Smoke signals., December 15, 2000, Page 12, Image 10

Smoke Signals
TRIBAL MEMBER TAKES
APPRENTICESHIP
AMk
SERIOUSLY
V Jeremy Haller makes the cut in elite electricians program.
By Justin Phillips
It is the shear raw power of the
Earth. Without it, we wouldn't ex
ist. With the flick of the switch, it
can destroy and kill. It's a high
stakes game: If you play it right,
youH always win. If you lose, it could
take your life.
High voltage matter is responsible
for such phenomena as lightning
otherwise known as electricity.
There are some who defy the odds
and take the risk of working with
such raw energy and power. Tribal
member Jeremy Haller is part of an
elite squad of only 200 people ever
accepted into an electrical workers
Apprenticeship, Inc. program. The
program is based in Portland.
While visiting the Tribe's Educa
tion department to take a placement
test for college, Haller noticed a pam
phlet for the apprenticeship program.
He applied through the Eugene of
fice in person and then took the four
hour admission test.
Haller waited three months before
he was called for an interview.
When asked what the best influ
ence in his life is, Haller said it was
his mom Janell. She is the mother
of three and is the Tribe's Self-Gov-ernance
Specialist.
Two weeks after his interview,
Haller was offered the job.
"There are people I work with now
that tried to get into the program for
four years," said Haller. "The program
only accepted 23 people this year."
The five-year program consists of
working under the supervision of
journeyman electricians and 900
hours of classroom work. Also 8,000
on-the-job hours covering the basic
electrical theory, specifics about job
activities, the national electrical code
and safety training are required to
complete the course.
The 8,000 hours consist of 1,000
residential, 3,500 of commercial, 2,000
of industrial and 1,500 of specialized
electrical systems. The specialized sys
tems consist of sound, fire alarms,
data, telephone and fiber optics.
According to Haller, participants
are required to take 12 tests a year
in a classroom atmosphere. Haller
said participants could only fail three
tests in the five-year program with
out losing your apprenticeship.
"If you have failed two tests and
you fail your last test, you have
wasted close to five years of your life,"
said Haller. "It's nothing to mess
around with.", ,
Haller has to attend classes on
Tuesdays and Thursdays in Tan
gent, Oregon.
"We have homework and tests basi
cally like college classes,"
said Haller.
Haller has just finished
up the International
Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers (IBW) and the
National Electricians Con
tractors Association
(NECA) requirements.
Haller will be working
with contractors and con
tinuing to attend related
classes.
He has done work in
Hood River, Cascade
Locks and all throughout
the Polk County area.
"Jeremy is in one of the
cream of the crop pro
grams that leads to the general jour
neyman electrician," said Dan
Campbell, Training Director for Ap
prenticeship Inc.
Haller sees himself in five years as
a general journeyman with a solid
career.
Tm definitely in a good and excit
ing career, it's amazing what elec
tricity can do," says Haller. "There
definitely are a lot of challenges that
lay ahead."
There isn't a day that goes by that
he doesn't learn something new.
When he isn't working or in the
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Jeremy Haller
classroom, Haller likes to hunt and
fish. He just recently got a sand rail,
which he takes to Sand Lake Recre
ation Area. He also has a girlfriend,
Sandie Kirkman, which he spends a
lot of time with. .
Haller worked for the Tribe's Spirit
Mountain Casino for four years be
fore deciding to make a career change
to something with more challenges. '
Haller isjthe son of Janell and Tim
Haller, the grandson of Val and the
late Pete Grout and the great-grandson
of Arvella Houck. :
2XX
JPIWT MOUNTAIN CXJINO
TPJBXL
eMpLoyee profile
TITLE: Player Services Supervisor
HIRE DATE: June 1996
HOMETOWN: Born in Portland, now residing
in Sheridan.
BACKGROUNDEDUCATION:
"I attended Jesuit High School in Portland and
Willamette University in Salem. I am a recent
graduate of Career Power Development Program
for Tribal members."
JOB DUTIES: "Supervise and maintain the daily
activities of the player services representatives and
oversee the Coyote Clubs preferred player events
and promotions." ,
JOYS OF JOB: "Working within the marketing and player services department"
MOST INTERESTING PART OF YOUR JOB: "Seeing exactly what impact the market
ing and player services departments have in the casino on a daily basis."
HOBBIES: Collecting sports memorabilia, watching and participating in athletic events.
PHILOSOPHY: "Never underestimate the value of family and friends."
WHAT BROUGHT YOU HERE TO SMC? "I have always been interested in the gam
bling industry and to be able to work at my own Tribe s casino made it double the reward."
FAMILY: Richard and Leonette Galligher (parents); Erma Gronos (grandmother); and Leonard
Vivette (grandfather).
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i
WANT TO PLAY?
Beginning November 20th, Spirit Mountain Casino will be spinning the wheel
twice a day, every day. Simply watch TVs Wheel of Fortune and fill out the
entry form available while playing at the Casino. Bring your entry form to
the Coyote Club and enter our daily drawings at 1pm or 8pm. Winners will
compete for Coyote Club points and prizes. Contestants will also be invited to
the Grand Prize Gime on December 21st where someone will win an audition
for the chance to become a contestant on Wheel of Fortune, two VIP tickets to
taping of Wheel of Fortune, and a trip to Hollywood, including airfare and
hotel accommodations.
&
iPI MX MOUNTAIN
CASINO
HWy 18 CRAND R0ND6, OR 800760-7977- WWW.JPIRIT-MOUNTAIN.COM
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