Missouri-based Insurance Brokers Group has been presented with a Patriotic Employer Award by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. The locally-owned insurance firm was awarded for contributing to national security by supporting employee participation in the National Guard and Reserve Force. The independent brokerage, owned and operated by John Espenschied  is licensed across eight states. Mr Espenschied told the St. Louis Post-Despatch: “This is a tremendous award! We are proud to support our troops and welcome the opportunity to hire more veterans and reservists for our agency.”