May 13, 2024 (AMES) – Four employees at Optimae LifeServices have received the Patriot Award from the Iowa Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense office. The award recognizes above-and-beyond support of employees who participate in the National Guard and Reserve Force.
Sergeant Juan Espino Gutierrez, who serves as a direct support professional in Optimae’s central Iowa region, nominated his supervisors for the award. Award recipients were Meghan Foster (chief operating officer of central Iowa services), Ashley Lierow (service coordinator), Clare Davis (program coordinator) and Jes DeMaris (program director).
Jim Freese, ESGR volunteer, presented the award during a brief ceremony at Optimae’s office in Ames. Following the presentation, Sgt. Gutierrez offered a few words:
“This employer fully understands my military responsibilities. For example, they adjust their schedule to accommodate my military obligations; they check on my well-being while I’m gone; and they give me extra days off following the military duty so I can recover. They make me feel I’m family knowing my actual family is 1,000 miles away. For example, when I lost a friend and fellow soldier through suicide this company was there when I needed someone. This company is an exceptional workplace that goes beyond professional commitments. They foster a culture of flexibility that supports work/life balance. They truly care about the well-being of their employees and I am proud to be a part of this organization.”
“Supportive employers like Optimae LifeServices are vital to the success of our mission and the defense of this nation,” said Becky Coady, Iowa ESGR state chair. “Our Guard and Reserve members could not perform their military duty without knowing their civilian employers support them 100%.”
An employee serving in the National Guard or Reserve, or a spouse of a Guard or Reserve member, may nominate individual supervisors for support provided directly to the nominating Service member and his or her family. The awards reflect 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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