From the Troops in Afghanistan – Thanks U.S. Bank! Deployed soldiers say thank you for Dallas/Fort Worth Development Network care packages. Read more
Four Equipment Finance Managers Receive Patriot Awards Not one, not two, but four managers at U.S. Bancorp Equipment Finance stood behind Cody Trumm as he set out on his course to become an Army National Guard officer. Read more
From the Editor: Support the Troops this Season Brian Butler shares ideas for supporting and honoring active military personnel this season. Read more
U.S. Bank recognized as Military Friendly Employer In November, G.I. Jobs magazine named U.S. Bank one of the nation's Top 100 Military Friendly Employers®. Read more
Dallas/Fort Worth Development Network Teams with 4th Graders to Treat Deployed Troops The DFW Development Network, led by Patrick Law, collected, packed and shipped more than 100 care packages for deployed troops. The Development Network chapter partnered with students at Kaufman Elementary to include hand-written letters and cards with each package. Read more
USB Says "Welcome Home" to Iraq Veterans. "Welcome Home Iraq Veterans" took on special meaning for 400 Army National Guard troops recently when they were presented with a gift of specially minted commemorative coins sponsored by U.S. Bank. Read more
Nebraska Metro Managers Receive Department of Defense Patriot Awards. Two managers recently received Patriot Awards for their support of one of their employees, who recently returned from her deployment to Iraq with the Army National Guard. Read more
- NEW! Proud to Serve wristbands are now available. Click here to view a rendering of the new Proud to Serve employee wristbands. If you'd like to proudly wear this new and colorful way of demonstrating your Proud to Share spirit, just send a message to the Proud to Serve Shared mailbox. One per employee please.
- U.S. Bank Employees Restore Soldiers Memorial. Click here to view a YouTube video about our St. Louis Development Network volunteers' work project to restore an iconic memorial.
- U.S. Bank Hosts Wounded Warriors. Read about an evening of baseball and camaraderie hosting Wounded Warriors in San Diego. Read more
Bosslift Gives Elavon/U.S. Bank Manager A Real Lift. Click here to learn how Elavon's Bob Walker joined the Tennessee Air National Guard for three days of pre-deployment training. Read more
Hundreds Participate in Memorial Day Wall of Remembrances. Over 120 employees honored friends and family members who served in the first Memorial Day Wall of Remembrances. See US Book - Military Community to read shared remembrances.
Meet the Proud to Serve Committee. Click here to learn how this group is leading U.S. Bank toward becoming a military friendly company. Read more
Are You Part Of U.S. Bank's Military Family? Click here learn about U.S. Bank's plans to become an increasingly military friendly company. Read more
Consider this your one-stop-shop for your U.S. Bank "Proud to Serve" products, including:
- lapel pins
- business cards
- recognition certificates
If you have not received a "Proud to Serve" pin, or if you need to get a new one, please send an email to the Proud to Serve shared mailbox. Be sure to include your name and mail code.
Special "Proud to Serve" business cards are available to U.S. Bank employees who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. Military. Please remember that before ordering you must first obtain permission from your manager. Once you are ready, you can complete your order by using the following Web site: https://identity.telepress.com/usbank/. Detailed ordering instructions are available on the Corporate Procurement page.
All employees who have been employed with U.S. Bank for at least one quarter, and who have self-identified in Employee Self Service as having served or are currently serving in the U.S. Military, should have received a recognition certificate. If you have not received one, please send an email to the Proud to Serve shared mailbox. Be sure to include your name and mail code.
From the Troops in Afghanistan – Thanks U.S. Bank!
The Dallas/Fort Worth Development Network team got a satisfying "thank you U.S. Bank" from deployed troops in Afghanistan who received over 100 care packages this past fall.
Here are just a couple of the messages received by Patrick Law, who leads the DN in Dallas/Fort Worth area:
"As a British Solider who is serving alongside American Forces at HQ IJC (Headquarters – International Joint Command), I was fortunate to receive one of the care packages you sent out. I want to say thank you as they really improve my morale and will come in good use. Happy Holiday and once again, thank you very much."
