Four Toshiba America Business Solutions team members including the company’s president and chief executive officer, Larry White, received the Department of Defense Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Patriot Award.
Toshiba senior technical service specialist and former U.S. Army Reservist Jeff Smith presented staff members Steve Tungate, Kenny Hiteman, Darryl Elmer as well as company leader White with the venerable Department of Defense ESGR honour. Guard and Reserve members nominate supervisors for this honour to recognise exceptional support provided to themselves and their families during their time of military service.
Smith retired from the U.S. Army Reserve on 30 March after an impressive 41½ years of service. He holds the rank of first sergeant and is joined in the military by his wife who has 32 years of service in the armed forces. Moreover, Smith has been resolving Toshiba clients’ technical questions for 25 years in his valued role in the Toshiba support organisation. Upon presenting the Patriot Award, he thanked company officials as well as fellow technical service team members for allowing him the flexibility to serve his country while working at Toshiba.
“The Patriot Award was created to publicly recognise individuals such as Larry White, Steve Tungate, Kenny Hiteman and Darryl Elmer – leaders who provide outstanding patriotic support and cooperation for employees like Army Reservist Jeff Smith who have answered their nation’s call to serve,” said ESGR California State Chair Richard Stage. “Such supportive company management is essential to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation’s Guard and Reserve units.”
“Receiving the Patriot Award is one of the most prestigious honours I have ever won,” stated White. “We’re all humbled to receive it. Supporting Jeff as well as other Guard and Reserve members here at Toshiba is the very least we can do for those who protect and serve our country with distinction.”
ESGR, a Department of Defense programme, was established in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component Service members and their civilian employers and to assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee’s military commitment. ESGR is supported by a network of more than 3,000 volunteers in 54 committees located across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam-CNMI (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands), Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Volunteers, hailing from small business and industry, government, education, and prior military service, bring a vast wealth of experience to assist in serving employers, service members, and their families. Together with Headquarters ESGR staff and a small cadre of support staff for each State Committee, volunteers work to promote and enhance employer support for military service in the Guard and Reserve.
