November 2014

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.

Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Department of Defenses Employer Support of the

Guard and Reserve, launch veterans hiring effort

Bill Lindsay

Denver metro area leaders and CEOs have announced

the launch of a new effort to increase the hiring of
veterans. This resolution was agreed upon at a meeting
organized by former board president of Denver Metro
Chamber of Commerce, Bill Lindsay, president of the
Benefit Group, Lockton Companies, and retired Rear
Admiral Dick Young, USN. Young chairs Colorado
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a
Department of Defense agency charged with facilitating
employment and support of past and present service
personnel. The meeting was hosted by DaVita, the 2013
recipient of DOD's highest award, the Freedom Award.

Dick Young

The Chamber board of directors in its September board meeting unanimously passed a
motion to encourage its members to make hiring veterans a priority. Subsequently, the
Chamber cooperated with ESGR in the formation of this important kick-off event.

In attendance were CEOs of a number of leading Colorado corporations including Chamber

board president Bob Deibel, owner/president of OfficeScapes, and Mike Stevens, CEO of the
Mountain States Employment Council, as well as Barbara McBride, Operations Director, and
Elaine Edon, Veterans Program Director, both from the Colorado Department of Labor and
Employment.
Mike Staffieri, DaVitas COO, welcomed the group and described some of the meaningful
efforts DaVita takes to obtain and retain their many veteran, Guard, and Reserve employees.
From Mr. Bill Lindsay, a U.S. Marine who served in Viet Nam, the attendees heard several
personal stories of why veterans make such great employees and how important it
sometimes is for employers to look outside the box in order to find that right employee.
He noted that supporting veterans returning to the workplace is not only the right thing to
do; it is smart business. He pointed out that these men and women bring disciplined,
dedicated, mission focused attitudes to their work. They also offer the diversity that many
businesses in Denver are seeking.
Continued next page.

Scott Cuthbertson, Deputy Director of the Colorado Department of Transportation, who served in the
Army for twenty-six years, also described why veterans make such good employees. He introduced
Ryan Rice who served a number of years in Iraq and Afghanistan organizing and running major
transportation systems there, and now does similar work for CDOT as Director of Transportation
Systems and Operations. "My job over there, Rice said, was a little bit more difficult as our highways
and bridges kept being blown up. Cuthbertson pointed out, It was that actual on-the-job experience
that we were looking for. And we found it in Ryan.
Admiral Young encouraged the attending CEOs and other senior executives to take the next important
steps. That is, not only to get their suppliers and business-partner companies to join in this effort, but to
get the word down their own chain of command to have their HR personnel attend a half-day
workshop hosted by DaVita on Wednesday, December 10, 2014. The purpose of this workshop will be
for HR personnel to participate and learn from others how to break down the hurdles that many
veterans face when they start to enter the civilian work place.
One CEO said I need to hire 50 people in the next several months. I want to hire veterans, as many of
them will have had the experience that I am looking for. How do I find them?
More information for employers wishing to join this effort, and to have their HR personnel attend the
December 10th half-day session, please e-mail the ESGR office at: brent.l.hamilton2ctr@gmail.com, or
call the ESGR office at 720-250-1176

The Friars Club, Lincoln Awards: A Concert for

Veterans & the Military Family will be the first
event of its kind to recognize outstanding
achievement and excellence in providing
opportunities and support to our nations
veterans and military families. It will be
presented in Washington D.C. by The Friars Foundation, the
charitable arm of the legendary Friars Club. The event will take
place over the course of two days, with honors awarded in ten
categories at a special ceremony on January 6, 2015 with an
All-Star concert, taking place on January 7, 2015 at the John F.
Kennedy Center for Performing Arts Concert Hall. The event will
be packaged for national primetime broadcast to coincide with
the March 4, 2015, 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincolns
landmark Second Inaugural Address, where he stated Americas
have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan.

