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CPA, Lizama receive ESGR awards
The Commonwealth Ports Authority and its top official have received Department of Defense awards from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.
The awards are given by ESGR to recognize employers who support their Guard and Reserve employees.
CPA received the ESGR’s “Above and Beyond Award” through the nomination of firefighter John Aguon of the Saipan ARFF Department.
This award is presented by ESGR State Committees to “recognize employers at the local level who have gone above and beyond the legal requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) by providing their Guard and Reserve Employees additional, non-mandated benefits such as differential or full pay to offset lost wages, extended health benefits, and other similar health benefits.”
The award is given in limited numbers and is a progressive award, meaning an employer must have had at least one supervisor or other representative honored with a Patriot Award, for example.
CPA executive director MaryAnn Lizama was awarded the Patriot Award, which is given to individual employers and not to an organization as a whole.
Lizama was also nominated by Aguon.
According to ESGR, the Patriot Award “reflects the efforts made to support Citizen Warriors 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.”
“I am very honored and surprised,” Lizama said, “The men and women that are in the service, they are well-respected and honored especially in the CPA. We extend our appreciation and we show them support.”
She added that they have about 10 reserves working for CPA.
