Plymouth - Minn. Army Sgt Abbey Rivers of the Minnesota Army National Guard presented the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Patriotic Employer Award to her supervisor, Zach Spicer, at Stretch Labs. The award was given to honor him in recognition of his support for her service to the Minnesota National Guard. Rivers stated in her award submission "Zach is a strong leader within the upper management team at Stretch Labs and never complains while she is gone and even covers the extra shifts. He understands the importance of her being focused during her time away and supports her career progression which makes it far easier to serve she said.

Rivers stated that her supervisors have always been supportive and understanding of her having military duty obligations even when she must leave due to unforeseen circumstances. They are incredibly supportive of her service and understanding of how important her serving is for her. They openly state just how proud they are of her accomplishment within the National Guard.

An employee serving in the National Guard or Reserve, or the spouse of a National Guard or Military Reserve member, may nominate individual supervisors for the Patriotic Employer Award for support provided directly to the nominating Servicemember and his or her family. The Patriotic Employer Award reflects the efforts made to support citizen warriors through a wide range of measures including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families, and granting leaves of absence if needed.
Also present was Dr. Everett Doolittle, an ESGR Ombudsman and Minnesota Committee member. ESGR is a Defense office that develops and promotes supportive work environments for service members in the National Guard and Reserve through outreach, recognition, and educational opportunities that increase awareness of applicable laws. ESGR also provides assistance in resolving conflicts between Service members and their employers. For more information about ESGR outreach programs or volunteer opportunities, call (800) 336-4590 or visit www.ESGR.mil.
Photo left right: SGT Abbey Rivers, Manager Zach Spicer, and ESGR Everett Doolittle