Kathy Robinet, an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves volunteer, gives the Patriot Award to Bob Dillman, district sales manager for Medtronics in Wexford, for his support of 1st Lt. Steve Duran, who recently returned from a deployment in Iraq. The Patriot Award honors employers who go above and beyond to support and take care of employees serving overseas. Dillman made sure Duran continued to be paid while called to duty.

CRANBERRY TWP — 1st Lt. Steve Duran's deployment to Iraq last year placed an incredible burden on his wife and their two teenage children. But thanks to his employer, the family was able to avoid the added stress of potential financial disaster.

Duran of Cranberry Township was a salesman for Medtronics, a medical devices company in Wexford, before his deployment in September 2008 with the 128th Brigade Support Battalion, Pennsylvania Army National Guard. The family knew his National Guard pay would not be enough to cover the bills while Duran was gone.

Enter Duran's boss, Bob Dillman, who met with company heads at the corporate office in Mississippi in an effort to have Duran's salary and benefits continue while he was away. Duran said Dillman called him the day he left for three months of National Guard training in Mississippi and Louisiana to tell him the company had decided to continue to pay him while he was gone.

"I was elated because it took a lot of pressure off worrying about the family and finances at home," said Duran, who arrived back in the U.S. in September after a nine-month stint in Iraq.

An award ceremony was held Thursday night at Medtronics' facility in Carmody Plaza in Marshall Township to honor Dillman for his efforts.

"I just learned about that, and that it was going in the paper," Dillman said on Thursday afternoon. "Let's keep the focus on Steve."

Duran, who returned Oct. 5 to the job he had for four years, said paying the mortgage alone without his Medtronics pay would have been impossible.

"It would have been a disaster," Duran said. "They are not required to pay anything while I'm away."

Candace Duran also found out her financial worries were over just as her husband was preparing to say goodbye.

"It was a really huge relief," she said.

She said her husband's paycheck was directly deposited into the family's bank account each week, and all medical benefits continued as well.

"It's completely supportive, especially with the economy and everything," Candace said.

She said the situation allowed her to remain working part time at her job, which in turn meant she could spend time with the couple's children, Caitlyn, 18, and Ryan, 16. Candace was able to get Caitlyn off to college and to attend Ryan's activities without the stress of financial need.

"We are really grateful for all of it," Candace said.

Dillman, who shies away from any accolades for having the pay and benefits continued, said Thursday it is Medtronic's position to take care of the men and women who selflessly serve all Americans overseas.

"We wanted to make sure the family was not hurting or falling behind because he deployed," Dillman said.

Dillman said of Medtronics' 1,000 salespersons, Duran is the only one he knows of who served in Iraq.

Dillman kept in touch with Duran as much as possible, and checked in with Candace Duran sporadically during his time away from home. Dillman said the other salespeople in the Wexford office stepped in to cover Duran's territory while he was deployed."It was a team effort to keep things afloat for him," Dillman said.The continued pay and benefits were not the only support the Durans received before his deployment. The couple's circle of friends painted several rooms and ceilings in the Duran home on the weekend before his departure, which was reported in the Butler Eagle.Dillman said all were elated and relieved when their co-worker returned home safely six weeks ago after nine months in Iraq."First and foremost, as a person, I'm certainly glad for he and his family that he returned safely," Dillman said. "And of course it was a big deal to myself and our team that he's back."Dillman said it didn't take much talking to get the corporate office on board with his idea."I think it says our company stands behind our men and women serving our country and it was the right thing to do," he said.Candace Duran is glad her husband is back home and working again."We are very, very relieved he's home and we're happy to have him share the responsibilities again," Candace said. "We had a lot of friends and family who were very supportive."

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