Wisconsin Heroes Recognized by Governor Doyle
MADISON – Governor Jim Doyle tonight recognized the following individuals in his State of the State address:
• Jeffrey Skiles – A pilot from Oregon, Jeffrey Skiles served as co- pilot of US Airways Flight 1549 on January 15, 2009, a flight leaving La Guardia Airport in New York. Shortly after takeoff, the flight reportedly suffered a double bird strike and lost power in both engines. Beside Captain C.B. Sullenberger, Skiles helped to expertly navigate the jetliner during an emergency landing in the Hudson River – all 155 passengers and crew members were moved to safety with no major injuries. The skill and professionalism displayed by Jeffrey Skiles in this emergency is truly heroic.
• Will Allen – CEO of Growing Power Community Food Center, Will Allen is a former professional basketball player who saw urban Milwaukee as an unlikely center for agriculture. In September, Allen was awarded a “genius grant” from the Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation for his work to bring affordable, healthy food to urban neighborhoods. Allen has found a way to raise fish and fresh vegetables in a home-made ecosystem alive on the north side of Milwaukee. He exemplifies what it takes for the State to succeed – people who find ways to innovate and to do more with what we have.
• Joe Van Groll – A small business owner, Van Groll began Dubay Ingredients & Grand Meadow Energies after years of working in a small in cheese plant in Stratford and being responsible for the disposal of whey. Because of the difficulty of disposing of whey, Van Groll successfully pursued a technology that would turn whey into ethanol and is poised to produce up to two million gallons of ethanol per year. Most recently, he has finished a prototype that would turn algae into biodiesel. Van Groll’s vision, creativity and hard work show us that even the smallest business can provide us with more than we thought possible.
• The Wisconsin National Guard - Next month, the Wisconsin National Guard will begin its largest deployment ever of Wisconsin troops. More than 3,500 men and women will be called up to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Governor offered them and their fellow members of the military and their families, our state’s gratitude.
Sergeant First Class Ron Adams, Sergeant Allen Robertson, and Staff Sergeant Jarret D. Nelson represent the best of what Wisconsin has to offer. All three take advantage of Wisconsin’s tuition waver for veterans. They have served our country, and our duty is to make sure our state is serving them and helping their future be as bright as it can be.
Sergeant First Class Ron Adams of Milwaukee earned a B.S. degree in business management from the University of Phoenix in 2006, and is currently attending Moody Bible College for his Masters Degree in Ministry. He deployed during the first Gulf War in 1991. Adams is a recipient of the Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Good Conduct Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze service stars, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral 3, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) and the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), plus Wisconsin state awards.
Sergeant Allen Robertson, 32d Brigade Special Troops Battalion, deployed to Iraq 2007-2008. He holds a Bachelors Degree, recently completed training for Rescue Diver and Ice Rescue Specialist. He is currently enrolled in an Emergency Medical Technician Course at his local Technical College and looks forward to graduating in May 2009. He lives in Chetek.
Staff Sergeant Jarret D. Nelson is assigned to Headquarters Detachment 641st Troop Command Battalion in Madison where he has performed the duties of Supply Sergeant since May 1st 2006. SSG Nelson has deployed twice in the past: once in 2001 to Afghanistan, and again in 2003 to Kuwait. Both deployments were with the 829th Engineer Detachment from Richland Center, WI. Jarret started attending College from 1996-1998 at the UW-Richland Center, and again from 1999-2001 at UW-Platteville. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies in July 2008 from Thomas A Edison State College located in Trenton, NJ. He intends on pursuing his Masters degree starting this fall. Jarret's wife Christy is currently a student with the University of Phoenix Online and will be using some of Jarret’s GI Bill benefits once the new rules take effect this fall.
• Wisconsin workers – Wisconsin is home to the best and hardest working people in the country. The worst consequence of our country’s economic condition is that, through no fault of their own, many of the best workers – here and across the country – have lost their jobs. It means that highly skilled men and women who months before were the foundation of leading companies are suddenly unemployed.
Behind unemployment numbers are real families. Janesville assembly plant workers Lynette Holden, Jim Koeberl, Todd Brien and Leo Carillo represent the skilled, hard workers of this state.
Lenette Holden is a second generation automotive industry worker. She started working at the GM Janesville plant in 1995 but was recently laid off. She is currently talking classes at Blackhawk Technical College. Luckily, Lenette has other skills to fall back on as she is a Professional Licensed Nail Technician, a Professional Nail Instructor, and a Medical Assistant.
Jim Koeberl was born and raised in Janesville. He has worked for GM 23 years – 11 years on the line and the last 12 in the benefits office. He would like to retire in Janesville in about 10 years and hopes that he will be able to keep his job.
Todd Brien, a Janesville native, is a second generation GM worker who has worked there for 23 years – his father worked at GM for 40 years – before being laid off. Brien is active in his community, volunteering with the United Way, Boys and Girls Club, and the Exchange Family Resource Center.
Leo Carrillo is a Janesville native. After high school he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. After serving his country, Carrillo worked at GM for eight years before he was laid off. He had various jobs while in the General Assembly Dept. Carrillo is also a Volunteer EMT/Firefighter and is currently working towards his firefighter certification at Blackhawk Technical College.
• Sherrie Bencik – A UW-Madison med school student, Sherrie Bencik uses BadgerCare Plus. In her final year of med school, Bencik is also pregnant with a baby due this spring. After graduation, she will start her Residency in the fall in Emergency Medicine.
