Lexington Leaders Receiving Patriot Awards
Without support on the home front, soldiers can’t do their jobs in the field.
Because Total Quality Logistics Lexington took care of business back home, a pair of office leaders received Patriot Awards from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves Oct. 9.
Jeremiah F. – who will celebrate his first anniversary with TQL Oct. 13 - nominated his bosses Jesse L. and Cody M. for the recognition.
In addition to his work at TQL, Jeremiah also is a sergeant in the Kentucky Army National Guard. Among other duties during his six-plus years of service, Jeremiah did a year-long deployment to Afghanistan in 2010 and 2011, where he was a gunner on a scout truck providing convoy security.
Earlier this year he was called up for a month-long training exercise in Fort Polk, Louisiana.
“You can imagine being a broker away for a month trying to take calls,” Jeremiah said. “Not only that, they were treating it like a deployment, so there were periods of time we didn’t even have our phones.
“Jesse took care of the administrative side of my leave, making sure customers and prospects stayed in my name. Cody actually ran my book of business, taking the day-to-day operations. When I got back, it was like I hadn’t missed a day.”
That kind of teamwork and support is what the ESGR seeks, according to James Comer, Sixth Congressional District Chairman of the ESGR who presented the awards.
“The Patriot Awards are presented to employers and supervisors who have provided extra special support to our military guard and reserve over and above what is required by federal law,” Comer said.
“I don’t think it’s any coincidence Team Lexington won Best of the Best for Team Pride when something like this happens,” Jeremiah said. “It’s a pretty awesome atmosphere and everybody looks out for everybody.
“I felt like it was almost a duty of mine to let somebody know how much support I had. Cody and Jesse definitely did the hard work for me while I was gone and I definitely felt like they deserved this honor.”
Comer said they are in select company.
“The exact number of awards presented each year in Kentucky and in Lexington will vary, but (usually) it’s less than a 100 in the state and 25 in Lexington,” he said. “A couple of former recipients here in Lexington are Lexington Fayette County Chief of Police and the president of Valvoline Instant Oil Change.”
TQL has distinguished record as a military friendly company. Among other honors, TQL earned a 2014 award from the American Jobs for America’s Heroes campaign at the National Guard Association of the United States in Washington D.C. and a 2013 Seven Seals Award from the ESGR.
Want to work with a company that helps meet your military obligations? Click here to see our job postings.
