CHS : Manager recognized for military service support

By Kevin Hunt

CHS has many employees who regularly get called up for military service. And many managers and supervisors who are supportive and understanding when duty calls.

Dave Vander Vliet, location manager at the CHS facility in Luverne, Minn., goes above and beyond.

The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) agrees. The organization recently presented Vander Vliet with its Patriot Award, which honors supervisors for their support of a Guardsman or Reservist employee.

He was nominated by one of his feed truck drivers, Dan Kubesh, a Sgt. 1st Class in the U.S. Army Reserve, currently serving overseas.

"I'm honored to receive this award," says Vander Vliet. "I don't think people realize how much our military members sacrifice for their family. It's not easy on them taking off for deployments."

Kubesh says he's grateful to have Vander Vliet as his manager at CHS.

"I nominated Dave because he's always been flexible with me towards my military career," he says. "If I need to leave on short notice, he's really good at giving me ample time to get ready. And whenever I'm gone, he's there to help my family and me with whatever we need."

Deployments can be unexpected. Kubesh has had several in the last few years.

"It's important for managers to support employees with military careers," adds Kubesh. "They might not wear a uniform, but they serve our country by faithfully supporting their service members on the home front."

ESGR is a U.S. Department of Defense office that seeks to foster a culture in which all employers support and value the employment and military service of members of the National Guard and Reserve.