COMMONWEALTH Utilities Corp.’s safety department supervisor Joseph Muna, chief of administration Betty Terlaje and William S. Reyes Elementary School principal Lyn Sharon Mendiola on Thursday received the Patriotic Employer Award from Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Guam-CNMI Committee.
The award is given to those who contribute to national security and the protection of liberty and freedom by supporting their employees’ participation in the U.S. National Guard or Army Reserve.
Muna and Terlaje were nominated by Army Reserve Cpl. Robert Lieto who works at CUC as safety technician, while Mendiola was nominated by Army Reserve Spc. Roque Pulido, a teacher aide who has been reassigned as the school’s registrar.
ESGR Guam-CNMI area chair Rita A. Sablan, Ed.D., ombudsman Joann T. Aquino and employer outreach coordinator Rose Igitol handed the awards.
Lieto said his supervisors appreciate and fully support his military service. They do not hesitate to put him back to work after his military duty, and they also listen to the ideas he offers to the table of leadership, he added.
Muna, who shared the Patriotic Employer Award with CUC’s management, said Lieto is one of the best guys in his section.
In 2020, he said CUC recognized Lieto as its employee of the year, for all his hard work in the past 20 years.
For her part, Terlaje shared the award with CUC Executive Director Gary Camacho. She said they work as a team when making decisions for their employees who are also servicemembers. She said they deeply appreciate Lieto’s service.
Camacho said CUC and ESGR have been partners for many years, adding that CUC supports its staff who are with the military. “We understand their sacrifices and we understand their commitment to the community,” he added. “We are always here for ESGR and we believe that it is such a wonderful thing.”
At WSR Elementary School, Igitol read Pulido’s testimony before handing the award to Mendiola.
Pulido said as the school registrar, his duty during summer coincidentally occurred with his annual training. The principal and vice principal Jocelyn Manibusan — without complaints — took over his job when he was off-island for 29 days, and an additional five days of quarantine upon his return.
Sablan said the Patriotic Employer Award recognizes supervisors and the employers for the tremendous support system they provide to their employees who are also servicemembers.
Commonwealth Utilities Corp. Safety Department supervisor Joseph Muna fourth left, and CUC chief of administration Betty Terlaje, center, pose for a photo with safety officer, Army Cpl. Robert Lieto, third left, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Guam-CNMI Area Chair Rita A. Sablan, Ed. D., fourth right, ombudsman Joann T. Aquino, second left, employer outreach coordinator Rose Igitol, left, CUC Executive Director Gary Camacho, third right, and other CUC personnel.
William S. Reyes Elementary School principal Lyn Sharon Mendiola, center, with vice principal Jocelyn Manibusan, Spc. Roque Pulido, ESGR Guam-CNMI Area Chair Rita A. Sablan, Ed.D. and employer outreach coordinator Rose Igitol.
