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Patriotic Pride
Wabtec Employee Receives DoD Award
Cody Stackis, a process improvement manager at Wabtec was recently recognized by the Department of Defense’s Employee Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) with the "Patriot" award for his unwavering support for veterans and their families. Cody was nominated for the prestigious honor by another Wabtec employee, Alice Konecny, a PTC System Analyst.
Alice’s husband, Tim, retired as a Sergeant First Class after 20 years in the United States Marine Corps, US Army reserves and Army National Guard. He was twice deployed and became a medic in the National Guard and ended his career as a qualified instructor in the Army Reserve. Tim loved serving his country, and he would have continued had it not been for a debilitating back injury from years of service.
Over the years, Alice has needed extra time off to help her husband through eight different back surgeries. This is where Cody comes in as a true servant leader. Cody was empathetic to Alice’s situation and also felt a gratitude to Tim’s service to our nation. When things got really bad, Cody suggested that Alice work from home to make it easier for her family.
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As Tim puts it, “I was I was floored by this gesture, and can say it has improved my quality of life. Wabtec truly deserves the Patriot Award. They not only allowed my wife to nurse this old warrior, they also support the military in many ways. I can’t even put into words how thankful I am to Cody and Wabtec for their caring and support. And they can hang the award proudly for their Patriotism. God bless Wabtec!”
Congratulations to Cody for his big heart, for putting people first and exuding the One Wabtec spirit, this award is well deserved.
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The Employee Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), was established in 1972 by the Department of Defense to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component Service members and their civilian employers.
Each year the ESGR recognizes employers who support their Guard and Reserve employees through a series of awards. An employee serving in the National Guard or Reserve, or a spouse, may nominate individual supervisors and bosses for the Patriot Award. This award highlights special efforts for going above and beyond for the employee or family 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.