Lincoln Award Winners

JUSTIN CONSTANTINE -Veteran Award
KEN FISHER - Citizen Award
JACKIE GARRICK - Public Service Award
DEAN KAMEN - Medical and Science Award
BRITNEE KINARD - Caregiver Award
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - Entertainer Award
TEAM RUBICON - Non-profit Citizen Award
WALMART - Corporate Citizen Award
KAYLA WILLIAMS - Artist Award
DICK YOUNG - Standard Bearer Award
http://www.friarsclub.com/the-lincoln-awards2014-winners/

commitment to care for him who shall

We are incredibly proud to honor this exceptional group Dr, Tommy Sowers, Veteran, visiting faculty at
Duke University and Founder/Event Chairman for The Lincoln Awards, said. Thanks to the tireless work of
our Selection Committee and our honorees, we can shine a light on the very best of the broad American
community supporting veterans and the military family.
DICK YOUNG
Recipient of the Standard Bearer Award for outstanding lifetime achievement and excellence by a
veteran in exemplifying selfless service. Now 82 and going strong, Retired Rear Admiral Young,
now serving his sixth year in the volunteer position as State Chair of the Department of Defenses
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) has been an active volunteer throughout his
entire adult life. He served 35 years in the U.S. Navy, both Active and Reserve, and was awarded
the Legion of Merit Award three times, one of the highest peacetime awards a Navy Reservist can
receive. Admiral Young received the National Navy Leagues John Paul Jones Inspirational
Leadership Award in 1988, the only Naval Reservist to ever receive the National Navy Leagues
highest award.
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At a ceremony in the Mayors office on November 12th, Colorado ESGR Chairman, Dick Young read a
Proclamation signed by Mayor Michael B. Hancock to the attendees pictured. Mayor Hancock spoke
to and thanked each of attending Guard and Reserve members for their service. The Mayor spoke
briefly about the importance of Veterans Day and getting veterans and Guard and Reserve members
hired. The Mayor was also presented with an ESGR Seven Seals Award and affirmed his commitment
to the Guard and Reserve with a signed Statement of Support.

Denver Mayor
proclaims, Denver
Veterans, Guard
and Reserve
Employment Week

WHEREAS, with 47% of our Military being in our Guard and Reserve, and who have
served admirably and effectively alongside their active duty counterparts during our
recent as well as past conflicts, they need to have a secure and meaningful civilian job to
be effective in their military service; and
WHEREAS, many service people in leaving active military service, including Guardsmen
and Reservists, face difficulties finding employment, partly because many employers do
not understand the military, and the military members, having spent much of their adult
life in the military, dont understand the civilian employment world; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Defense in 1972 created the Employer Support of the
Guard and Reserve (ESGR) to be its lead agency to work with civilian employers to
support and value the employment and military service of members of the National
Guard and Reserve; and
WHEREAS, in Denver, ESGR has helped build a coalition of governmental agencies that
have responsibilities to our military members with employment. These agencies are the
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, the Colorado National Guard, the U.S.
Department of Labor (VETS) and the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs; and
WHEREAS, over the past four years this coalition, together with many local chambers of
commerce, SHRM, veterans related organizations, non-profits, and volunteers from all
walks of life, have developed, organized, and ran meaningful and successful 3 day hiring
EXPOs that have been very effective in getting our military personnel hired; and
WHEREAS, the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce has recently passed a resolution
which adds considerable weight to these efforts, with many of its members becoming
actively involved; and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate in this week that the City and County of Denver, as does
our entire country, honor and celebrate our veterans for their loyalty and courage, these
efforts at getting our Veterans back into our civilian work force be recognized
..

NOW, THEREFORE, I, MICHAEL B. HANCOCK, MAYOR of the City and County of

Denver, by virtue of the authority vested in me, do hereby officially proclaim this week of
NOVEMBER 9-16, 2014, to be known as:
DENVER VETERANS, GUARD AND RESERVE EMPLOYMENT WEEK

Michael B. Hancock
Mayor of Denver

Pictured: Mayor Michael Hancock (Seven Seals Award) and Colorado Employer
Support of the Guard and Reserve State Chair, Richard E. Young (with proclamation)
along with attending Guard and Reserve members and Colorado ESGR volunteers.

W.J. Bradley Mortgage

Capital, LLC, hosts
customary celebrations
in recognition of each
military service
birthday.

In the year since W.J. Bradley Mortgage Capital, LLC in Centennial, Colorado
began its relationship with the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve
(ESGR) through a Statement of Support, it has quickly become a true force
for active Guard and Reserve members and veteran employees.

