Crown Equipment, one of the world's largest material handling companies, recently was recognized by Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) operational committee. Crown was acknowledged for its continued support of employees who are members of the U.S. National Guard and/or Reserve services and as an advocate for employee participation in the U.S. military.
"Crown Equipment is honored to receive this recognition," stated Randy Niekamp, vice president of human resources, Crown Equipment. "We have had great success with hiring U.S. military veterans, many of which have taken on leadership roles within our organization. We have found that veterans enter the job market with a high level of leadership, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The values ingrained in them are closely aligned with Crown's core values and help solidify our culture."
Most recently, Aaron Powell, a Crown employee and a National Guard reservist nominated Crown for the recognition. Powell took time away from the company to serve in Afghanistan for 14 months. Powell is one of more than 375 Crown employees who have served or currently serve in U.S. military service.
"While I was proud to serve my country in Afghanistan, I was also proud to represent Crown Equipment knowing that I would have my job waiting for me when I returned from active duty," said Powell. "The company recognizes the value of hiring service men and women and provides plenty of opportunity for advancement. The work ethic, and technical and leadership skills veterans gain from military service help to position them well for success at Crown Equipment."
ESGR was established in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component Service members and their civilian employers. It was also created to assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee's military commitment. ESGR is supported by a network of more than 4,900 volunteers in 54 committees located across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam-CNMI, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
