Shallotte, NC – Justin Parsons, Director of Operations Services for FOCUS Broadband, was recently awarded the Employer Support of The Guard and Reserve’s (ESGR) prestigious Patriot Award for supporting employee participation in America’s National Guard and Reserve Force.

The Patriot Award highlights the efforts made by a supervisor to support Guard Members or Reservists 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. ESGR, a Department of Defense program, was established in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component service members and their civilian employers and to assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee's military commitment.

“This is an individual award for a supervisor that goes out of their way to support an employee who is being deployed,” stated Jason Thompson, ESGR volunteer. “It is essential to the Reservists to have support from their supervisor. It gives them one less thing to worry about when they’re being deployed and mobilized to serve our country overseas. It is evident that the team here at FOCUS Broadband has a true respect for what Reservists, Guard Members and Veterans bring to the company through their skills, leadership, dedication and work ethic.”

National Guard or Reserve service members, or the spouse of a Guard or Reserve member, may nominate individual supervisors and bosses whose efforts in support of military service go above and beyond. Those nominations are then reviewed by national-level ESGR personnel, and approved nominations receive the Patriot Award. Parsons was nominated by Brett Burris, Communication Services Technician at FOCUS Broadband, who is currently deployed in Kuwait.

“I am honored to receive this award,” said Parsons. “But there was no grand plan behind what I’ve done. It’s just doing the right thing in support of our folks who step up to serve and protect our country.”

"We are very proud of Justin for receiving the prestigious Patriot Award,” said Keith Holden, FOCUS Broadband CEO. “Leaders like Justin are what make FOCUS Broadband a great place for Veterans, Guard Members and Reservists to work.”