In addition to providing an unparalleled support for Citizen Warriors across the

services through measures such as flexible work schedules, awarded time off
prior to - and after - deployment, caring for families, and granting supportive
leaves of absence if - and when needed, W.J. Bradley (WJB) has found a
unique way, through the celebration of military service birthdays, to bring all employees together to gain a better
understanding of what it means to serve.
These celebrations give WJB a chance to acknowledge veterans and their family members, and to celebrate
those currently serving in active National Guard and Reserve roles. While the service birthday celebrations
began as very small events with limited participation, the greater Centennial-based WJB employee community
has become more involved with each celebration. While a variety of the employees currently attending the
birthday events have no previous military background themselves, they have veteran family members or friends
who have served, and the birthday celebrations provide an opportunity for them to acknowledge the service of
their loved ones. Excitingly, the ceremonies are providing a forum for recognizing veterans and for unifying an
entire workforce around principles of service, support and community.
One of these employees, is Dianna Cohoon, WJBs Director of Treasury Operations, whose father, Gilbert K.
Barber Jr., was an Air Force veteran. The celebration of the Air Force birthday in September provided her with
an unexpected and moving connection to her father who recently passed away. It allowed her to share, with
several veterans and other WJB colleagues, his Air Force photo and a small Bible issued to him as a young
airman. Dianna also shared stories about her fathers service; even showing how he marked all of his duty
stations in his small Bible, saying, he was very much God, Country, Family, in that order and wrote his duty
stations in his Bible. He never doubted his duty to his country and that Bible went all over the world with him,
representing his faith and loyalty to service.

WJB Navy veterans Paul Argo

and Chris Arias

Diannas story is a reflection of military connections throughout Corporate

America, whether through active service in the Guard and Reserves, or prior
service as a celebrated veteran. What began as a way to acknowledge
military service birthdays, turned into an opportunity to gather as a group of
like-minded professionals with one common goal. At WJB we are realizing
the strength developed through partnership. That strength is a by-product of
diverse backgrounds, life experiences, talents, skills and attributes. WJB is
grateful for their veterans and their service, and is extremely proud to have
them as members of their team and family.

(Group Marines (left to right): WJB Marine veterans Mike Loveless, Joel Delagardelle, and Mike
Danzer; Special guest and ESGR volunteer Lt Col
(ret) Dave Pruett; and WJB Marine veteran
Derek Schultz

(left to right): Craig Cooper, Al

Cooper (WWII Army CPL), and
WJB CAO Pam Cooper

Dianna Cohoon and

WJB AF veteran
Roby Roberson

(left to right): ESGR volunteers COL (ret) Pamela Martis, MAJ

(ret) Robert Castle; special guest CPL (ret) Al Cooper, CEO Bill
Bradley, WJB AF Guardsman Carla Hunstad, WJB AF Reservist
Leotis Palmer, and WJB AF veterans Eric Berry and Kyle
Lumpkin

Gilbert K. Barber Jr.

Story by J. ZOE WOOD , W.J. Bradley

NOW ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR THE

2015 SECRETARY OF DEFENSE EMPLOYER SUPPORT FREEDOM AWARD
National Guard and Reserve Members
Nominate Your Exceptional Civilian Employer for Nations Top Honor
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense office, is now accepting
nominations for the 2015 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The Freedom Award is the
Nations highest honor presented to civilian employers for exceptional support of their National Guard and
Reserve employees. ESGR encourages Guardsmen, Reservists, or family members acting on their behalf, to
submit nominations at www.FreedomAward.mil by January 19, 2015.
Guard and Reserve members comprise nearly one-half of our nations military force. They provide essential
services to maintain national security and conduct humanitarian efforts at home and abroad. The unwavering
commitment of their employers helps keep our military prepared and our Nation protected.
Every day, employers large and small work to ease the burden on those who serve by providing
workplace flexibility, career opportunities and dedicated support, said Paul Mock, ESGR National Chair.
"The Freedom Award is one way we can thank the employers that stand behind our Guardsmen,
Reservists and their families.
A Freedom Award ceremony is held in Washington, D.C. for up to 15 deserving employers each year. The
Freedom Award recognizes employers who go above and beyond in supporting members of the Guard and
Reserve from continuing benefits and healthcare during deployments, to helping with home maintenance and
sponsoring veteran hiring initiatives. Service members can thank employers for their exemplary support by
submitting a Freedom Award nomination today.
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Colorado Center for Spine Medicine

