Klover Contracting Honored by Dept of Defense for Patriotic Support

Pennsylvania Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense office, announced that Klover Contracting Inc. recently received the Patriot Award in recognition of extraordinary support of employees serving in the Pennsylvania Guard and Reserve.

Pennsylvania ESGR is particularly proud to present employers with a Patriot Award for their strong support of their employees serving in our nation’s Reserve forces during ESGR’s 50th Anniversary year.

Klover Contracting Inc. Supervisor Matt Williams was nominated for the Patriot Award by Sgt. Anthony Canicatti, of the 642nd Aviation Support Battalion of the New York Army National.

Wes Craig, Pennsylvania Southeast Area ESGR Chair and State Chair Emeritus, presented the Patriot Award Williams who is a retired Army veteran that served in the 75th Ranger Regiment and had multiple deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. In presenting the awards, Craig commented: “I know first-hand how critical it is to pay tribute to those companies and employers that hire and support our Guard and Reserve forces.”

Canicatti told Craig: “Matt personally checks up on me when I return to work from drill or training; he has provided help with anything I might need. He recognizes my work ethic I get from the military. Matt has made making up time from drill so easy, in ways other companies I’ve worked for have not. Matt also offers very helpful military advice as well while I am deployed.”

In addition to presenting a Patriot Award to Williams, Craig obtained a Statement of Support. The Statement of Support confirms that the company joins other employers in pledging:

We fully recognize, honor, and comply with the Uniformed Services Employment and ReEmployment Rights Act (USERRA).

We will provide our managers and supervisors with the tools they need to effectively manage employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve.

We appreciate the values, leadership and unique skills service members bring to the workforce and will encourage opportunities to hire Guardsmen, Reservists and Veterans.

We will continually recognize and support our country’s service members and their families, in peace, in crises and in war.

“Today, supportive employers are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation’s Guard and Reserve units,” said Craig.

“I am asking all Southeast Pennsylvania employers to take a look at their current human resources policies to incorporate policies supportive of Guard and Reserve employees.” Many Pennsylvania employers provide support above and beyond their legal requirements by law by offering pay-differential to offset the loss of wages, and extension of health care benefits, which complement coverage provided by the military, when their employees mobilize.”

Klover Contracting Inc. joins a cadre of Fortune 500 companies, state and federal, agencies and thousands of America’s employers in demonstrating support for our armed forces. Craig added: “By signing the Statement of Support, Klover Contracting Inc. is sending a clear message to its employees that while they are serving their country, they do not have to worry about their civilian jobs.”

ESGR, a Department of Defense office, 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 in the United States. ESGR facilitates and promotes a cooperative culture of employer support for National Guard and Reserve service by developing and advocating mutually beneficial initiatives, recognizing outstanding employer support, increasing awareness of applicable laws and policies, resolving potential conflicts between employers and their service members, and acting as the employers’ principal advocate within DoD. Paramount to ESGR's mission is encouraging employment of Guardsmen and Reservists who bring integrity, global perspective, and proven leadership to the civilian workforce.

For more information about ESGR Outreach Programs, or ESGR volunteer opportunities, please call 1-800-336-4590 or visit www.ESGR.mil.

2022 Volkswagen Atlas

Perhaps it’s a coincidence, but since I had the privilege of testing Volkswagen’s 4Motion (AWD) Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line, I’ve been seeing a lot of new Atlas’s on area roadways. Seems folks discovered the fine attributes of this attractive SUV.

For starters, Atlas Cross Sport R-Line has a suave, conservative yet sporty look with its sloping roofline and R-Line trim package that boasts a black-accented grille, stainless steel pedal caps and other special trim items for an extra touch of sporty toughness.

Atlas Cross Sport differs from the standard Atlas that we previously reviewed in 2021, as it doesn’t have a third-row seat. The Sport model is for folks who don’t need the extra it contains a driver information display for alerts, features, functions and other operating information.

Heated back seats offer decent leg and head room and thanks to a low-profile transaxle hump, a short-legged person can be comfortably seated in the middle seat in three abreast fashion.

As for cargo space with a hands-free liftgate, and with the rear seats upright, there’s 40.3 cubic feet of space measuring 46.5 inches deep, 47 wide and 29 high. Flip the seatbacks and capacity expands to 77.8 cubic feet for 77 inches of loading depth.