Doing Our Part While They Do Theirs

How It Started

Spacesaver’s team of storage experts comprises individuals of all walks of life. For some it is their first job and for others it may be their last, but for one particular employee it most certainly is not their only job, and the other is one to be proud of.

Just over a year ago, Captain Britta Pokornowski – a member of the Michigan Army National Guard assigned to the Headquarters Company, 107th Engineer Battalion, Ishpeming, MI – joined Spacesaver’s Product Engineering department, led by Brent Rusch, Product Engineering Manager at Spacesaver.

Answering the Call

Fully honoring the Guard’s motto of being “Always Ready, Always There”, Pokornowski was required to take leave from her day-to-day at Spacesaver to train and serve with her unit; a fact that Rusch and the rest of her team understood and appreciated. So, when the time came for her to answer the call, she knew she could leave with the confidence that her team at Spacesaver headquarters would hold down the Fort until her return.

An Awarding Reward

Taking into consideration Rusch’s willingness to help encourage her ability to make an impact both in the office and with her unit, Pokornowski wanted to find a way to honor his efforts. Knowing there were several programs in place through the military to do just that, she nominated Rusch for the Patriot Award, which recognizes efforts made to support citizen warriors 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. Upon learning her nomination was accepted, Pokornowski organized an award ceremony, which took place at Spacesaver’s headquarters in Fort Atkinson, WI.