• Jeffrey Skiles – A pilot from Oregon, Jeffrey Skiles served as co- pilot of US Airways Flight 1549 on January 15, 2009, a flight leaving La Guardia Airport in New York. Shortly after takeoff, the flight reportedly suffered a double bird strike and lost power in both engines. Beside Captain C.B. Sullenberger, Skiles helped to expertly navigate the jetliner during an emergency landing in the Hudson River – all 155 passengers and crew members were moved to safety with no major injuries. The skill and professionalism displayed by Jeffrey Skiles in this emergency is truly heroic.
• Will Allen – CEO of Growing Power Community Food Center, Will Allen is a former professional basketball player who saw urban Milwaukee as an unlikely center for agriculture. In September, Allen was awarded a “genius grant” from the Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation for his work to bring affordable, healthy food to urban neighborhoods. Allen has found a way to raise fish and fresh vegetables in a home-made ecosystem alive on the north side of Milwaukee. He exemplifies what it takes for the State to succeed – people who find ways to innovate and to do more with what we have.
• Joe Van Groll – A small business owner, Van Groll began Dubay Ingredients & Grand Meadow Energies after years of working in a small in cheese plant in Stratford and being responsible for the disposal of whey. Because of the difficulty of disposing of whey, Van Groll successfully pursued a technology that would turn whey into ethanol and is poised to produce up to two million gallons of ethanol per year. Most recently, he has finished a prototype that would turn algae into biodiesel. Van Groll’s vision, creativity and hard work show us that even the smallest business can provide us with more than we thought possible.
• The Wisconsin National Guard - Next month, the Wisconsin National Guard will begin its largest deployment ever of Wisconsin troops. More than 3,500 men and women will be called up to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Governor offered them and their fellow members of the military and their families, our state’s gratitude.
Sergeant First Class Ron Adams, Sergeant Allen Robertson, and Staff Sergeant Jarret D. Nelson represent the best of what Wisconsin has to offer. All three take advantage of Wisconsin’s tuition waver for veterans. They have served our country, and our duty is to make sure our state is serving them and helping their future be as bright as it can be.
Sergeant First Class Ron Adams of Milwaukee earned a B.S. degree in business management from the University of Phoenix in 2006, and is currently attending Moody Bible College for his Masters Degree in Ministry. He deployed during the first Gulf War in 1991. Adams is a recipient of the Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Good Conduct Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze service stars, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral 3, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) and the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), plus Wisconsin state awards.
Sergeant Allen Robertson, 32d Brigade Special Troops Battalion, deployed to Iraq 2007-2008. He holds a Bachelors Degree, recently completed training for Rescue Diver and Ice Rescue Specialist. He is currently enrolled in an Emergency Medical Technician Course at his local Technical College and looks forward to graduating in May 2009. He lives in Chetek.
Staff Sergeant Jarret D. Nelson is assigned to Headquarters Detachment 641st Troop Command Battalion in Madison where he has performed the duties of Supply Sergeant since May 1st 2006. SSG Nelson has deployed twice in the past: once in 2001 to Afghanistan, and again in 2003 to Kuwait. Both deployments were with the 829th Engineer Detachment from Richland Center, WI. Jarret started attending College from 1996-1998 at the UW-Richland Center, and again from 1999-2001 at UW-Platteville. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies in July 2008 from Thomas A Edison State College located in Trenton, NJ. He intends on pursuing his Masters degree starting this fall. Jarret's wife Christy is currently a student with the University of Phoenix Online and will be using some of Jarret’s GI Bill benefits once the new rules take effect this fall.
• Wisconsin workers – Wisconsin is home to the best and hardest working people in the country. The worst consequence of our country’s economic condition is that, through no fault of their own, many of the best workers – here and across the country – have lost their jobs. It means that highly skilled men and women who months before were the foundation of leading companies are suddenly unemployed.
Behind unemployment numbers are real families. Janesville assembly plant workers Lynette Holden, Jim Koeberl, Todd Brien and Leo Carillo represent the skilled, hard workers of this state.
Lenette Holden is a second generation automotive industry worker. She started working at the GM Janesville plant in 1995 but was recently laid off. She is currently talking classes at Blackhawk Technical College. Luckily, Lenette has other skills to fall back on as she is a Professional Licensed Nail Technician, a Professional Nail Instructor, and a Medical Assistant.
Jim Koeberl was born and raised in Janesville. He has worked for GM 23 years – 11 years on the line and the last 12 in the benefits office. He would like to retire in Janesville in about 10 years and hopes that he will be able to keep his job.
Todd Brien, a Janesville native, is a second generation GM worker who has worked there for 23 years – his father worked at GM for 40 years – before being laid off. Brien is active in his community, volunteering with the United Way, Boys and Girls Club, and the Exchange Family Resource Center.
Leo Carrillo is a Janesville native. After high school he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. After serving his country, Carrillo worked at GM for eight years before he was laid off. He had various jobs while in the General Assembly Dept. Carrillo is also a Volunteer EMT/Firefighter and is currently working towards his firefighter certification at Blackhawk Technical College.
• Sherrie Bencik – A UW-Madison med school student, Sherrie Bencik uses BadgerCare Plus. In her final year of med school, Bencik is also pregnant with a baby due this spring. After graduation, she will start her Residency in the fall in Emergency Medicine.
posted by Cheryl Hentz at 10:29 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home