GPRS continued its tradition of honoring team members who have served in the U.S. Military with the third annual GPRS Veterans Day Event.
Ryan Daggs, Justin McBroom, and Tyler Zak were the winners of this year’s event, which saw the three GPRS Veterans flown to Toledo, Ohio, for a three-day, two-night trip that featured hunting and other outdoor activities.
This was the third year of the GPRS Veterans Day Event, which is overseen by a team of GPRS team members led by Chief Financial Officer Andy Caputo, Contract Locating Manager John Kessinger, and Senior Fleet Specialist & Event Coordinator, Carman Thurman.
Kessinger conceived of the event in the summer of 2021.
“GPRS had hired a good number of veterans and hunting season was right around the corner,” he recalled. “I had always wanted to find a way to give back to the men and women who have so unselfishly put aside their own personal lives to go and serve our country. My hope is that even though our time together may be short, they leave feeling appreciated, rejuvenated, and most of all honored.”
Caputo said that “Honoring veterans is important as it demonstrates our deep appreciation for their courage and sacrifice in defending our freedoms.”
“It gives us a chance to hear their stories and show them support for their sacrifice to encourage them and let them know they are appreciated,” he explained. “For those veterans that enjoy the outdoors, the hunting experience is an extension of that appreciation and another way to thank each of them for their service.”
When Daggs, McBroom, and Zak arrived in Toledo, they first stopped off at GPRS Headquarters in Maumee, Ohio, where they were the guests of honor at a luncheon attended by GPRS Senior Leadership and other corporate team members.
The trio then spent the rest of their time hunting alongside members of GPRS Senior Leadership.
“As a kid who grew up around Los Angeles and did not grow up in a hunting family, I’ve always wanted to go,” said Daggs, a Veteran of the United States Marine Corps. “Being able to participate in the Veterans Day Event was an amazing experience for my first hunt.”
McBroom, an Air Force veteran who spent over 17 years serving his country, said “It meant a lot to me that GPRS hosted veterans and went above and beyond to show appreciation to those who have served. I like sharing with everyone some of the experiences of my time in the military.”
Zak, who is in his fifth year in the reserves and tenth total year of service, said he, “Enjoyed the opportunity to meet everyone at the corporate office and share a little about my experience in the Navy.”
“It was an honor to be honored,” he added. “I enjoy the team aspect of working at GPRS even though most of our projects are on our own. Having a team around me reminds me of the camaraderie of my team in the Navy.”
While only three veterans could win the grand prize of the hunting trip, all the veterans who entered the drawing received complimentary GPRS Veterans branded swag as a small token of our appreciation for everything they’ve done for this country.
“It is always an honor to have someone recognize the sacrifice that service members make to keep our country safe,” Zak added. “To have GPRS spend the time, money, and resources to set up a trip like this just for us shows that they really do value our service to this country, and the value they hold in having veterans work for the company.”
GPRS values leadership, integrity, and commitment to excellence. The independent and disciplined culture in the U.S. Military makes for an easy transition to our team where those same characteristics are encouraged and desired.
Click here to learn more about how the independent and disciplined culture found in the U.S. Military makes for a smooth transition to the GPRS team.
Ready to join that team? Click here to view current job openings to start your GPRS journey today!
