Zimmer Biomet Validation Senior Analyst Richard A. Wolfe Jr., right, presented his supervisor, ZB Engineering Manager Matthew Harmeyer, left, with an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Patriot Award during a ceremony on Wednesday, Aug. 18, outside ZB Building A. Wolfe nominated Harmeyer for the award due to his support related to Wolfe’s service as an Indiana Army National Guard chaplain. InkFreeNews photos by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — One of Zimmer Biomet’s engineering managers has been recognized for supporting an employee’s service in the Indiana Army National Guard.

ZB Validation Senior Analyst and National Guard Chaplain Richard A. Wolfe Jr. presented ZB Engineering Manager Matthew Harmeyer with the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Patriot Award on Wednesday, Aug. 18.

That was done in a ceremony outside ZB Building A. During it, ESGR Area 2 Vice Chair Jerry Hogan read a statement from Wolfe on why he had nominated Harmeyer for the award.

“Matt has shown nothing but support with regards to my military commitments,” read Hogan. “He has shown both appreciation and dedication to my mission by providing encouragement and flexibility with last-minute notifications. His support continues to be a proven leadership attribute, which demonstrates a deep sense of patriotism and devotion to this country and all those who serve in uniform.”

Wolfe told InkFreeNews after the event that he was grateful to ZB for its support of his military service.

“It’s just been a wonderful organization with providing me the confidence and the support knowing that if I deploy whether it be for a two-week annual training or a nine-month deployment that I don’t have to worry whether or not my job is secure and they go above and beyond,” he said.

“Of course everybody’s legally bound to hold your position, but it’s much more than that … they’ve taken it as a commitment upon themselves to make sure that not only am I protected, but I am supported and I can’t thank them enough for everything they’ve done,” he continued.

Wolfe has worked at ZB for almost nine years. He’s served in the Guard for 10 1/2 years, being deployed to Camp Arifjan in Kuwait from 2019-20 and being mobilized in January of this year to provide chaplain support for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) COVID-19 response in Indiana.

Before he was in the Guard, Wolfe served in the U.S. Marines for six years. He was deployed to Iraq during his time in the Marines from August 2005 to March 2006.

Also at Wednesday’s event, ZB Senior VP of Global Operations and Logistics Ken Tripp signed a statement of support of the Guard and Reserve on behalf of ZB.

“Therefore, we join other employers in pledging that we fully recognize and honor and comply with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act,” it reads in part. “We will provide our managers and supervisors with the tools they need to effectively manage those employees serving the Guard and Reserve. We appreciate the values, leadership and unique skills service members bring to the workforce and will encourage opportunities to employ Guardsmen, Reservists, transitioning service members and veterans. We will continually recognize and support our country’s service members and their families in peace and crisis and in war.”

Posing for a photo after the ceremony are from left: ZB Senior VP of Global Operations and Logistics Ken Tripp, ZB Licensing Director Andy Stenoish, Harmeyer, Wolfe, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Area 2 Vice Chair Jerry Hogan and ZB VP Operations Matthew Scott.