May 20, 2025 (DES MOINES) – Optimae LifeServices has joined the list of recipients of the Above and Beyond Award from the Iowa Committee of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). Three employees received the award at a special ceremony held Friday, May 9, at the Iowa National Guard’s headquarters in Johnston.
In the award announcement, Becky Coady, state chair of the Iowa Committee of ESGR, stated Optimae’s receipt of the award was “[d]ue to the exemplary support … provided [to Sergeant Juan Espino Gutierrez] and his military career.”
In April 2024, the employees received an ESGR Patriot Award at a special presentation in Ames. The Patriot Award recognizes above-and-beyond support of employees who participate in the National Guard and Reserve Force.
Following the 2024 presentation, Sgt. Gutierrez offered a few words:
“This employer fully understands my military responsibilities. For example, they adjust their schedule to accommodate my military obligations; they check on my well-being while I’m gone; and they give me extra days off following the military duty so I can recover. They make me feel I’m family knowing my actual family is 1,000 miles away. For example, when I lost a friend and fellow soldier through suicide this company was there when I needed someone. This company is an exceptional workplace that goes beyond professional commitments. They foster a culture of flexibility that supports work/life balance. They truly care about the well-being of their employees and I am proud to be a part of this organization.”
Employees serving in the National Guard or Reserve, or a spouse of a Guard or Reserve member, may nominate individual supervisors for support provided directly to a nominating Service member and the Service member’s family. The awards reflect 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.