EASTON, Pa. – Pennsylvania Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an office of the Department of Defense, announced that a CryoConcepts leadership team recently received Patriot Awards in recognition of extraordinary support of employees serving in the 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.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sam Niedbala, Chief Operating Officer (COO) Mike Formica, Vice President (VP) of Sales Ken Stoner, and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Bill Hinchey were nominated for the Patriot Award by Lt. Col. Douglas Gavin who is a member of the U.S. Army’s 99th Readiness Command stationed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey.

In nominating CryoConcepts’ leadership team, Lt. Col. Gavin stated: “Each member of the senior management team has been highly supportive of me and my active Army Reserve career. They value my role in the Army Reserve and recognize my participation in the service of our country and status as a Veteran.”

Joe Gentile, Pennsylvania ESGR East–Central Area Chair presented the Patriot Awards to CryoConcepts leadership team. Gentile 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.” Gentile added: “Today’s members of the Guard and Reserves are highly trained and skilled; they bring integrity, a global perspective and, proven leadership to the civilian workforce.”

In addition to presenting a Patriot Award, Gentile obtained a Statement of Support from CEO Niedbala. The Statement of Support confirms that the company joins other employers in pledging:

• We fully recognize, honor, and comply with the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act (USERRA).
• We will provide our managers and supervisors with the tools they need to effectively manage employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve.
• We appreciate the values, leadership and unique skills service members bring to the workforce and will encourage opportunities to hire Guardsmen, Reservists and Veterans.
• We will continually recognize and support our country’s service members and their families, in peace, in crises and in war.

“Today, supportive employers are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation’s Guard and Reserve units,” said Gentile. “I am asking all East–Central Pennsylvania employers to take a look at their current human resources policies to incorporate policies supportive of Guard and Reserve employees.” Many Pennsylvania employers provide support above and beyond their legal requirements by law and offer pay-differential to offset the loss of wages, and extension of health care benefits, which complement coverage provided by the military, when their employees mobilize.”

CryoConcepts joins a cadre of Fortune 500 companies, state and federal, agencies and thousands of America’s employers in demonstrating support for our armed forces. Gentile added: “By signing the Statement of Support, CryoConcepts is sending a clear message to its employees that while they are serving their country, they do not have to worry about their civilian jobs.”

ESGR, a Department of Defense office, 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/PA

Photo #1 (L–R): Patriot Award recipients COO Formica and CMO Hinchey, Lt. Co. Gavin, Patriot Award recipients VP of Sales Stoner and CEO Niedbala, and Gentile ESGR Area Chair Gentile.

Photo #2: CryoConcepts employees join Patriot Award recipient Hinchey, ESGR Area Chair Gentile, and Patriot Award recipient Formica.