Matthew Peers
And this,
"We cannot thank you enough for the time, effort and enthusiasm that went into the numerous boxes we received through Capt. Bryan Howard here in Kabul, Afghanistan...We gave several of the boxes to some of our sister service members, who had a hard time comprehending that people volunteered to send stuff to soldiers they did not know…Please know how much it is appreciated, not only by US, but UK, German, Italian, Turkish, Croatian, Afghan, Romanian and other soldiers. Thank you and bless you and have wonderful holidays."
Carolyn Holmes
MAJ, MI, USA
Four Equipment Finance Managers Receive Patriot Awards
Not one, not two, but four managers at U.S. Bancorp Equipment Finance stood behind Cody Trumm as he set out on his course to become an Army National Guard officer.
Trumm, a customer service specialist who works for U.S. Bank in Marshall, Minnesota, is halfway though his deployment with the 125th Field Artillery Battalion of the Minnesota National Guard and is stationed in Kuwait. A 1st Lieutenant, Cody was on leave recently visiting his wife Jayme, also a U.S. Bancorp employee, and their newborn son. He stopped by to visit is co-workers to thank them again for their support.
"It has been just awesome over the past three years that all four of my managers have supported me the way they have and when I learned about the Patriot Award I wanted all of them to be recognized," Trumm said.
After reviewing Trumm's nomination, the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) organization awarded all four managers with the prestigious Patriot Award. The managers were Jeanette Wendorff, Lynn West, Kari Hansen and Tony Dahms. Patriot Awards go to individuals who, according to the ESGR guidelines, demonstrate strong and enduring support for their military service employees. An ESGR representative recently presented Patriot plaques to the four managers, but the photo had to wait until Cody returned on leave.
Each of Cody's four managers at Equipment Finance had a somewhat different take on why they wanted to support Cody:
"I was Cody's manager when he first joined the National Guard. I made sure U.S. Bank supported his decision and followed through. He had to leave a few times for training and we worked to adjust to his coming back. His wife Jayme works here too and I always make sure to ask her how she is doing. As to why, it just seemed like the right thing to do to support Cody," said Kari Hansen, Senior Customer Service Manager.
"I come from a family with brothers and nephews who served so it was important to me to support Cody. We worked around his training without any problems," shared Jeanette Wendorff, Senior Customer Service Manager.
"Cody was a tenured phone rep when he left for basic training and when he returned it was apparent he'd gained more confidence and leadership skills. When he came back we had an opening in the Customer Service Specialist area and he excelled in this new position. Cody has such a passion about serving his country that there was no hesitation on my part to work with him. I feel this is something that any manager at U.S. Bank would do for our men and women serving our country," stated Tony Dahms, Project Manager.
"Cody is a valuable member of our team and I know he is even more valuable to the Guard. His service makes him a hero in my eyes and I look forward to welcoming him home and back to our team," said G. Lynn West, Senior Customer Service Manager.
Reserve and National Guard members across the country are encouraged to nominate their managers for recognition through Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). Information on the Patriot Process is available on the ESGR website.
From left to right: Jeanette Wendorff, Tony Dahms, Cody Trumm, Gayle Lynn West, Kari Hansen
From the Editor: Support the Troops this Season
On the Veterans Day call, Richard Davis challenged all of us to stay involved in supporting and honoring our troops who today are in harms way. Here are two ways you can do something personally and easily this holiday season.
You can easily send a Care Package to an individual soldier. Yes, it can be done. I just recently became aware of the Any Marine website. Read through this page and you'll see "Where to Send" then you can connect with an individual Marine (by name or home state or service branch) on the drop down menu. They are asking for specific things, like socks for example. I checked to see if there is a "Butler" out there and I'll probably go that route. See the "Where to Send" link and to learn more about how to do it.
http://anymarine.com/
Or, if you'd prefer to make a monetary contribution, the USO is an effective and long standing national organization that is asking for your help. This site is easy to use.
https://www.uso.org/donate/TFE_2011_G2.aspx?src=WF11TFXE13
Good luck with this and please give me some feedback.
Brian Butler, Military Initiative Program Manager
U.S. Bank recognized as Military Friendly Employer
In November, G.I. Jobs magazine named U.S. Bank one of the nation's Top 100 Military Friendly Employers®.
The list, drawn from a sample of approximately 5,000 companies was created based on specific criteria including the strength of military recruiting efforts, the percentage of new hires with prior military service and company policies toward National Guard and Reserve service.
