Department of Defense honors four Ameren Illinois supervisors for patriotic support
Darrel Eickoff, left, who is active duty in the United States Army Reserve, nominated Ameren Illinois co-workers Lacey Thomas and Kelly Slaughter for a Department of Defense ESGR Patriot Award. In addition to Eickoff is, Thomas, manager of project controls, George Justice, vice president of Electric Operations, Slaughter, supervisor project scheduling, Andrew Payne, region chairman of Ameren’s veterans employee resource group, and Chuck Mueller, senior director, Portfolio and Facilities. Two other recipients of the award who could not attend the event are: Paul Hardiek and Joe West.
Just days ahead of Veterans Day, when we honor all those who served in the military, Ameren Illinois employees were recognized by the Department of Defense for providing outstanding patriotic support and cooperation to their employees who have answered their nation’s call to serve.
On November 6, four Ameren Illinois employees were honorably awarded the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Patriot Award for the extraordinary support they provide to fellow employee Darrel Eickoff, who also serves as a CW-5 (warrant officer) in the United States Army Reserve.
The four supervisors – Kelly Slaughter, Paul Hardiek, Lacey Thomas and Joe West – are based in the company’s Collinsville office.
“The Patriot Award was created by ESGR to publicly recognize individuals who provide outstanding patriotic support and cooperation to their employees who have answered their nation’s call to serve,” said Illinois ESGR State Chair Laurie Silvey. “Supportive supervisors are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation’s Guard and Reserve units, whose members bring tremendous skill and capability to our workforce. By valuing military service, employers directly support the readiness and retention of our All-Volunteer Force, and our national defense.”
Eickoff, in his nomination, told ESGR: “Mr. Slaughter, Mr. Hardiek, Ms. Thomas and Mr. West and the executive management team at Ameren are the standard against which all other companies should be measured. Ameren Illinois went out of its way to hire a new employee, even though I was already scheduled for deployment to the Middle East. Their support was more than I ever expected!”
“This is a great honor for our four employees. Ameren has a legacy of hiring military veterans that dates back to World War I. We recognize that servicemen and women who are transitioning into civilian employment have the skills, work ethic and leadership qualities that are essential to Ameren achieving its mission,” said George Justice, vice president of Electric Operations for Ameren Illinois. “In fact, Ameren earned the 2023 Military Friendly® Employers designation for the 14th consecutive year, cementing us as one of the leading companies in the nation for recruiting and retaining veterans.”
In addition, Justice signed an official Statement of Support on behalf of Ameren Illinois: https://www.esgr.mil/Employers/Statement-of-Support
ESGR is a Department of Defense program that develops and promotes supportive work environments for service members in the National Guard and Reserve through outreach, recognition, and educational opportunities that increase awareness of applicable laws. ESGR also provides assistance in resolving conflicts between Service members and their employers.
For more information about ESGR outreach programs or volunteer opportunities, call (800) 336-4590 or visit www.ESGR.mil/IL.
All images courtesy Ameren Illinois.
Lacey Thomas accepts her Patriot Award from U.S. Army Reservist and Ameren co-worker Darrel Eickoff. In addition to Thomas and Slaughter, Ameren employees Paul Hardiek and recent retiree Joe West were also award recipients.
Kelly Slaughter, accepts his Patriot Award from U.S. Army Reservist and Ameren co-worker Darrel Eickoff, who nominated four employees the Department of Defense award. Standing with Slaughter and Eickoff are Stan Brasch, left, and Paul Pitts, right, volunteers for the Department of Defense’s Employer Statement of Support for the Guard and Reserve.
George Justice, vice president of Electric Operations, Ameren Illinois, signs an Employer Statement of Support for the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), Nov. 6, as part of a ceremony recognizing four co-workers who received the Patriot Award from the Department of Defense (DoD) on behalf of the ESGR. ESGR is a Department of Defense program that develops and promotes supportive work environments for service members in the National Guard and Reserve.
Paul Pitts, volunteer for the Department of Defense’s (DoD) ESGR, left, and Stan Brasch volunteer for the DoD’s ESGR, right, pose with Ameren Illinois Vice President, Electric Operations, George Justice with the ESGR statement of support. The statement of support program is the cornerstone of ESGR’s effort to gain and maintain employer support for the Guard and Reserve. The intent of the program is to increase employer support by encouraging employers to act as advocates for employee participation in the military. Supportive employers are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation’s Guard and Reserve units.
About Ameren Illinois
Ameren Illinois delivers energy to 1.2 million electric and more than 800,000 natural gas customers in Illinois. Its mission is to power the quality of life. Its service territory covers more than 1,200 communities and 43,700 square miles. For more information, visit AmerenIllinois.com, find us on Twitter @AmerenIllinois or Facebook.
