November 2012

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.

TO EMPLOYERS, LARGE, SMALL, AND ALL IN BETWEEN: HOW TO SMARTLY ADD TO YOUR BOTTOM LINE

any of you are aware of the crying need to help our returning veterans, our Guard and Reserve, obtain employment.

Some of you have gone above and beyond to take on this task. And for that you are to be sincerely thanked and applauded.

But now you can not only assist helping our country by focusing on helping our military obtain employment, but at the same time, bring down your companys cost in finding those employees. READ ON.. And that is by utilizing the FREE services being offered to you now by a consortium of governmental agencies, chambers of commerce, nonprofit entities and military service groups that have banded together to make this happen.

INTERESTED?

A recent example that shows how this approach can save a company a fair amount of time and effort (i.e. internal costs) occurred when a large Colorado corporation, looking to hire some 24 new employees for one of their departments, contacted and worked with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) in finding the right veterans and Guard and Reserve personnel to fill those positions. CDLE, working with others in this consortium, preliminarily screened and found 24 who fit what the company was looking for. The company then did its own screening and testing. And then hired all 24. This meant the company did not have to run paid ads advertising for those positions; its personnel did not have to answer numerous phone calls or e-mails inquiring about the positions; it did not have to pay to have a table at the numerous typical job fairs or to send several of their employees to sit at the table and collect resumes. The HR department did not have to spend time searching through hundreds of resumes looking for the right fit. The company was able to screen, then meet with, interview and test just those that fit the companys profile and needs.

It worked!! The company saved a significant amount of money in finding and hiring these
24.
(Continued next page)
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TO EMPLOYERS, LARGE, SMALL, AND ALL INBETWEEN: HOW TO SMARTLY ADD TO YOUR BOTTOM LINE
Continued. Another way for you, the CEO, to bring additional money down to your bottom line, is this. Dont feel obligated for patriotic reasons to send several employees to run of the mill job fairs, or hiring fairs. At these events, few if any, veterans are hired and they experience the event as just simply the passing of resumes, which are then seldom looked at. Instead, have your company sign up and attend what our consortium calls a Military and Veterans Employment EXPO (MVEE) at no cost to your company. The first two days of an MVEE are directed solely at the veteran, the Guard and Reserve, active duty about to be discharged, where they are offered a whole series of classes that prepare them to obtain employment. The best instructors in Colorado teach these courses (they volunteer their time). In addition, volunteer mentors, many provided by Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) and from the HR departments of corporations, are there to provide individual counseling to all attendees who wish it. Computers and printers are provided so the attendee can modify or redraft his resume after learning how it needs to be improved. Employers attend on the third day, but only employers who have real jobs to offer and who bring their hiring authority with them. There is absolutely no cost to the company, a list of companies attending is available online beforehand and attendees (registered on-line well before the event) can research the companies they are interested in talking to. Our next MVEE, being planned by CDLE, ESGR, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, several chambers of commerce, SHRM, DOL(VETS) and numerous other nonprofit and service organizations is Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, January 16, 17, and 18, 2013, at the Leader Quest Building, 6825 South Galina Street, Centennial, Colorado. Sessions start at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday, those attendees who have successfully completed the first two days of training, get to go in first to meet the employers, starting at 9 a.m. Then, at 11 a.m. all veterans, active duty, and Guard and Reserve, may attend, as may spouses.

All may start registering now on line for this MVEE at www.mvee.org. There you register either as an Attendee, a company with jobs , or as a Volunteer to help with the three days (we have usually over 100 Volunteers active in putting on this type of event). To learn more about taking advantage of these services, please e-mail Andrew Murray at CDLE (AMurphy@co.arapahoe.co.us) or Michelle Olson at ESGR (michelle.k.olson@us.army.mil). And if you dont get a prompt satisfactory response, please e-mail Dick Young, State Chair of ESGR, at dickyoung123@gmail.com

Welcome to our newest Colorado ESGR Staff member Michelle Olson, Employment Transition Coordinator
Michelle Olson has joined the ESGR staff team as an Employment Transition Coordinator. Her role is to help service members and family members get jobs with resume writing, how to market themselves to employers on H2H.Jobs, as well as making relationships with employers to match the job seeker with employers. Before working with ESGR, Michelle served in the Family Program Office of the Colorado National Guard starting in 2010 with the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program where she helped lead the team to have outstanding planning, coordination and execution of pre, during, and post deployment events. These events showed her strong ability to develop and maintain relationships of external agencies to assist in providing service member knowledge and access to resources and benefits. Michelle previously worked with the non-profit, The Christian and Missionary Alliance in human resources and event coordination. She holds a BS in Organizational Management and Human Resources from Colorado Christian University. Michelle began her experience and passion with the military with her high school sweetheart and husband, Blake. She has been supporting him since the beginning of his military service; from basic training, state missions, and deployments with OIF, with 15 years in the Army National Guard.

