Keith McComsey, director of air disc brake systems and products at Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems in Avon, Ohio, was recently honored with the Department of Defense's Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) office's Patriot Award.
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McComsey supervises Kinjal Mistry, a product owner in McComsey's department and chief petty officer in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. Mistry's efforts lead to McComsey's recognition. She has served in the Coast Guard since 2014 and joined Bendix in 2016. McComsey has been her supervisor since 2020.
"I wanted to take a step to express my sincere gratitude to Keith and Bendix for unwavering support of my military duties," Mistry says. "A true leader is not just one who guides in the workplace but also one who supports the call of duty, understanding that service to country is just as important as service to company. Knowing that I have the backing of such a supportive employer has made balancing my responsibilities much easier. Bendix's commitment to the well-being of employees who serve in the military is truly commendable, and it makes a significant difference in the lives of those who serve."
The ESGR office was founded in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve component service members and their civilian employers. The Patriot Award is given to individual supervisors and not to an entire staff or organization and reflects the 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.
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"Supporting Kinjal's service in the reserves was an easy choice because I have the utmost respect for those who serve and sacrifice like she does," McComsey says. "I wanted to clear the way so she could do that without feeling uncomfortable, and without any thought that this might be viewed as a burden in the workplace. It's an honor to accept this recognition, and while our co-workers and I appreciate all that Kinjal does here at Bendix, the thanks for her service to our country comes from all of us and our families as well."
McComsey is a member of the Bendix Patriots, an employee resource group to support service members and veterans within the company, in an employee's family and in the larger community. The group organizes an annual Veterans Day recognition breakfast for employees, volunteers on National Wreaths Across America Day, and hosts guest speakers. The group is headed up by IT Manager Marc Sotak.
"I served eight years, but when I joined Bendix 20 years back, there wasn't a lot of awareness in the organization about what it would mean if I continued my active duty in the reserves and could potentially be deployed and have to step away from the workplace," Sotak says. "Things are thankfully a little different now, and when Kinjal made me aware of the Patriot Award program, I saw a great opportunity to help our group build bridges between veterans and their families and the community. It's about helping contribute to understanding, and educating, and making a difference."
