture to view.

Ombudsmen
Bill Belz - Director Gary Brown - Dep. Dir.

Denver Area
Bruce Erek Rick White

Training
Lynn Albi Paula KauffmanDep. Dir.

Douglas County Area

Jimmy Graham Bob Rotruck

H2H Van is coming in November!

Grand Junction on November 6 Colorado Springs from Friday, November 8 through Friday, November 15 Denver - Buckley, AFB November 16th and 17th, then to the Federal Center, Fitzsimmons Army Reserve Force Center,

Estes Park Area Chair

Ed Acela

Special Programs
Fritz Ihrig

National Guard Liaison

Liz Kelpis

Fort Lyon/Tri County Leanne Wheeler Larimer/Weld County

Ralph Trenary

Public Affairs
Vacant - Director

then on the 21st to Cheyenne, Wyo.

Employer Initiatives
Zach Jacobsen - Co-Director

Grand Junction
Lou Brackett David Popham

National Site News and Information Join Facebook and Twitter Become a fan of Colorado ESGR

Dawanta Parks - Co-Director

Chase Dinkler - Deputy MVEE Coordinator - Jason Shireman

Pueblo
Harry Vogel

Steamboat Springs
Jim Stanko

H2H.jobs www.H2H.jobs
H2H offers valuable resources for Service members by way of hiring fairs, job training, career assessment and military skills translation.

COESGR

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Colorados 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 coloradoesgr@yahoo.com 9