Walser Leaders Honored with Patriot Award by ESGR

Walser leaders Andrew Walser, Sherry Schultz, and Dayna Kleve were honored this week with the prestigious Patriot Award from the Minnesota Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR).

ESGR Military Outreach Director Tom Haugo stands alongside Walser’s Dayna Kleve, Andrew Walser, Andrew Ross, and Sherry Schultz.

This recognition highlights employers who demonstrate extraordinary support for their National Guard and Reserve employees. The nomination came from E-5 Andrew Ross, Parts Manager at Walser Nissan Wayzata, a Sergeant with the Minnesota National Guard, and a dedicated member of the Veterans at Walser Employee Resource Group.

Ross, who serves as a Small Arms/Towed Artillery Repairer with G Company, 134th Brigade Support Battalion, based at Camp Ripley, praised Walser’s commitment to military employees through initiatives like flexible scheduling, time off for deployment transitions, and the establishment of the Veterans at Walser employee resource group (ERG).

Veterans at Walser, launched in 2024, aims to build a strong community for veteran employees by providing support, resources, career pathways, comradery, community connections, and recognition for their service.

“Dayna and Sherry’s unwavering commitment to creating an inclusive and Veteran-friendly workplace has made Walser a company where Veterans not only want to work, but feel a deep sense of pride and belonging,” Ross wrote in his nomination. “Their proactive approach in securing partnerships with external organizations has brought invaluable resources to Walser, offering our Veterans the support they need to excel both professionally and personally,” he said.

The award was presented by ESGR Military Outreach Director Tom Haugo.

In November 2024, guided by the Veterans at Walser initiative, Walser reinforced its commitment to Veterans and active-duty military members by introducing a $250 Military and Veteran Vehicle Discount.

This lifetime discount has no disability requirements or expiration date and is stackable, recognizing the sacrifice of service members long after their time in uniform.

These efforts reflect Walser’s dedication to becoming not just an automotive retailer of choice in the but also a leading employer for military members and Veterans. While our journey to better support Veterans is still unfolding, recognitions like the Patriot Award underscore the strides we’ve has made and our ongoing commitment to supporting those who serve.

ESGR is an office of the Department of Defense. Click to learn more about the volunteer organization and the Patriot Award.

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