Volunteers, employers recognized for contributions

Published March 26, 2015
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- More than 30 awards were presented to volunteers and employers at this year's New Jersey Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Awards Conference held March 14 at Tommy B's Community Center here.

ESGR is a Defense Department office established to promote cooperation and understanding between service members and their civilian employers. They hold events throughout the year, including career fairs, briefings, training and speaking engagements at commander's calls. New Jersey's ESGR has more than 200 volunteers, hailing from businesses, government offices and prior military service members, who work to promote and enhance employer support for military members in the Guard and Reserve.

"The best thing about the conference is that it gives us a chance to reward employers, members of our state ESGR committee and service members for all the great things they've done for members of the Guard and Reserve throughout the year," said Col. (retired) Dennis Dougherty, New Jersey ESGR military outreach director.

A World War II and Korean War veteran, retired Sgt. Maj. Ernest J. Stoukas, was recognized by New Jersey Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno with both a New Jersey Chairman's Award and a Presidential Service Award.

"When you're recognized by your peers for your efforts, it really is something," said Stoukas. "I'm just an ordinary character who does my job. Helping people is basically what I did my whole life. I don't like to get credit for it. I just do it because it's the right thing to do."

In addition to his 43 years of military service, Stoukas has also been a member of New Jersey's ESGR for more than 30 years.

"You protect the rights of our soldier, our citizen soldiers, every day," Guadagno said. "In New Jersey you raise awareness for these soldiers in a way that no one else does any place else in the country."

New Jersey ESGR Seven Seals Award
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno

New Jersey Chairman's Award
Ernest Stoukas

Presidential Service Awards
Mike Berman
Carol Beske
Skip Danielson
Jack Fearing
James Guerrieri
Frank Krov
Bob Marshal
Rick Ober
Elise Tretola
Jay Williams
Richard Burke
Thomas Conway
Jack Dillie
Angela Maloney
Leo McGuire
Don Tretola
McKinley Williams
Art Maggs

Patriot Award
Janel Fitzgerald, Federal Bureau of Prisons
Dan McCool, Federal Bureau of Prisons
Charles Tomaszeski, New Jersey Transit
Robert Lavell, New Jersey Transit

Above and Beyond Award
New Jersey Transit
Federal Bureau of Prisons
Cape Bank

Lifetime Achievement Awards
Jack Petrosilli
Jackie Petrosilli
Sam Podeitz

New Jersey Committee Spirit of Volunteerism Award
McKinley Williams