Business News

NewPage Honored for Support of Military Members

Tuesday 25. March 2008 - NewPage Corporation today announced that it has received three awards in recognition of its support for military-member employees from the Ohio Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR).

The awards were bestowed upon NewPage at the ESGR Annual Awards and Recognition Dinner held March 15 in Dublin, Ohio. NewPage was cited for maintaining a variety of military service-friendly policies that include: providing gap pay (the difference between the employee’s military pay and on- the-job pay); extending benefits coverage; providing manager responsibility education; and scheduling temporary replacements for reservists during periods of active duty.

NewPage received the following honors:
— The State Chair “Above and Beyond” Award recognizes employers that exceed the legal requirements for granting leave and providing support for military duty.

— The Pro-Patria Award is presented to one employer in a state or territory that has provided the most exceptional support of national defense through leadership practices and human resource policies that aid employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.

— The AMVETS Award honors an organization, company or agency that has shown exceptional support of the ESGR mission in promoting both public and private understanding of the National Guard and Reserve. The $1,000 gift is awarded to the AMVETS Career Center on behalf of the honored recipient.

Michigan Army National Guard member Danny Hansen, who works for the company’s Escanaba, Michigan facility, completed and submitted the application to nominate NewPage. Hansen, a Lieutenant Colonel, is deployed in Afghanistan through the end of this year. Currently, more than 20 NewPage employees are members of state and national military reserve units.

“NewPage is very proud to be honored with these awards for what we believe is just doing the right thing. Adapting the work environment when an employee leaves is a challenge if the employee has a one-of-a-kind position,” said Mike Edicola, vice president, human resources. “We work hard to expand special skills so we have appropriate backup when these situations occur.” As an additional way to help, NewPage employees provide moral support by encouraging one another to stay in touch with deployed employees as well as sending care packages.

Captain James Hanson, a millwright at the Escanaba facility, along with Amber Garwood, company vice president of communications, accepted the awards in Colonel Hansen’s absence. “This is no small feat,” Captain Hanson noted. “It shows NewPage Corporation’s dedication and commitment to its employees during this time of frequent call-ups. Only three organizations, out of 750 nominees, received the Pro-Patria award.” Two other Escanaba employees are presently on active duty and Captain Hanson has been deployed previously.

In addition to Captain Hanson and Garwood, Edicola and Glenn Grill, NewPage director of benefits, attended the awards ceremony.