News Article

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Womble Carlyle has been recognized with the 2007 Above and Beyond Award, given to companies that demonstrate outstanding commitment to employees in the National Guard and Reserve.

The Above and Beyond Award is given by the Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency within the Department of Defense. The firm received the award on Saturday, Jan. 27th, at a statewide ceremony at Greensboro’s Koury Convention Center. Recipients must exceed legal requirements for providing support to employees who also serve in the military.

For example, Womble Carlyle makes up the difference in pay for employees on active duty, so they will not suffer a pay cut while serving their country. The firm also allows employees and their families to maintain their health care, dental and insurance benefits while they are away.

Beyond the firm’s policies, Womble Carlyle provides emotional support to its employees in uniform. Employees who recently have been deployed in the Middle East have been recognized at going-away and welcome home events and have received cards, e-mails and "care packages" from the firm while overseas.

Attorney Chris Geis, a Navy Reservist, recently returned to the firm from a tour of duty in Kuwait, while attorney Brad Wood, an Army Reservist, could be called to active duty this year. Both attended the ESGR ceremony.

"Members of the Reserve and National Guard are on the front line of defense for this country," said Keith W. Vaughan, the firm’s Managing Member. "We at Womble Carlyle support the sacrifices made by people like Chris Geis, Brad Wood and all of the Reservists and National Guard members."

Mr. Vaughan and Raleigh Member of the firm and former North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Burley Mitchell, himself a Navy veteran, accepted the award on behalf of the firm.

Major General John R. Hawkins III, the Army’s Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, was the keynote speaker for Saturday’s ceremony. He praised the role North Carolina employers are playing in support of the military.

"We cannot do our job without the support of our employers," Hawkins said. “If we can get 49 other states to do what you are doing, we’ll be fine."

Also representing Womble Carlyle at the awards ceremony were Elizabeth L. Quick, the Managing Member of the firm’s Winston-Salem office; Winston-Salem Member Robert L. Quick; Chief Talent Officer Carmen Canales; Winston-Salem Office Administrator Keith Tedrow; Greensboro Office Administrator Melissa Weaver; and retired Human Resources Director Pat Kight.