COESGR Newsletter February 2015

Welcome to Colorado ESGR. Our purpose is to have an informative newsletter that will educate, inform,

and promote service by and to ESGR while fulfilling our mission of supporting Employers, Guard/Reserve

members, Military and Veteran Employment Initiatives and our COESGR Volunteers.

February 2015

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(DENVER) -- At an awards ceremony last December, the

Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE)

recognized Hilton Worldwide for its partnership with the agency

that will provide veterans with hotel accommodations when they

are traveling for job interviews or attending training. The

program, called the CDLE Hilton HHonors Military Program, is

already in place in several states. It formally launches in

Colorado at Hilton hotels in Colorado Springs.

Over the next few years, more than one million men and

women will be discharged from the military. A 2014 study by

Blue Star Families, a nonprofit organization that addresses their

challenges, reports that “finding adequate employment is

frequently named as a top concern among service members

transitioning from military to civilian life.” Younger veterans

who served post-9/11 – and there are approximately 130,600 of

them in Colorado’s labor force -- continue to face higher

unemployment rates.

Hilton Worldwide helps veterans seeking jobsHilton Worldwide helps veterans seeking jobs

Photo: The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment

(CDLE) and the National Veterans Training Institute (NVTI) pre-

sent a certificate of appreciation to the DoubleTree by Hilton Den-

ver for its commitment to veterans. NVTI has conducted training

for veterans at the hotel since 1999. Left to right are Bill Dowling,

Director of CDLE's Division of Employment and Training; Allen

Paty, General Manager of the DoubleTree by Hilton Denver; and

Vaune Shelbourn, Director of the National Veterans Training In-

stitute.

Story line also reported in the Colorado Springs Business Journal at http://csbj.com/2014/12/08/hilton-helps-veterans-

seeking-jobs/

The Department of Labor and Employment’s staff of Veterans Representatives (who are themselves veterans) work to connect

veterans with job opportunities and to provide them with vocational and career guidance and referrals to a wide variety of

supportive services and training programs.

“Overcoming barriers is our specialty,” says Department of Labor and Employment Executive Director Ellen Golombek,

“and thanks to the generosity of Hilton Worldwide, our Veterans Representatives can now help veterans even further

in their job search activities. Hilton has a great military friendly reputation and it is helping veterans knock down

some of the financial barriers that they encounter when trying to enter, navigate and advance in jobs here in

Colorado.”

Read more here:Read more here:

Continued next page…….

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http://www.ryland.com/pages/163-denver-for-all-who-serve.html

This will be the second year that ESGR has co-hosted and co-organized the Success Fair portion of the Veterans Appreciation Breakfast. Becky Small is the ESGR coordinator for the Success Fair. [email protected]

(Zoom page if unreadable.)

9th ANNUAL VETERANS APPRECIATION

Posted by Kim DeCoste (Denver Southeast) [email protected]

Save the Date! April 18, 2015

The 9th Annual Veteran’s Appreciation Breakfast is

coming on April 18, 2015 at the Wings Over the Rockies

Air and Space Museum:

Organized by Denver Area Rotary Clubs & Colorado

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (COESGR) and Co-hosted

By Denver Southeast Rotary & COESGR

Free hot breakfast for the first 500 Veterans who register.

The program is from 08:30 - 10:00 and features Navy SEAL John Choate

& Arlington Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Sentinel, Thomas Tudor.

There is also a Success Fair for Veterans from 10:00 - 12:00.

Honorary Chairs: Senators Hank Brown, Michael Bennet, and Corey

Gardner, and Congressman Mike Coffman.

Master of Ceremonies: Marty Coniglio, 9News

Registration begins February 10 at www.SuccessForVeterans.org

Questions: email: [email protected]

5 (Zoom page if unreadable.)

Our employment coordinator, Rebecca Small has a new email:

[email protected]

Open pdf

[email protected]

The Patriot Award honors supervisors for their superior support of Guard and Reserve employees. The Patriot Award honors supervisors for their superior support of Guard and Reserve employees.

Nominations must come from a Guard or Reserve member or a family member. Nominated Nominations must come from a Guard or Reserve member or a family member. Nominated

employers receive a certificate of recognition and a lapel pin.employers receive a certificate of recognition and a lapel pin.