Upon being nominated by SSG Stephanie Boyle, USAR (on left) a Patriot Award was presented to Vice President Lori Taylor 2nd from right) & her Manager Heather Holliday-Smith, all of Oppenheimer Funds, Centennial. They were both very supportive & understanding of her military duties, even on short notice. They are both interested in her military career, kept in contact, & made her return easy. Presenting the award for ESGR is volunteer Rob Scofield, CAPT (Ret.) USN (2nd from left)

SPC Nataly Clapp, USAR (on left), nominated her Supervisor, Shannon Knight, of Chase Consumer Banking in Centennial. Shannon was very helpful in preparing Nataly for a one-year deployment, navigating the paperwork, reassuring her that her job would be waiting for her, keeping in touch during the deployment & helping with her return.

Pictures by ESGR Volunteers.

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve volunteer Lou Brackett (center) for the Colorado ESGR presented to Montrose Cherry Creek Radio, General Manager, Paul Orlando (left) with a prestigious ESGR Patriot Award. Mr. Orlando, pictured on the left received the award for above and beyond support of his employee, Justin Lee who is currently serving in the Colorado National Guard. In his nomination Justin stated, I am a salesman for a small town radio station. Every time I leave, my boss has to see to it that someone covers my accounts, or he will cover my accounts. He is totally supportive of me serving in the National Guard. Not too mention it effects this small station's profitability in a noticeable way. It is a huge sacrifice for our radio station to lose one person, but every one here especially my boss doesn't complain and supports me in a big way. Also he still pays me even while I'm gone away at training! Even on our small budget! I am so appreciative of how these patriots serve their community like this and support me in how I serve. I've been in for almost 12 years now and have not seen a level of dedication like this. My boss deserves to be noticed along with my fellow employees. Brian Jost,(center) of Newmont Mining Corporation, was presented the Patriot Award from Employer Support of the Guard (ESGR) recognizing his outstanding support of valued employee, Michelle Buchanan (left), who also serves our country as Second Lieutenant Michelle J. Buchanan, United States Army Reserve. Newmont Mining is proud to be known as a company which strives to hire and support veterans as well as current service members. The award was presented by ESGR volunteer, Adam Smith (right). Jost was nominated by Buchanan for his superior support of her service commitment. Upon her receiving a direct commission into the USAR, she was honored with a surprise congratulations celebration. Then when ordered to report for Basic Officers' Leadership Course, Buchanan credited Jost and Newmont Mining with encouragement in planning for her transition, insuring job retention with continuation of salary and benefits. She said she was never once treated as a burden, adding, I feel so blessed to have such a supportive employer. A Patriot Award presentation was made at the Colorado Department of Local Affairs. Julianna Nelson, Army National Guard nominated her supervisor, Susan Niner. Julianne is currently serving in Kuwait. Here is what she said: "I would like the award presented to them while I am deployed to let them know I truly appreciate their hard work. My employer had to hire a temp to replace me, and my co-workers had to take on extra while I am away. I want the entire team to know I am grateful, and the award should go to everyone. Please tell them I consider them an awesome team."
Pictured from left: to right; ESGR Volunteers Mark Hurst, Paula Kauffman, Reeves Brown, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Susan Niner, Supervisor, Division of Housing, and Pat Coyle, Director, Division of Housing. An ESGR Patriot Award formally recognizes employers and their representatives who provide exceptional support to their employees who are members of the Reserve Components of the U.S. Military, employers who often go well beyond the support for Guard and Reserve member-employees as required by federal law. Pictures by ESGR Volunteers. 4

Dr. Michael Moroni, DDS, of Mirage Dental Associates signed a Statement of Support in his office in Castle Rock. Dr. Moroni is a veteran of the US Navy and lives in Castle Rock with his wife and three children. Pictured with Dr. Moroni is associate, Dr. Amanda Hudec, DMD.

