PHILADELPHIA – Pennsylvania Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense program, announced that Common Grounds Workplace recently received a Patriot Award in recognition of extraordinary support of employees serving in the Pennsylvania Guard and Reserve.
Pennsylvania ESGR is particularly proud to present employers with a Patriot Award for their strong support of their employees serving in our nation’s Reserve forces during ESGR’s 50th Anniversary year.
Common Grounds Workplace’s National Sales Manager Brian Caputo was nominated for the Patriot Award by Spc. Jessica Imani who is the company’s sales manager in Long Beach, California and is a member of the Army Reserve in Bell Gardens, California.
In nominating Caputo, Imani stated, in part: “As my supervisor, Brian has made it possible to find success both as a civilian professional and as a soldier. Common Grounds Workplace has been forward thinking and patient, always willing to learn with me as I’ve navigated unusual (Reserve) training schedules, duties, and stressor. They have enlisted multiple resources to make sure they are knowledgeable about my (military) requirements. Brian has put a lot of time and effort to organize operations around my military schedule. He fosters confidence in both aspects of my military and civilian careers and makes sure that I can thrive as an employee while being a responsible dedicated soldier.”
Pennsylvania State Chair Emeritus and Southeastern Area ESGR Wes Craig presented the Patriot Award to Caputo. In presenting the awards, Craig commented: “It’s critical and an honor to recognize and pay tribute to those employers that hire and support our Guard and Reserve forces. It would be difficult for those in the uniformed services to perform their mission without employer support.” Upon receiving the award, Caputo mentioned that the company has several other employees in the Guard and Reserve forces.
ESGR, a Department of Defense program, 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.
For more information about ESGR Outreach Programs, or ESGR volunteer opportunities, please call 1-800-336-4590 or visit www.ESGR.mil.