Celebrating Kristina Lavallee's Patriot Award: A Tribute to Military Support at The Cake Girl

We’re thrilled to announce that Kristina Lavallee, founder and creative force behind The Cake Girl, has been awarded the esteemed Patriot Award by the Department of Defense Office of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). Presented by ESGR Area Chair for Florida, Bernie Currie, this award highlights Kristina’s unwavering dedication to supporting National Guard and Reserve members in her team at our bakery located at 14851 N Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL.

The Patriot Award is given to individual supervisors, not organizations, and reflects the remarkable support given to “Citizen Warriors”—those who balance civilian careers and military service. This honor is reserved for supervisors who go above and beyond the requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), ensuring that service members have the flexibility and understanding they need. For Kristina, this means offering flexible scheduling, time off before and after deployment, supporting families, and granting leaves of absence as needed.

Receiving the Patriot Award is deeply meaningful to Kristina. As she shared, "Supporting our service members, whether active, reserve, or retired, is something I am truly passionate about. Their dedication, sacrifices, and resilience inspire me every day. It’s an honor to give back in even the smallest way by making sure they and their families have our full support."

The ESGR’s recognition emphasizes Kristina’s commitment to each member of her team, especially those connected to the military. We’re proud to celebrate this milestone with her and to highlight her contributions not only as a business leader but as a true advocate for our military community.

At The Cake Girl, we believe that supporting our community strengthens us all. Kristina’s dedication to our citizen warriors is a testament to the values we hold dear, and we are honored to celebrate her and this significant achievement. Congratulations, Kristina, on this well-deserved recognition!