"U.S. Bank is honored to be recognized as a top employer for active and retired military – and honored to call these heroes our colleagues," said Richard Davis, chairman, president and chief executive officer of U.S. Bancorp, the parent company of U.S. Bank. "We owe our freedom to military veterans and the men and women who are currently serving in the armed forces and National Guard and Reserves. Their patriotism, work ethic, leadership and dedication inspire us every day."
The list and rankings are posted on the G.I. Jobs website: http://www.gijobs.com/2012top100.
Military Times magazine also recently identified U.S. Bank as one of just 46 companies in their Best of Vets 2011 annual survey. More than 1,000 firms were surveyed for their recruiting, policies for reservists and overall corporate culture pertaining to the military.
Dallas/Fort Worth Development Network Teams with 4th Graders To Treat Deployed Troops
What does a 4th grade class in Conroe, Texas have in common with U.S. Bank employees in Dallas/Fort Worth? Working in tandem, the youngsters from nearby Kaufman Elementary school and the energetic DFW Development Network chapter recently provided some special attention to an Air Force Reserve unit on deployment in far away Afghanistan.
Teaming up with 4th graders to ship letters to the 335th Air Force Signal Company was a natural, according to Patrick Law of the DFW DN. Law works for Elan Financial Services, a subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp.
"We have made it Elan's mission to support the troops somewhere every quarter and this time I decided to connect Rachel Prewitt, my sister-in-law, who is an elementary school teacher in Conroe and it worked out better than we could have expected," Law explained.
The students responded with letters of appreciation and encouragement to the 335th. When word got out at Kaufman Elementary, other classes and parents joined in and more than 100 letters and cards were sent.
For their part, the DFW Development Network led by Law and co-worker Keith Boyd collected, packed and shipped more than 100 care packages. Included in the packages were essentials not readily available on deployment: snacks/treats, comfort items and hygiene products and even hand-made pillows.
In thanks, Senior Master Sergeant Robert Salvaggio of the 335th sent back photos of the troops with their just received care packages. Even more appreciated was a photo of an American flag that was raised and flown over their base in honor of U.S. Bank.
"This flag is special to us and I plan to get it to Richard Davis, our CEO. Robbie (Salvaggio) is a client of U.S. Bank in New Orleans, but right now he’s deployed as an Air Reserve Senior NCO," Law said.
"The other unit we send packages to is through a friend of mine who I served with in Iraq during the first Gulf War. It's an Army Intel unit that drives the IJC (International Joint Command) Intel for the overall command. It's cool because it's a joint command; 14 countries serve along side our forces. So, they also enjoy our packages and many of them are shocked at the attention, attitude and generosity of our effort," Law said.
USB Says "Welcome Home" to Iraq Veterans
"Welcome Home Iraq Veterans" took on special meaning for 400 Army National Guard troops recently when they were presented with a gift of specially minted commemorative coins sponsored by U.S. Bank.
The coins were presented September 17, 2011 to members of the 1st Assault Helicopter Battalion – 140th Aviation Regiment of California National Guard by Orange County employees and Development Network representatives Rick Lozano and Dan Whitis. The Battalion is based in Los Alamitos, Calif.
Lozano is a Marine veteran and branch manager at Tustin La Palma branch in Tustin. Dan Whitis served in the Air Force and is currently branch manager at the U.S. Bank branch in Irvine.
The coin project was a suggestion from Francis Betz, a U.S. Bank customer in Beaverton, Oregon whose son is assigned to the Battalion. U.S. Bank sponsored the coin creation. Four Southern California managers provided the funding for the project: Darrell Brown, Sean Foley, William Cave and J.P. Perfili.
"Representing our Military Community at U.S. Bank, Rick, Dan and I were very proud to shake the hands of each of the troops and present these coins as a surprise. The looks of appreciation on their faces definitely were something the three of us will not forget," said Brian Butler, military initiative program manager.
Plans call for the possible creation of a new commemorative coin specifically for U.S. Bank veterans or members of the National Guard and Reserve in 2012.
Rick Lozano, reprsenting the Development Network Chapter in Orange County, California, presents a Welcome Home Iraq Veteran Coin on behalf of U.S. Bank to WO1 Michael Marion. Marion is one 400+ members of an Army National Guard unit based in Southern California, which recently returned from Iraq deployment.