Boulder, Colorado
Dr. Greg Arends

Patriot Award and Statement of Support

Nominate Your Employer!!
Dr. Greg Arends, Founder of Colorado Center for
Spine Medicine in Boulder, provided support to his
medical supplier, Command Sergeant Major Rich
Aldeman, U.S. Army Reserve, when his drill
schedule included last minute orders and trips.
Dr. Arends is always quick to publically recognize
CSM Aldemans performance. More importantly,
when physicians demand and do not receive
quick response from their medical suppliers the
tendency is to switch providers. Instead,
Dr. Arends remained a steady customer and not
only understood but was very supportive of CSM
Aldemans absence supporting the USAR
mission.

L/R) CSM Rich Aldeman, Dr. Greg Arends, Dr. Jackie Arends

On 23 October, retired Colonel Jeff Brodeur

(ESGR), CSM Rich Adleman, and Dr. Jackie
Arends (spouse) presented a very surprised Dr.
Greg Arends the Patriot Award. He was
appreciative and very proud and quickly signed a
Statement of Support.

The support given by Dr. Arends and his practice towards me for my service has been
fantastic. They support my last minute trips, my last minute orders and are the first to
publicly recognize me. It makes life easier to be an active drilling reservist when you have the
support of a company such as this behind you!

The Patriot 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.
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Continued next page.

Larimer County Sheriffs office

Ft Collins, Colorado
Patriot Awards

Colorado Employer Support of

the Guard and Reserve (ESGR),
a Department of Defense (DoD)
office, announced that four
members of the Larimer County
Sheriffs Office were honored
today with a Patriot Award in
recognition of extraordinary
support of their employee,
Sergeant First Class (SFC)
Ryan Armagost, serving in the
National Guard. Those honored
were Sheriff Justin Smith, Cathy
Davis (Sheriff Personnel
Coordinator), Susanne Byers
(Senior Accounting Technician),
and Tim Palmer (Captain,
Division Commander, Jail
Division.)

Deputy Armagost related the following reasons for nominating these very supportive supervisors for the
Patriot Award;
Sheriff Smith has been very helpful in getting me processed for my deployment and helped me get all of
the benefits and pay that I am able to earn in my absence. He has been more than supportive of my
service, and has made this a very easy transition. Sheriff Smith has gone out of his way to assist the
National Guard in the multiple disasters that have occurred in Larimer County, which we were activated
for. He has helped us fulfill our duties to our National Guard units during these natural disasters, as well
as our Sheriffs office obligations. He has made multiple public recognitions of National Guard members,
for their service and support of Larimer County residents. He is a great leader, but especially in the way
that he sees and acknowledges all of the service that is given by both law enforcement and military
members toward our communities. I am proud to work for such a great agency and Sheriff.
Captain Palmer has been more than supportive in my service and has made this a very easy transition.
He has been supportive in past activations for flood and fire disasters in past state emergencies. He
takes into account for the military experience that I bring to the job and recognizes me for it.
Cathy Davis as the personnel coordinator and Susanne Byers who works with payroll, time keeping,
etc, have been very helpful in my processing for deployment and supportive in ensuring benefits and
pay that I will earn in my absence on deployment. They have been very supportive in my service and
have made the transition very easy.
Top picture, left to right, Cathy Davis, Sheriff Justin Smith, Susanne Byers, SFC Ryan Armagost, Captain Tim Palmer,
and James Garrett, ESGR volunteer

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Continued next page.

Citadel Security and Investigations is a

veteran owned organization that was
established in 2006. The organization has
gone above and beyond in support of their
employees who have served and are currently
serving in the U. S. Military. The number of
military employees at the current time number
fifteen and are employed in Colorado,
Missouri, North and South Dakota, and
Montana just to name a few of the states.

The Citadel Security & Investigations in Rifle, CO, specifically supervisor Joshua Hale was presented
with a Department of Defense Patriot Award for support of military employees and families. CEO Justin
Hale received and signed an ESGR Statement of Support. Joshua Hale was nominated by his
employee, U.S. Army Reserve Specialist Alfred Rankin for the following: My supervisor recognizes
the importance of my military schedule, and works to make sure I'm able to take the necessary
time off. He is very flexible when the schedule changes and is always able to fill my position
when the need arises.
Pictured left to right; Alfred Rankin, Joshua Hale holding the Patriot Award, Lou Brackett, and
CEO Justin Hale holding the signed Statement of Support.
Photo of Colorado ESGRs Initial Training for new ESGR Volunteers. Stopping by, as he often does,
to thank all those for joining ESGR was Major General Michael Edwards, Adjutant General for the
State of Colorado (Center). Along with Gen Edwards and Dick Young, Colorado ESGR Chairman,
are some of the Colorado ESGR Directors, Coordinators and Staff who participate in the half day
training. These Initial Training sessions are held about every two and a half months.