SoS Signing Ceremonies

Professionals in Dentistry Colorado Springs

Dr. Ryan D. Baros, left and Delos Howard, ESGR Volunteer

The Defense Institute, Colorado Springs. Pictured from

left, John Petrone, Vice-President and Delos Howard, ESGR Volunteer.

Pictures by ESGR Volunteers.

2013 - ESGR January Military Veterans Employment Expo

A new Military and Veterans Employment Expo will be held January 16, 17, & 18, 2013 at Leader Quest Building, 6825 South Galena Street, Centennial, CO 80112. MVEEnot the usual job fair, but a different and more efficient way for employers to find uniquely qualified employees, and for our military service personnel to find suitable jobs! MVEE is a collaborative effort, coordinated by Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve along with the Colorado National Guard, the Department of Labor, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and including a number of non-profit groups and government entities. This cooperation brings a concentrated effort by all these groups, at one time and place, to put real people in touch with real jobs rather than having numerous, discouraging job fairs where time and effort is spent both by job seekers and by employers, resumes are presented and collected, and not much really happens. Job seekers here are well prepared and focused on their capabilities, having been offered two days of intensive training to hone their skills at presenting themselves and what they have to offer. The third day is devoted to the job fair itself. Previous MVEE's have proven quite successful: employers impressed with the quality of potential employees; military personnel and veterans feeling they were given real opportunities; a large number of follow-up interviews scheduled; even some on-the-spot hires! Employers who have actual job openings and can bring hiring authority to the Expo, you are invited to participate January 18, meeting and talking with active duty military, veterans and spouses who are seeking employment. For more information, visit our web site www.mvee.org.

The Job Fair is FREE; no cost to employers. If you have current openings, please register at www.mvee.org.
Jan. 16, 17 and 18, 2013. Leader Quest building 6825 S. Galena Street Centennial, 80112.

ESGR ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR 2013 SECRETARY OF DEFENSE EMPLOYER SUPPORT FREEDOM AWARD

Guardsmen and Reservists Encouraged to Nominate Supportive Employers for Nations Top Honor ARLINGTON, Va. Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense agency, is now accepting nominations for the 2013 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The Freedom Award is the Department of Defenses highest award presented to civilian employers for support of their employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve. Nominations may be submitted by Guardsmen, Reservists, or family members acting on their behalf, at www.FreedomAward.mil through January 21, 2013. Nearly one million Americans serve in the Guard and Reserve, making up almost one-half of the nations total military. For more than 10 years, these Citizen Warriors have responded to unprecedented national security demands and humanitarian missions spanning the globe. The civilian employers of Guardsmen and Reservists have shared in their service to our nation by standing firmly behind employees, providing essential support and greater peace of mind. "Employers of every size and industry continue to go to extraordinary lengths to demonstrate their unwavering commitment to employees serving in the Guard and Reserve," said James G. Rebholz, National Chair, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. "I urge all Guard and Reserve Service members who have benefited from their employer's support to nominate that employer for this most prestigious award. A Freedom Award nomination allows service members to acknowledge and thank their employer for the essential role they play in supporting their military career and in our nation's defense."

Click here for Flyer!

Please post a Freedom Award flyer on your company bulletin board For your Employee/Service members to view.

Each year, up to 15 of the nations most supportive employers are selected as recipients and honored at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. Past Freedom Award recipients supportive measures have included arranging childcare services for deployed employees, sponsoring trips to visit injured employees, and working longer hours to cover the shifts of employees at military training.

About ESGR and the Freedom Award: The Freedom Award was instituted in 1996 under the auspices of ESGR to recognize exceptional support from the employer community. In the years since, 175 employers have been honoured with the award. Established as a DoD agency 40 years ago, ESGR develops and maintains employer support for Guard and Reserve service. ESGR advocates relevant initiatives, recognizes outstanding support, increases awareness of applicable laws, and resolves conflict between service members and employers. 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 questions or interviews regarding the Freedom Award, please contact our local ESGR office listed on the last page of this newsletter or Beth Sherman, ESGR Public Affairs, at 571-372-0705 or by email at ESGR-PA@osd.mil.

