Grinnell Mutual honored with ESGR award

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) presented Grinnell Mutual with its highest state-level honor, the Pro Patria Award, at its April 26 Iowa Committee Employer Recognition Dinner. The award is given to employers that stand behind their citizen-warriors with policies and a culture that support and honor both reserve and active-duty employees. Only three Pro Patria Awards are presented each year. Grinnell Mutual’s award was in the Large Employer category (more than 500 employees). 

Nicole Chesmore, assistant vice president, IT, and Melissa Feisel, a director in Human Resources, accepted the award on behalf of the company.

It is the second honor Grinnell Mutual has received from ESGR. In May of 2023, Chesmore was presented with the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve’s (ESGR) Patriot Award, given to individual supervisors nominated by an employee serving in the National Guard or Reserve or their spouse. The award is for support provided directly to the nominating service member and their family. It recognizes leaders’ efforts to support citizen warriors through actions like offering flexible schedules and time off before and after deployment and granting leaves of absence if needed.