BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Andy Klapperick of GN ReSound in Bloomington received the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Patriotic Employer Award recently. Klapperick was nominated by Chief Petty Officer Kyle Carlson and ESGR-MN Volunteer Christie Nixon presented the award.

Carlson has been a logistics specialist at the Naval Reserve Center, Minneapolis for four years. He served four years on active duty with the Navy, assigned to San Diego based units for most of that duty time. Carlson’s commander, Cmdr. John Stump III, also attended the award ceremony and expressed his appreciation for the company’s and Klapperick’s support of Carlson’s Navy Reserve service.

Carlson is a Buyer for GN ReSound, an international company that manufactures and distributes hearing aids and other audio technology. Andy Klapperick, the Director of Planning and Purchasing, has been his supervisor for the three years that Carlson has been with the company. Carlson expressed appreciation for Klapperick’s flexibility with scheduling when military obligations were frequent and short notice, particularly last fall during the 12-week period when he had extra training and responsibilities associated with his promotion to chief petty officer.

A large group of GN ReSound employees attended the ceremony, including many veterans. Navy Veteran John Pettus, vice president of government services, described his own path into the company after active duty, and the way his service prepared him for his corporate role.

ESGR is a Department of Defense program which 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. For more information about ESGR outreach programs or volunteer opportunities, call (800) 336-4590 or visit www.ESGR.mil.

Photo credits to Michael Ludescher, GN ReSound

Photo 1: Award ceremony participants and Veteran employees of GN ReSound. From left: Mike Schwarzhoff, Army veteran; Cmdr. John Stump, Commanding Officer, Navy Operational Support Center Minneapolis; Andy Klapperick, Patriotic Employer Award Recipient; Chief Petty Officer Kyle, Carlson; Ashley Chatman, Air Force Veteran; John Pettus, Navy Veteran; Christie Nixon, ESGR Volunteer and Army Retiree; Eric Serrano, Air Force Veteran.

Photo 2: Andy Klapperick, GN ReSound and ESGR Volunteer Christie Nixon