Review Process and Nominate Here!

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http://www.classesandcareers.com/advisor/what-you-wish-youd-knownbefore-your-job-interview/

Common nonverbal mistakes made at a job interview

From a survey of 2000 bosses: 21% Playing with hair or touching face 47% Having little or no knowledge of the company 67% Failure to make eye contact 38% Lack of smile 33% Bad posture 21% Crossing arms over their chest 9% Using too many hand gestures 26% Handshake that is too weak

33% Fidgeting too much

Things that have an impact on first impression

Statistics show that when meeting new people the impact is: 7% from what they actually say 38% the quality of our voice, grammar, and overall confidence

55% The way we dress, act, and walk through the door
Clothes

Is how you dress important? 65% of bosses said clothes could be a deciding factor between two similar candidates. So, how should you look during an interview? 70% of employers claim they dont want applicants to be fashionable or trendy. You may also want to stay away from bright colors since they are typically a turnoff.

Top ten most common mistakes made at a job interview 1. Over-explaining why you lost your last job 2. Conveying that youre not over it 3. Lacking humor, warmth, or personality 4. Not showing enough interest or enthusiasm 5. Inadequate research about a potential employer 6. Concentrating too much on what you want 7. Trying to be all things to all people 8. Winging the interview 9. Failing to set yourself apart from other candidates
10. Failing to ask for the job

Most Common Interview Tips 1. Learn about the organization 2. Have a specific job in mind 3. Review your qualifications for the job 4. Be ready to briefly describe your experience 5 Questions most likely to be asked 1. Tell me about your experience at ______. 2. Why do you want to work for us? 3. What do you know about our company? 4. Why did you leave your last job? 5. Tell me about yourself

About The Author

Patrick Ritter is a 30-year veteran of management consulting in America, Asia, and Europe who discovered a love of writing many years ago.

November 2012
NOVEMBER Freedom Award Nominations begin Volunteer of the Year nominations New Volunteer Training Air Force Academy Bosslift DECEMBER HQ ESGR Outreach Subcommittee Meeting Volunteer of the Year nominations due

Click on pictures or links for websites STAFF AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Bob Quinn - PST (Program Support Technician) 720-250-1176 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

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COESGR Business Office 12200 East Briarwood Avenue, Suite 160 Centennial, Co 80112
FAX: 720.250.1199

State ESGR Chair

Richard E. Young, RADM, USN (Ret) dickyoung123@gmail.com COLORADO ESGR DIRECTORS Military Outreach Mary Rathje - Co-director mkrathje@aol.com Joe Ely- Co-director elytj@aol.com Employer Outreach Bev Skinner - Co-director jtsbbs@gmail.com Dave Pruett - Co-director PruettDE@comcast.net Ombudsmen Bill Belz ewbii@msn.com Gary Brown - Deputy

State ESGR Vice Chair

Tom Mills, Brigadier General, CONG (Ret). meels52@msn.com EMPLOYER OUTREACH AREA CHAIRS Boulder/Longmont Rebecca Sogn rlregan@me.com Colorado Springs Mark Hustedt rockymtnfun@gmail.com Mary Miller mary.miller3@us.army.mil Cortez Area Robert Valencia relampagosvt@msn.com Denver Area South Paula Kauffman paula1299@aol.com Denver Area North Michael Mitchel michael@oc-consulting.com Douglas County Area Lorin Ricker Lorin@RickerNet.us Estes Park Area Chair Ed Acela

JANUARY 16-18 Military Veterans Employment Expo. Centennial, CO 21 Freedom Award nomination period ends.

Employers
Post your jobs for FREE and find military trained talent! Learn More.

hongrb24@gmail.com
Training Lynn Albi lynnalbi@aol.com Special Programs Kip Cheroutes kcheroutes@ Emgacommunications.com National Guard Liaison Robert Balster, BrigGen,USA robert.balster@us.army.mil

Fraudman@yahoo.com
Fort Collins Ralph Trenary trenaryr3@gmail.com Grand Junction Lou Brackett patriot08@bresnan.net Pueblo Harry Vogel hotspot58@cs.com

National Site News and Information

Public Affairs Iris Fontera IFontera@aol.com Kelly Mazezka - Deputy Kelly@kellymaze.com Employer Initiative Program Director

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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 esgrcolorado@yahoo.com 9