Smoke Signals
New Geographic Information Services Analyst In Policy & Planning Department
Time spent working with Natural Resources and Culture has kept Jeff Arnst busy so far.
8 FEBRUARY 1, 2006
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GIS Analyst Jeff Axnst
erty and highlight property boarders
between Tribal and non-Tribal lands.
He then adds titles to all major build
ings, highways, access roads and gives
a total amount of Tribal acreage in the
photo. The art of making such maps
is known as cartography.
Another job duty for Arnst is to cre
ate an Annual Report for all land acqui
sitions by Tribal government.
Arnst, 45, grew up in La Grande,
Oregon. He graduated from La
Grande High School before picking up
some side jobs around the area. He
then enrolled into Blue Mountain Com
munity College (BMCC) in Pendleton,
Oregon where he received his Diesel
Mechanic Degree. While earning his
degree at BMCC, he also enrolled into
the Army National Guard. Arnst has
been working in the National Guard
for 24 years and is currently a Marks
manship Instructor.
After receiving his degree, he became
a Mechanic for four years. With a burn
ing desire to go back to school, Arnst then
enrolled into Oregon State University in
Corvallis where he earned a Bachelor of
Geography Science Degree. In 1990, he
got his first taste of GIS while working
for the Siuslaw National Forest.
After two-and-a-half years with
the forest service, Arnst began work
ing for CH2M Hill in Corvallis as
their GIS Analyst. He did project
work for CH2M Hill for six years
until 1999. He then found that he
wanted to be closer to Portland, so
he found work at URS, an engineer
ing and consulting firm. He was
hired on as the Lead GIS Analyst
and received some experience in
managing, hiring, budgets and was
able to bring GIS capabilities to their
growing office. Arnst explained that
after a crash in the economy, he was
temporarily out of work.
"In 2003, the economy dumped and
I was laid off," said Arnst.
Arnst then began working as the
Regional GIS Analyst at the regional
headquarters for Boise Cascade in
Medford, Oregon. After Arnst trained
them on how to develop their GIS func
tions, Boise Cascade sold some of their
timber lands and had to make a large
employee cut.
"They cut two-thirds of their employ
ees and I guess I was in the wrong
third," said Arnst.
Arnst then turned to the employee
department where they turned him on
to the open position at the Tribe. He
put in an application in August and
was hired shortly thereafter.
Arnst lives in Lake Oswego with his
wife Marnie and their two boys Ben
jamin, 6, and Kyle, 3. He is an avid fish
erman and explained that Benjamin is
following in his footsteps.
Working for the Tribe has been a
good experience for Arnst and he feels
thankful that the Tribe has provided
him with employment and presented
him with an opportunity for him to
share his expertise.
"There is lots of potential here," said
Arnst. "The GIS needs to be coordi
nated a little better and with my expe
rience, we can make it very beneficial
to the Tribe."
The experience and positive outlook
that Arnst brings to the table has
brought notice from his peers.
"Jeff has been a good addition to
the department," said Jeffs supervi
sor and Planning and Grants Devel
opment Manager Kim Rogers.
"Public Works and Natural Re
sources were represented on the in
terview panel and we liked his
enthusiasm as well as his technical
knowledge. Onthejobhehasmade
an effort to improve the skills of GIS
users within the Tribe."
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CASINO
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TRIBAL WIEWIBERS
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By Toby McClary
The Planning & Grants Develop
ment Department has a new em
ployee. Jeff Arnst has taken on the role
as the GIS Analyst with over 14 years
experience in the field. GIS stands for
Geographic Information Systems
which includes creating maps of the
land acquired by the Tribe as well as
map features with database links, spe
cial data and special analysis.
Arnst has recently been doing work
for some land acquisition projects and
explained that he has already been
working with a couple of departments
very closely.
"Projects through both the Natural
Resources Department and the Cul
tural Resources Department have been
my biggest projects yet," said Arnst,
"but they (staff members) have been
very easy to work with."
This is a map created of the casino land
created by GIS Analyst Jeff Arnst.
He is currently designing maps of all
Tribal lands including the Spirit
Mountain Casino site. As part of cre
ating these maps, Arnst has to get an
overhead photo of all designated prop-
Spirit Mountain Tribal employ
ees posed for a picture this last fall.
All of the 148 Tribal members were
not able to take advantage of this
photo opportunity.
Spirit Mountain Casino's Tribal
Development program will be high
lighting individual Tribal employ-
ees in up-coming Smoke Signals
through out 2006. The articles, "Tribal
Employee Profile", will give our readers
an opportunity to meet some of the
hard working Casino Tribal members.
Sanda L. "Sam" Henny, (front, third
from the left) Tribal Developmentor,
manages the Tribal Development Pro
gram at Spirit Mountain. The "Pro
gram of One," encompasses: Tribal
employee career planning, Tribal em
ployee Prot6g6 Program, SMGI
Mentorship Program, and partners
with CTGR Work Experience Program,
Summer Youth and INROADS, Or
egon Internship. Sam works with any
o
Q.
Tribal member who is seeking de
velopment opportunities. The Pro
gram of One, is designed for many,
managed by one, and customized to
the individual.
Stay tuned. You will be meeting
some wonderful people over the com
ing months!