CHANTILLY and ARLINGTON, VA. July 19, 2005 – Communication Technologies, Inc. (COMTek), a premier provider of information technology (IT) services to the federal government and private companies, and the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense, announced today that COMTek will sign a “5-Star Statement of Support” for its employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve. As part of its work for the federal government, COMTek’s Army ROTC Functional Support contract delivers military and leadership instruction at the college and university levels to students at over 270 campus locations across the US.
Tom Hart, employer outreach coordinator for the Virginia Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, will present the “5-Star Statement of Support” to be signed by COMTek President and CEO Joseph Fergus tomorrow at the COMTek headquarters in Chantilly, Virginia. Separately, the North Carolina Committee for ESGR will announce tomorrow that it is recognizing COMTek with an “Above and Beyond” employer award for its extraordinary support of the family of a ROTC instructor who was deployed to Iraq.
The “5-Star Statement of Support” confirms that COMTek has taken the following steps: signed a statement publicly demonstrating its support for their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve; promotes training for managers and supervisors to effectively manage its employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve; reviewed its Human Resources policies to ensure compliance with the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act Law (USERRA); and is an advocate for employee service in the National Guard and Reserve and will help to promote the mission of ESGR.
Dr. Fergus stated: “As a military veteran, I am proud to have COMTek pledge the highest level of support for our employees who are among the men and women who are serving and defending our country. A major part of COMTek’s mission is to provide highly qualified and motivated contract employees who are focused on enhancing the United States Army Cadet Commands mission of recruiting, training, retaining, and commissioning the Army’s future leaders at colleges and universities across the country.”
Hart said: “Today, supportive employers are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation’s National Guard and Reserve units. By meeting the ‘5-Star Statement of Support’ criteria, the management of COMTek stands proudly with their Guard and Reserve employees, who like the Minutemen before them, answer their nation’s call to defend our way of life. Their personal sacrifices are essential to the strength of our nation. I am asking all of America’s employers to join COMTek in reviewing and amending their current human resources policies to ensure compliance with USERRA.”
In addition to signing the “5-Star Statement of Support,” COMTek will be awarded the prestigious ESGR "Above and Beyond" award, which recognizes patriotic employers that provide support in excess of the minimum requirements of USERRA. COMTek was nominated for the award for its support of the family of a ROTC instructor who was deployed overseas in Iraq.
Fergus said: “COMTek has taken many steps on a voluntary basis to provide support to our employees who are deployed and returning from the global war on terrorism. Whether it is extending benefits to ensure a soldier’s family has health care, sending CARE packages overseas to our deployed employees, or making a corporate scholarship donation for a recent employee who died in June while on duty in Iraq, COMTek is doing its utmost to ensure our people and their families get what they need.”
COMTek’s Army ROTC Functional Support contract is unique in that most of the professional cadre supplied by the company must either be retired or actively serving Guard or Reserve personnel, with the majority being officers. At 270 campuses across the United States, the COMTek experts present ROTC instruction and field training, lead cadet recruiting and retention at many sites, perform program administration, and provide field training to current and prospective cadets at Army ROTC Basic and Advanced Camps. COMTek’s approach to fulfilling the federal contract is exceptionally efficient due to the company’s innovative use of Web-enabled technology.
Of the more than 500 employees at COMTek working on the Army ROTC training project, 103 are currently on active duty. COMTek has had a total of more than 234 Army Reservists and National Guard members activated since September 11, 2001, some serving two tours. Individuals on the Army ROTC training contract have been backstopped with temporary hires of equal or greater experience and technical qualifications. The requirement to fill these positions was not a part of the federal contract, but COMTek elected to do so in order to add value to what it is delivering to the military.
About COMTek
Communication Technologies, Inc. (http://www.comtechnologies.com) is a leading-edge telecommunications and information technology company. As part of its worldwide broadband service, COMTek owns and operates the first city-wide commercial broadband over powerline network in the United States.
On December 1, 2004, COMTek announced that it had been named by Inc. magazine as one of the 500 fastest-growing privately held companies in the United States. The COMTek success story made the company a natural for inclusion on the "Inc. 500" hottest company list. COMTek's total growth, as measured by average annual sales revenues, was up 303 percent from 1999 to 2003 and its employee ranks more than doubled during calendar year 2002. With over 900 employees today, COMTek continues to build on 14 years of experience in providing superior service to its customers.
About ESGR
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve is a U.S. Department of Defense agency established in 1972. The mission of ESGR is to gain and maintain active support from all public and private employers for the men and women of the National Guard and Reserve. ESGR volunteers provide free education, consultation, and if necessary mediation for employers of Guard and Reserve employees. As the 1.2 million members of the National Guard and Reserve continue to perform an increasing number of unique missions that require extraordinary actions on the part of everyday citizens, ESGR will continue to be the informational agency for the employers of America’s Patriots. More information about ESGR Employer Outreach Programs and volunteer opportunities is available at http:://www.esgr.mil.
CONTACT: Ailis Aaron, (703) 276-3265 or aaaron@hastingsgroup.com
