MILWAUKEE -- On Monday, May 11, 2026, 88th Readiness Division Deputy Commanding General - Readiness Brig. Gen. Dawn Johnson attended the Wisconsin Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Breakfast with Leaders in Milwaukee at the Wisconsin Club. She joined Wisconsin National Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Matthew Strub and other state Guard leaders speaking at the event.
The breakfast, held annually by Wisconsin ESGR, recognizes Wisconsin businesses for supporting Guard and Reserve employees. ESGR is a U.S. Department of War program that promotes cooperation between civilian employers and National Guard or Reserve service members, ensuring job protections under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. It also provides assistance in resolving conflicts between Service members and their employers. Each state has their own local program.
During the event, Wisconsin-founded Kimberly Clark Corporation was also recognized for being selected as one of only 15 national Department of War ESGR Freedom Award recipients for 2025. The Freedom Award is the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for outstanding support of employees serving the National Guard and Reserve components.
Brig. Gen. Johnson spoke to the audience of more than 120 and thanked the multiple employers in attendance for their continued dedication and support to their service member employees.
“Whether our service members are pursuing civilian careers in the same or similar field or exploring dual career paths, more than 85% of our force is employed in the civilian sector – so we recognize that none of what we do would be possible without everything YOU, the employers do to enable our Guard and Reserve service members to serve the nation,” Johnson stated.
A reserve soldier herself, Johnson is the Superintendent of schools for Hutchinson Public Schools in Hutchinson, Kan. She stressed she understands the challenge of businesses losing employees to yearly military training and to deployments and reassured that ESGR’s role is to assist.
“I encourage you to share your story with other employers and let them know that ESGR is there to help employers with military employees,” she said.
A highlight of the breakfast, Wisconsin U.S. Army Reserve Ambassador-select John Gessner was presented the Wisconsin ESGR Weissgerber Award for his years of commitment and volunteerism to ESGR. His wife, Dawn, was on hand to see him receive the award.
The Jack Weissgerber Distinguished Service Award is presented by Wisconsin ESGR in honor of the late Major Jacob “Jack” Weissgerber, a Wisconsin National Guard officer and community business leader who was a very active volunteer with ESGR.
“The Jack Weissgerber Distinguished Service Award is presented to John Gessner by the ESGR committee recognizing a strong loyalty to our country, outstanding service, innovative planning and enthusiastic leadership to Wisconsin ESGR,” the citation read.
“This is a great honor to join previous recipients who have received this award,” Gessner said.
Gessner, a retired U.S. Army engineer, has volunteered with ESGR for 15 years. He retired from the Army in 2010 as a colonel after 32 combined years of active duty and Reserve. He served with the 416th Engineer Command and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters, among several others.
“When you can help a service member negotiate the hurdles of being twice the citizen, it’s a good day.”