Pictured: Joshua Young, Alex Daniel, Spc. Cameron Blunk, George Plaza, and Plant Manager Danielle Leonard
Three managers from Pella Corporation’s Carroll facility have been recognized with the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Patriotic Employer Award for their dedication to a National Guard soldier and employee as he navigated his recent deployment to the Middle East. Specialist Cameron Blunk, who deployed with the 168th Infantry Regiment in support of Operation Inherent Resolve last May, nominated Joshua Young, Alec Daniel, and George Plaza for the award and surprised them with a presentation at the Carroll office on Wednesday.
Young, Daniel, and Plaza say it seems backward that they were receiving an award from Blunk, as he was the one who had volunteered to join the Iowa National Guard and had been called up to deploy. Blunk disagrees, noting that they, and Pella at large, went above and beyond to make leaving home and work for nearly a year as easy as possible. Carroll Plant Manager Danielle Leonard says the local facility has around 20 current and former servicemen and women on staff, and supporting them however they can is a priority for Pella.
Blunk’s deployment was a bit unusual, as his wife, Sgt. Diana Blunk, also deployed with the 168th Infantry Regiment as an automated logistical specialist. She says Pella’s support and flexibility were doubly appreciated, as they would be leaving their joint life behind…together.
Sgt. Blunk, who is employed by St. Anthony Regional Hospital, adds that her employer was also very flexible with her schedule as she prepared for and then returned from their deployments. The ESGR was formed in 1972 as a division of the U.S. Department of Defense to help employers and the nation’s civilian soldiers navigate work responsibilities while serving.
