MaineGeneral Health manager recognized for supporting employees who also serve in the Guard and Reserve

WATERVILLE, Maine – Tabitha Washburn, supervisor of Patient Access at MaineGeneral Health (MGH), today received the Patriot Award from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). The Patriot Award recognizes individual managers for their steadfast support of employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.

“It is an honor to work for a company where our values and standards encourage teammates to support each other at work, in their personal lives, and when serving our country,” Washburn said.

Also in attendance at the ceremony were Chuck Hays, president & CEO of MaineGeneral Health and Katharine Noble, who works in the MaineGeneral Pre-Arrival Unit and also is master sergeant in the Maine Air National Guard. Noble nominated Washburn, her manager, for the award.

Additionally, leadership from the 101^st Air Refueling Wing Maintenance Group, where Noble serves, participated in the event. Noble is due to deploy to Qatar in December and return in September 2022.

“I am proud to be a member of the Maine Air National Guard and MaineGeneral Health,” Noble said. “I have never encountered the kind of thoughtfulness and support from an employer as I do at MaineGeneral. It’s so comforting to know that everyone at MaineGeneral – from the top leadership down to my department – has my back and is willing to step up or take on more responsibility so I can go away on military orders, sometimes on short notice. This allows me to focus on the military mission at hand and to lead my airmen without distractions.”

Hays said he is proud that MaineGeneral has been recognized for supporting employees who serve in the Guard and Reserves. “We’re pleased that our team members receive recognition for doing something we feel strongly is the right thing to do,” Hays said. “Our employees who are Guard and Reserve members play a large role in the culture of excellence at MaineGeneral, to the benefit of all our patients.”

Bethanie Mazzaro, volunteer support technician with ESGR, said, “Our hope is that together we create a culture in which all Maine employers value the military service of their employees who serve in the Reserves or National Guard. ESGR will mitigate any issues between employers and service members regarding Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act and any information that the law requires.”

“Civilian employers play a critical role enabling our airmen to stop what they’re doing and answer when our state or nation calls,” said Colonel Gavin Batchelder, 101^st Maintenance Group Commander. “We’re grateful for the outstanding support MaineGeneral has shown.”

To learn more about a career at MaineGeneral, go to www.mainegeneral.org/careers.

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