Guam Appreciation Day
Honoring the work of its Guam based vendors, Austability Pty Ltd, a wholly owned Australian subsidiary of Austability Group hosted its Industry Appreciation Day on Saturday 20th July in Guam. Following the devastating typhoon that struck the island in May 2023, the strongest storm to hit Guam for twenty years, Austability and its approved vendors were engaged by Amentum Inc to be part of the team tasked with recovery and repair of the damage caused by Typhoon Mawar to the Andersen Air Force Base.
The Industry Appreciation Day acknowledged the work of individuals within the Austability approved vendor ecosystem who go above and beyond to ensure excellence across all projects. With each of our vendors nominating one team member as their Employee of the Year, the event showcased Austability’s dedication to those that help us support the mission of United States Armed Forces and their Prime contractors and the significant impact of Austability's contribution to the local economy. Congratulations to the winners, John Paul Baluyut, Virgilio Manala, Roy Sahagun, Jeffrey Carlos, and Isidro R. Caballero, whose exceptional leadership and dedication have made a significant impact on Austability’s mission success.
A further special congratulations goes to John Paul Baluyut, who was also awarded the coveted Contractor of the Year award, for his dedication to health and safety standards on site, with Fabien Herbert awarded the title of Employee of the Year in Field Operations, Michelle Manibusan as Employee of the Year for Administrative & Logistical Support, and Shilue ‘DOC’ Johnson as Safety Champion of the Year.
Furthermore, as part of Austability’s Corporate Social Responsibility, Austability donated funds to two deserving charities operating in Guam: Island Girl Power and Harvest House. Both charities offer exceptional support for children in Guam and develop community ties on the island. Founded in 2002 by the Ayuda Foundation, Island Girl Power has successfully implemented a local prevention program aimed at reducing suicide, substance and sexual abuse, and teen pregnancy. Harvest House began operations in 2015 and has since recruited, trained and retained foster care parents. In 2022, the charity opened its doors to 157 children through its emergency triage center, 60 potential foster families, and 46 families going through the reunification or adoption process.
Our President & CEO, David Khandan, emphasized our commitment to supporting both physical and community infrastructure, stating: “Austability remains deeply committed to not only repairing physical infrastructure in the face of hardship, but also to supporting community infrastructure by supporting local charities Island Girl Power and Harvest House. The resilience and good nature of the people of Guam never goes unnoticed. It’s been inspiring to see the work of these charities make a positive difference on the people of Guam. For that reason, we are honored to play our part in supporting the work of these charities in developing a supportive community.”
Ginger Cruz, businesswoman, former TV news anchor, and candidate for Guam delegate in Congress, also welcomed the donations for the positive impact it will bring to Guam's children and families.
