West Shore Home Regional General Manager Honored with Department of Defense Patriot Award
Tampa, Fl. – Helping veterans and active-duty military is an important mission at West Shore Home. Through our West Shore For Warriors™ initiative, we have gifted shower remodels to deserving veterans, helped donate thousands of pounds of food to veterans in need, and supported countless military nonprofits across the country.
But we also prioritize taking care of our own teammates who have served or continue to serve our country through our focus on veteran recruiting, hiring and employee resource groups. This dedication to veterans earned one of our teammates a prestigious honor from the United States government.
West Shore Home Regional General Manager (Florida), Patrick Schmitt, received the Department of Defense Patriot Award in January. The accolade recognizes supervisors that go above and beyond to support their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserves.
Schmitt does whatever he can to make sure his employees enlisted in the military have the resources available to help them succeed at both their service and their job at West Shore Home. He was nominated for the award by Mike Barrett, General Manager of West Shore Home in Jacksonville, and a Major in Florida Army National Guard (FLARNG).
“(Patrick) has provided me unwavering support during my military requirements with the FLARNG,” said Mike Barrett. “I am always afforded the time away for drill weekends, extended drill weekends, annual trainings, schools, and the occasional activation during emergency response situations. During a mobilization to support FLARNG efforts during Hurricane Ian in 2022, my employer continued compensating me during the entirety of my activation.”
Upon receiving the award, Schmitt signed a Statement of Support affirming West Shore Home’s continued commitment to assisting the Reserve and Guard members that work at the company.
Schmitt is the second West Shore Home supervisor to receive the Patriot Award. West Shore Home Mechanicsburg General Manager, Justin Darosh, was also recognized in August 2023.
West Shore Home offers several programs to our veterans. We prioritize recruiting, hiring, and training our veteran teammates to promote professional growth and career development. The company also has a dedicated Veteran Employee Resource Group that supports our community of employee veterans both inside and outside of their work life.
About ESGR
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is a Department of Defense program established in 1972. The mission of ESGR is to gain and maintain employer support for Guard and Reserve service by recognizing outstanding support, increasing awareness of the law, and resolving conflict through mediation. ESGR volunteers provide free education, consultation, and if necessary, mediation for employers of Guard and Reserve employees. As the 35,000 members of the National Guard and Reserve in Florida and 1.3 million members Nationally continue to perform an increasing number of unique missions that require extraordinary actions on the part of everyday citizens, ESGR will continue to be the informational agency for the employers of citizen warriors. More information about ESGR Employer Outreach Programs and volunteer opportunities is available at Floridaesgr.com.
About West Shore Home
West Shore Home, headquartered in Mechanicsburg, PA., is a leading technology-enabled home remodeling services provider with an expanding national footprint. Founded in 2006, West Shore Home’s national brand promise is Bringing Happiness to Every Home® by delivering a fast, easy, and convenient home remodeling experience. From the first phone call to the final installation, customers have a streamlined experience and associate the West Shore Home brand with consistent high quality, transparency, and trust. For additional information visit westshorehome.com.
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