Nebraska Metro Managers Receive Department of Defense Patriot Awards
Two Metro managers recently received Patriot Awards for their support of one of their employees, who recently returned from her deployment to Iraq with the Army National Guard.
Ashley Reiten, who works in Bellevue, Nebraska as an In-Store banker, recently returned from her one year Iraq deployment with her Army Reserve unit, the 394th Combat Sustainment Battalion, based in Fremont, Nebraska.
Upon her return, she nominated her two managers, Kellen Bergman, branch manager, and Maggie Sitzman, district manager, for the Department of Defense’s prestigious Patriot Awards. After review, the Employer Support for Guard and Reserve (ESGR) an agency of the Department of Defense, selected the pair for the award. Patriot Awards go to individuals who demonstrate strong and enduring support for their employees who are in the National Guard or Reserve.
Not only was Ashley absent from her job for a year while in Iraq, but required training leading up to her deployment that periodically took her away from her U.S. Bank work schedule.
In appreciation of her supervisor’s understanding and support Ashley said, “Managers from U.S. Bank were always sure to work my schedule around my military duties. No matter what happened, Kellen never complained about my absences. If she could not find someone to fill in, she worked my job herself, working more hours than usual. Kellen also made sure I received adequate time for rest immediately before and after my training,” she said.
Reserve and National Guard members across the country are encouraged to nominate their supportive employers for recognition through Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). Information on the Patriot Process is available on the ESGR website.
Patriot Award Winners Maggie Sitzman, left, and Kellen Bergman, right with Ashley Reiten, In-Store Banker in Bellevue, Nebraska. Ashley recently returned from a one-year deployment to Iraq with her Army National Guard unit.
U.S. Bank Honors Wounded Warriors
Eight recovering "Wounded Warriors" were recently guests for an evening of camaraderie and baseball at U.S. Bank's Dream Suite at Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres.
The Wounded Warriors, all U.S. Marines, are in San Diego undergoing treatment and rehabilitation at the Naval Medical Center. Just a few weeks earlier they were on the ground in Afghanistan when they sustained serious injuries, mostly caused by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
U.S. Bank partners with the Wounded Warriors Detachment in San Diego and inviting these recently injured active duty personnel to an evening of major league baseball is a logical way to demonstrate U.S. Bank's support, according to Troy Morrison, West Marketing Manager.
"We have focused on making our suite at Petco Park available to non-profit organizations in San Diego that serve our military and our youth. So, hosting Wounded Warriors was a specific opportunity for us to honor those who serve us," Morrison said.
U.S. Bank's relationship with the Wounded Warriors detachment in San Diego goes back several years. Naval Medical Center in San Diego is one of just a handful of facilities equipped to treat single and multiple amputees, according to Lt. Col. Tim Bleidstel, Wounded Warrior Detachment.
"These Marines were excited to be invited to the U.S. Bank Dream Suite. It gave them a great opportunity to get away from the day-to-day demands of rehab and they told me how much they enjoyed the evening. U.S. Bank went out of its way to make them feel special," Bleidstel explained.
Many Padres fans arriving early for the game went out of their way to offer words of encouragement as the Wounded Warriors were transitioning from the field, where their photo was taken, to the U.S. Bank Dream Suite. Padres' president Tom Garfinkel was on hand to greet the Warriors.
"For me, it was a unique evening that I wish all of our military family memers at U.S. Bank could have experienced with us," said Brian Butler, Military Initiative Program Manager. "The thing that impressed me the most about these men was their attitudes. Despite life changing injuries, they were all extremely upbeat and focused on their futures. Once again, it made me proud to be a part of U.S. Bank as we continue to do the right thing," Butler added.
The U.S. Bank Dream Suite is being made available to select non-profits for approximately 30 evenings this baseball season as a means of rewarding and recognizing youth, families as well as the military and veterans.
Bosslift Gives Elavon/U.S. Bank Manager A Real Lift
When Bob Walker signed on to participate in the Tennessee Air National Guard's Bosslift in early May, he didn't know he was going to literally get a real "lift."
