American Structurepoint Receives Patriot Award

The US Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) presented a Patriot Award to Vice President Mak Knowles of American Structurepoint on November 30 in recognition of American Structurepoint’s support of the National Guard and Reserve Force.

Knowles was nominated for the award by Kirk Zecchini (Federal Business Development), a Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army Reserve currently assigned to the US Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) as an Engineer Officer with the Army Safety Augmentation Detachment.

Zecchini has 29 years of service encompassing both Active and Reserve components, and currently performs his military duty at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, alongside Soldiers of the Indiana Army National Guard.

The award was presented to Knowles by COL (Ret) Frank Green, ESGR Coordinator for Indiana, who represents the Joint Forces Headquarters for the Indiana National Guard. The award included a personalized certificate signed by the Secretary of Defense and an ESGR Patriot lapel pin.

“Mak Knowles and the corporate climate of American Structurepoint have been very supportive of my desire to continue serving in an active status,” said Zecchini. “I fully understand the challenges from the perspective of the employer, as well as from the employee. American Structurepoint appreciates the values, leadership and unique skills that service members bring to the table, having established policies and engaged in activities which are generally supportive to the US Armed Forces, such as services, donations, job fairs, etc.”

“We are proud to be recognized with this award,” said Knowles. “American Structurepoint will continue to support our active military personnel and appreciate all the efforts of our employees who support our troops locally and overseas through participation in events and volunteer activities. The real ‘Patriots’ are our great employees, who give so unselfishly.”

American Structurepoint provides continuation of health care, dental, and life insurance benefits for service members and their families when away from work performing military service. The firm is actively involved in functions with the Association of the US Army (AUSA), National Guard Association of the US (NGAUS), and the National Guard Association of Indiana (NGAI).

“ESGR advocates on behalf of service members, their families, and their employers, while promoting a culture in which all American employers support and value the military service of their employees,” Zecchini said. For over 40 years, ESGR has encouraged America’s employers to join forces with a network of national, state, and local government and professional trade organizations in support of Reserve Component members and their families, living the motto, “Together, we all serve!”

“Being recognized by ESGR as a firm who supports the military speaks volumes to the DoD organizations with whom we consider to be our clients,” says Zecchini. “Continuing my active status in the military will enable me to maintain my current DoD Security Clearance, which is beneficial in pursuing some Federal contracts.”

Zecchini has also recently nominated American Structurepoint for the highly competitive 2013 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The 2013 recipients will be announced in early summer and honored in Washington, DC, during a ceremony next fall.