4 DECEMBER 1,2011
Smoke Signals
Tribe hires, promotes employees in recent months
Linda Hanna
By Ron Karten
Smoke Signals staff writer
Several recent new hires and promotions have
occurred at the Confederated Tribes of Grand
Ronde.
Linda Hanna has been
named controller for the
Tribe. She formerly held the
position of assistant control
ler and has worked for the
Tribe since July 2008.
"Working directly with the
finance officer, the control
ler is the direct manager of
the Tribe's accounting and
financial functions," said
Hanna.
For goals, Hanna added, she'd like to bring
the preparation of financial statements in
house, provide timely and accurate information
reporting, and upgrade accounting systems and
processes.
Tribal member Brent Mer
rill returns to Tribal em
ployment as Tribal Council
executive coordinator.
Formerly, Merrill was a
public relations consultant,
counting the Confederated
Tribes of Siletz Indians and
various sporting organiza
tions among his clients. He
also worked on independent
films and was vice president of the Native Ameri
can Journalists Association. He also worked
for the Tribe as editor of the Tribal newspaper,
Smoke Signals.
With nine Tribal Council members as bosses,
Brant Merrill
Merrill said he also sees Tribal Elders and mem
bers as his bosses. "Access to the Tribal Council
can come through this office," he said, "and I'll
do whatever I can to get their issues in front of
Tribal Council."
For Tribal Council, Merrill sets the agenda
and pulls together background information on
issues that come before the Council.
Tribal member Perri McDaniel has been
named economic develop
ment analyst, working in the
office of Economic Develop
ment Director Titu Asghar.
McDaniel was most re
cently coordinator of the
Eugene satellite office.
"Under the direction and
guidance of the Economic
Development director, my
job is to research and ana
lyze potential investments that will help the
Tribe add value and diversify our economic
base," said McDaniel.
Her goals are "to work closely with the Econom
ic Development director in further establishing
the Tribe's Economic Development Department
and building a focused and cohesive team," for a
department aiming "to maintain traditional val
ues while we grow and develop a self-sufficient
and sustainable Tribal economy."
Jesse White has been named Project Engineer
manager. He was previously a project engineer
for Reece & Associates Inc., an Albany-based
civil engineering and land use planning firm
that has done many projects for the Tribe. Most
recently through Reece & Associates, White
was design engineer for the Grand Ronde Road
widening project.
Pcrri McDaniel
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In his new position, White
is working on the Youth Ed
ucation addition and various
other construction and capi
tal improvement projects.
As he sees the job, White
said, he will be "making
sure construction projects
run smoothly and get fin
ished under budget and on
schedule."
Tribal member Luke Soderberg has been
'named the Tribe's new Forest Patrol officer,
succeeding Jake McKnight. The position works
within the Natural Resources Department.
Soderberg previously worked for the Tribe as
an armed security professional with ProStar and
Advanced Security Inc.
Describing his job as "keeping our forest safe,"
Soderberg also said, "I hope
to accomplish a number of
things. There are 16 square
miles of land on the reserva
tion, and that's just up in
the hills. I want to preserve
our land and make it safer
for Tribal members to go
up there and hunt, fish and
ramn during the annronriate
times. I eventually want to Luk Soderbr9
become another (Tribal police) officer through
the (state police training) academy, so I can serve
in the forest better."
During the fire season, Soderberg said, he will
"double on the fire crew for the initial attack."
"I love it," he said about his first weeks on the
job. "I love all the people over here. They've given
me a pretty warm reception." B
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