Eric Tostado (left) presented his supervisor Rick Pates with an ESGR Patriot Award at Austin.

Hardwoods of Denver. A Statement of Support was also presented and signed.

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Calvin Weatherly, Francise Owner of the Egg & I Calvin Weatherly, Francise Owner of the Egg & I

restaurant in Castle Rock presented with a Statement of restaurant in Castle Rock presented with a Statement of

Support by ESGR volunteer Bob Rotruck.Support by ESGR volunteer Bob Rotruck.

Colorado’s Supporting Employers

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Tom Calhoun, Broker, RE/Max Alliance in Castle Rock presented Tom Calhoun, Broker, RE/Max Alliance in Castle Rock presented

with a Statement of Support by ESGR volunteer Bob Rotruck.with a Statement of Support by ESGR volunteer Bob Rotruck.

Tom Schopfer, General Manager of Village Inn Restaurant in Tom Schopfer, General Manager of Village Inn Restaurant in

Castle Rock presented with a Statement of Support by ESGR Castle Rock presented with a Statement of Support by ESGR

volunteer Bob Rotruck.volunteer Bob Rotruck.

David Linger, Practice Manager, University of Colorado David Linger, Practice Manager, University of Colorado

Health in Lonetree presented with a Statement of Support Health in Lonetree presented with a Statement of Support

by ESGR volunteer Bob Rotruck.by ESGR volunteer Bob Rotruck.

Click on pictures or links for websites

STAFF AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Brent Hamilton - Program Support Technician

720-250-1176 [email protected]

Chandra Hance – AST-Administrative Support Technician 720.250.1189 [email protected]

Becky Small - Employment Coordinator

720-250-1188 [email protected]

https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/jobs

COESGR Business Office

12200 East Briarwood Avenue, Suite 160

Centennial, Co 80112 FAX: 720.250.1199

State ESGR Vice Chair Tom Mills, Brigadier General,

CONG (Ret).

EMPLOYER OUTREACH AREA CHAIRS

Boulder Tonia Martinez

Colorado Springs Mark Lilevjen Bob Landry

Cortez Area Robert Valencia

Denver Area Bruce Erek Rick White

Douglas County Area

Bob Rotruck

Estes Park Area Chair Open

Fort Lyon/Tri County Leanne Wheeler

Larimer/Weld County Jeanie & Brian Hand

Longmont vacant

Grand Junction Lou Brackett Bret Mixon

Montrose Emily Smith

Fred Fusselman

Pueblo Harry Vogel

Jon Brude

Steamboat Springs Jim Stanko

State ESGR Chair Richard E. Young, RADM, USN (Ret)

COLORADO ESGR DIRECTORS

Military Outreach

Mary Miller - Director John Schutt - Dep. Dir.

Employer Outreach Bev Skinner - Co-director

Dave Pruett - Co-director

EO Coordinators, Major

Corporations-

Pamela Martis

Jeff Brodeur

Ombudsmen

Bill Belz - Director

Martin Cobb - Co- Director

Aaron Lechner - Dep. Dir.

Lara Makinen - Coordinator

Training Lynn Albi

Paula Kauffman - Dep. Dir.

Special Programs

Kip Cheroutes - Director

National Guard Liaison Liz Kelpis

Public Affairs

Sandy Tiegen - Director James Garrett - Newsletter Editor

Employer Initiatives Robby Castle - Director

Paul Dunbar - Deputy

Mentors Coordinator - Zach Jacobsen

Job Fairs Coordinator - Chase Dinkler

MVEE Coordinators - Jason Shireman

Elaine Edon

Bosslift Coordinator - Brian Bartony

National Site News and Information

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2015 Events Calendar

Colorado’s ESGR Electronic Newsletter is published not only for the information and benefit of the members of the Colorado ESGR but most importantly to our Guard and Reserve members and their employers. The contents of this newsletter highlight activities and events conducted by Colorado ESGR.

Send comments regarding this publication to the Newsletter Editor: James Garrett at [email protected]

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2 March - State Freedom Award nominations submitted to National HQ

21 March - Ombudsman Refresher Course

24-26 March - Denver MVEE

18 April - 9th Annual Veterans Appreciation Breakfast, Wings Over the Rockies Museum

19-21 May - Colorado Springs MVEE

12-13 June - ESGR Employer Awards Banquet and Volunteer Training