More than 450 top business and military personnel attended the annual event which recognizes employers who have provided exceptional support for the men and women who serve in the Guard and Reserves. The winners were chosen from a pool of more than 300 nominations by Guard and Reserve members who felt their employers had gone “above and beyond” their obligations in supporting themselves and their families.
The awards presentation began at 7:30 p.m. as Best Buy CEO Brad Anderson signed a Statement of Support demonstrating his company’s commitment to their employees who serve in the Guard and Reserves . During the preceding social hour all companies in attendance were invited to sign their own Statements of Support. Governor Pawlenty was the keynote speaker and he also assisted the ESGR State Chair Paul Monteen in presenting the awards. KARE 11’s Joe Fryer was the Master of Ceremonies for the event.
The Office of Minnesota Attorney General, C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. and Best and Flanagan, LLP were presented the “Pro Patria Award”. The Pro Patria Award is the highest level Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) award that can be presented by individual state ESGR Field Committees.
The “Above and Beyond Award” is presented in recognition of employers who have gone above and beyond the legal requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. Winners of this award included: Alliant Techsystems Inc, Ameriprise Financial, ASAS/Tysol Inc, BAE Systems, Business Automation Specialists of MN Inc, Caribou Coffee, General Dynamics Aviation Services, GFW Schools, Kraus-Anderson Construction Company, Lockheed Martin, Minnesota Correctional Facility-Red Wing, McLane Minnesota, Miracle Express Inc, Minnesota Extended Treatment Options, Minnesota Security Hospital, Mortenson Construction, Qwest Communications, Sister Group Home, St. Paul Fire Department, Symantec Corporation, Target Corporation, University of Minnesota One Stop Student Services, and US Bank.
The MN ESGR committee presented a “Special Recognition Award” to three organizations that do not employ Guard and Reserve members, however they’ve gone out of their way to support Guard and Reserve members in various ways. They include: The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Twin Cities TPC “Birdies for the Brave” and “Tee it up for the Troops.”
Governor Pawlenty also presented the first quarter winner of the “Recognition of Spouse’s Employer Award” (R.O.S.E. Award), to Sit Investment Associates, Inc. in Minneapolis. This is the first year of the R.O.S.E. Award, which is designed to recognize those Employers of military spouses who go the extra mile.