Rocky Mountain Health

Don Schneider, ESGR volunteer, Warrant Officer Frankie

Orr, Army National Guard, CEO Steve Erkenbrack, and Lou
Brackett, ESGR volunteer.

Click on graphic for website

Douglas Lumber

Pictured left to right, John Jones, owner of Douglas Lumber &

Building Supply, Inc. in Castle Rock, ESGR Volunteer Bob Rotruck
in Parker

Todays Nursery

Mitch Peterson at Todays Nursery in Castle Rock is presented with

Statement of Support by Bob Rotruck, ESGR

STAFF AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Events Calendar
November 3 - Freedom Award Nominations
Open

Brent Hamilton - Program Support Technician

720-250-1176 brent.l.hamilton2.ctr@mail.mil

November 13 - ESGR Brief, Grand Junction

Chandra Hance AST-Administrative Support Technician

720.250.1189 chandra.l.hance.ctr@mail.mil

November 15 - ESGR Brief, NOSC Denver

November 21 - MVEE Planning Committee
Mtg
November 27 - Thanksgiving Day
December 13- New volunteer initial training
and COESGR Directors Meeting

Becky Small - Employment Coordinator

720-250-1188 rsmall@a-teamsolutions.com

https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/jobs
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)

COLORADO ESGR
DIRECTORS

Military Outreach
Mary Miller - Director
Miles Montgomery - Dep. Dir.

Employer Outreach

Click on the picture above for the link for KREX TV

News Chanel 5 in Grand Junction evening news spot
(1 minute+) which aired on 11/13/14 covering an
ESGR Employer Luncheon & recognition of J.G.
Management Systems Freedom Award at the Army
National Guard Readiness Center in Grand Junction
on 11/13/14.
The spot features Jeni Brown, CFO of J.G.
Management Systems and Col. Lou Brackett, ESGR
Employer Outreach Grand Junction Area Co-chair.
ESGR reps hosting this event were Bev Skinner,
Brent Hamilton, Lou Brackett and Don Schneider.

Bev Skinner - Co-director

Dave Pruett - Co-director
EO Coordinator, Major
Corporations- Jim Jensen - Denver
Bill Price - Area Chair Coordinator

Twitter

EMPLOYER OUTREACH
AREA CHAIRS

Boulder/Longmont
Brad Gallup
Tonia Martinez

Colorado Springs
John Schutt
Bob Landry

Cortez Area
Robert Valencia

Denver Area

Bill Belz - Director

Martin Cobb - Co- Director
Aaron Lechner - Dep. Dir.
Lara Makinen - Coordinator

Bruce Erek
Rick White

Training
Lynn Albi
Paula Kauffman - Dep. Dir.

Special Programs
Kip Cheroutes - Director

National Guard Liaison

Liz Kelpis
Sandy Tiegen - Director

COESGR

Tom Mills, Brigadier General,

CONG (Ret).

Ombudsmen

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

State ESGR Vice Chair

Employer Initiatives
Robby Castle - Director
Paul Dunbar - Deputy
H2H Coordinator - Becky Small
Mentors Coordinator - Zach Jacobsen
Job Fairs Coordinator - Chase Dinkler
MVEE Coordinators - Jason Shireman
Elaine Edon
Bosslift Coordinator - Brian Bartony

Douglas County Area

Jimmy Graham
Bob Rotruck

Estes Park Area Chair

Open

Fort Lyon/Tri County

Leanne Wheeler

Larimer/Weld County
Jeanie & Brian Hand

Grand Junction
Lou Brackett
David Popham

Montrose
Emily Smith

Fred Fusselman

Pueblo
Harry Vogel
Jon Brude

Steamboat Springs
Jim Stanko

COESGR LinkedIn

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

Click on pictures or links for websites

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