Walker, who works for U.S. Bank's Elavon subsidiary based in Atlanta, was soon strapped into a C-130 aircraft as it lifted off from McGhee Tyson National Guard base in Knoxville taking him on a once-in-a-lifetime, three day experience learning about the training National Guard troops receive in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan and elsewhere.
Walker joined 35 other civilian guests for Bosslift as they traveled to Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center in Mississippi. The group, mostly from firms in Tennessee, attended briefings, demonstrations, experienced simulator sessions and ate with guards and reservists.
Nice to Know: Six percent of the U.S. populations is comprised of in-uniform defense force. Of that uniform force, nearly one-half serve part-time in the Guard or Reserve.
According to Walker, Bosslift is more than just an opportunity to experience how our military does what it does.
"U.S Bank has made it a priority to support our employees who are current and former military and Bosslift is one way for us to demonstrate our commitment to the guard and reservists and their families," Walker explained. "And, it gives our military a way to say 'thank you' back to companies like ours that are committed to supporting our troops," he added.
Walker said the most interesting element of the experience was working in a simulator that put the guests in a 360-degree display of traveling down a road with threats coming from all directions and allowing them to respond with weapons.
"It was a privilege to be asked to participate in the Tennessee Bosslift. I recommend that we expand this involvement and ask managers all across the country to volunteer to receive the wonderful experience I did," Walker added.
Walker is senior vice president, Global Billing and Interchange with Elavon, based in Atlanta. Elavon is a wholly-owned subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp.
U.S. Bank was recently honored with ESGR's Above and Beyond Award in Minnesota for its support of employees who serve in the state's National Guard and Reserve.
Meet the Proud to Serve Committee
The Proud to Serve Committee consists of leaders from across U.S. Bank who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedicated support for our service member employees. These outstanding individuals have been asked to oversee U.S. Bank's ongoing efforts to support military members, including improving our recruitment efforts, extending outreach to families of our military employees, and demonstrating our appreciation for their service to our country.
Through the Committee's leadership, U.S. Bank is working toward being recognized as a Yellow Ribbon Company. The Yellow Ribbon is the name for a broad reaching program sponsored by the Minnesota Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve that includes companies with national, regional or statewide influence that are committed to actively demonstrating support for service members and military families.
The overarching mission is to expand U.S Bank programs that support and honor all who serve our country. The program assists those employee families affected by military deployment, encourages the successful transition into the workplace for service members and provides support systems for employees in U.S. Bank's military family.
Yellow Ribbon Committee members include: Erick Kidd, Consumer Banking; Lorenza (Lo) McEachin, Consumer Banking; Steve Mullin, Wealth Management; Michael Ott, Wealth Management; Deborah Smith, Wealth Management; Bob Walker, Payment Services; Cynthia Waldrop, Credit. The committee is supported in its mission by Christina Anderson, Diversity and Military Veteran Recruiter, and Brian Butler, U.S. Bank's Military Initiative Program Manager.
Are You Part Of U.S. Bank's Military Family?
Every employee who has an interest in honoring and supporting our military is encouraged to be part of U.S. Bank's military family. You don't have to be a veteran or a reservist to belong. You don't have to be a military dependent either. You just have to have a genuine interest in supporting and honoring those who serve our country in the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Marines, Air Force or National Guard. That includes so many of US! If so, welcome to U.S. Bank's growing Military Family.
During 2011, our Military Initiative will expand on what has been done previously. We will create new and fun ways for employees to connect with veterans and military family members in community service projects. We also will implement new means of supporting our families who have members deployed, or on reserve duty. And, we will ramp up our efforts to recruit former members of the military as they bring their skills and experience to the private sector and U.S. Bank.
To get to where we want to go this year, we want and need the involvement and suggestions of anyone and everyone. One quick and fun way is to connect with your local Development Network Chapter. Many chapters will execute one or more military related community outreach event during 2011. More activities, events, and need to know information will be reviewed on USBToday, and on the Military home page located on the Human Resources home page.
Most importantly, what do you think? What can we do at U.S. Bank to make our company even more "military friendly"? If your family has a spouse on reserve duty or deployed we are very interested in knowing how can help you. Every idea will be considered. Please don't hesitate to contact us through the Shared, Proud to Serve mailbox. If you have any immediate thoughts and suggestions, please contact Brian Butler, Military Initiative Program Manager, 858-530-9511.
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