Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

February 16, 2011, Page 2

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Goetz receives Patriot’s Award

Neillsville’s Goetz Excavating owner Brad Goetz (second from right) posed with the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Patriot’s Award he received Sunday, Feb. 13, at the Neillsville Armory. Also pictured are Brandon Hensiak (left) of the Wisconsin National Guard who nominated Goetz for the award; Kenny Goetz (second from left), who is Brad’s father, and ESGR area representative Lee Kurasz (right), who presented Goetz with the award.  (Contributed photo)

By Peter Spicer

Neillsville’s Goetz Excavating owner Brad Goetz received the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Patriot’s Award Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011, at the Neillsville Armory.

Neillsville resident Brandon Hensiak – who recently returned from his second deployment to Iraq while serving with the Wisconsin National Guard’s 132^nd unit – nominated Goetz, his employer, for the Patriot’s Award for supporting him while serving the country.

Goetz Excavating is a small, family owned business, located at W4963 Carlyle Road in Neillsville.  Brad’s father, Kenny, and Hensiak were among those at the armory when Lee Kurasz, ESGR area representative, presented Goetz with the award.

“I was hired by Goetz Excavating shortly after returning from my first deployment,” Hensiak explained in his nomination form.  “Brad Goetz has always been willing to rearrange my schedule to ensure I’m at drill on time every month.”

“Goetz Excavating goes above and beyond as an employer,” stated Hensiak.  “Throughout my second deployment in 2009-2010, Brad’s mom, Jean, called my wife, Amanda, to make sure everything was going smoothly and to see if there was anything they could do for her.”

In December 2010, the ESGR presented Neillsville M&I Bank Branch Manager Bill Neville with an award for his and M&I Bank’s support of Brandon’s wife, Amanda, who is employed by M&I Bank.

Amanda nominated Neville for the award, M&I Bank had rearranged Amanda’s schedule to allow her to spend more time with Brandon when he was home on leave.