Two YW Leaders Recognized as Patriots

The Mississippi and Tennessee Committees for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense agency, presented Patriot Awards to two YoungWilliams’ leaders for their support of the National Guard and Reserve.  The recipients are Bob Johnson, President of Operations and Keith Baker, Project Manager.

Johnson works in the company’s headquarters in Ridgeland, Mississippi and Baker manages its child support office in Nashville, Tennessee. Both men were nominated by YoungWilliams’ Nashville Human Resource Coordinator Jamie Cage, a Specialist in Special Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment of the Tennessee Army National Guard.

Left to Right: Marvin Wells, Tennessee  ESGR Employer Support Specialist;
Carl Lambert, TN State Chair and ESGR Executive Advisory Subcommitee;
 Keith Baker; and Jamie L. Cage II.

The Patriot Award reflects the efforts made to support citizen warriors through a wide-range of measures including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families and granting leaves of absence, if needed.   Cage explained, “Being able to serve without worrying about my job or benefits really makes a difference.  I recently received about 48 hours’ notice that I would be activated to attend a Military Intelligence course, which required me to pack up my entire life and travel to Texas.  Keith, Bob, and the people at YoungWilliams made my transition easy, smooth, and seamless. “

Bob Johnson receives Patriot Award from Derwood Boyles, MS Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Chair Emeritus

“I am honored and humbled to receive this award. It was totally unexpected and pretty overwhelming,” stated Johnson.  “We appreciate the efforts of the men and women who serve our country and we do what we can to help them.”  Baker had a similar response, “Our military personnel already have hard jobs: we try to make their lives easier.”  Both acknowledged the efforts of the entire YoungWilliams team.