Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (April 15, 2016)
10 S moke S ignals APRIL 15, 2016 36 employees honored for years of Tribal service By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor Thirty-six Tribal employees were honored for their years of service to the Grand Ronde Tribe during a First Quarter Service Awards ceremony held Wednesday, April 6, in the Tribal gym. Between them, the 36 employees accounted for a combined 466 years of working for the Tribe. Nutrition Program Manager Kristy DeLoe and Lead Cook Kevin Campbell prepared a breakfast of scrambled eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, bagels, yogurt and orange juice for employees. The breakfast was served by DeLoe, Tribal Council Chief of Staff Stacia Martin, Tribal Council Administrative Assistant Shannon Simi, Public Affairs Admin- istrative Assistant Chelsea Clark and Food Sustainability Adminis- trative Assistant Patricia LeClaire. After employees ate, Human Re- source Department Manager Pat- rick Dempsey welcomed employees and Tribal Council Chairman Reyn Leno praised their work. “I think we have a great staff here,” Leno said. “It’s been a long road for us. Our whole govern- ment used to sit out there, where you turn in from the road, in that little parking lot. That was our whole government. … How far we’ve grown, but you only do that with good people and good staff. I learned that from being here 20 years on Tribal Council: You sur- round yourself with good people and you’ll be successful in what you do. You, as employees, are the ones that make us successful.” Leno added that the Grand Ronde Tribe is “well-prepared” for the eventual opening in 2017 of a Cowlitz Tribal casino 15 miles north of Portland off Interstate 5. “Unless they shut that highway off down there, we’re still on the busiest highway to the coast in Oregon,” Leno said. Other Tribal Council members who attended included Jon A. George, who provided the meal 13 years: Adult Voca- tional Training Coordinator Joshua Clift and Lead Cook Kevin Campbell. 12 years: Portland Area Office Tribal Services Rep- resentative Lisa Archuleta. 11 years: Staff Accoun- tant Nancy Renfrow and Clinical Applications Coor- dinator Darin Riggs. 10 years: Optometry Re- ceptionist Michelle Swee- ney, Natural Resources Secretary Toni Mercier, K-5 Tutor/Adviser George Neujahr, Education Depart- ment Manager Leslie Riggs, Full Charge Bookkeeper Debra Nolen and Domestic Violence Relief Advocate Carmen Mercier. 9 years: Adult Foster Care Caregiver Eleanor Ashman. 8 years: Housekeeper Ros- Photo by Michelle Alaimo ie Saldivas, Groundskeeper Tribal Education Department Manager Leslie Riggs, right, shakes hands with Tribal Tim George, Natural Re- Council member Chris Mercier as he is recognized for 10 years of service to the Tribe sources Equipment Operator during a First Quarter Service Awards ceremony held in the Tribal gym on Wednesday, Bart Bryant, Natural Re- sources Senior Administra- April 6. In the background is Tribal Council member Jon A. George. tive Assistant Michele Volz, Jody Jerger and Lands Depart- blessing, Chris Mercier, Ed Pears- Human Resources Senior Admin- ment Manager Jan Looking Wolf all and Denise Harvey. istrative Assistant Nick LaBonte, Reibach. Tribal General Manager David Photojournalist Michelle Alaimo and 18 years: Health & Wellness Fullerton and Martin read off the Gaming Inspector Tyrell Soderberg. Payment Processing Specialist list of employees and handed out 7 years: Adult Foster Care/Com- Sunni Ulestad. certificates to those hired in the munity Health Director Kari Culp 17 years: Social Services Ad- first quarter of the year – January and Hydrosystems Compliance ministrative Assistant Tammy through March. Specialist Lawrence Schwabe. Garrison. Member Services Manager Penny Employees received a certificate 16 years: Tribal Career Devel- DeLoe was among five Tribal em- and bonus check, and those reach- opment Program Manager David ployees who have worked for the ing the 10-year mark in service DeHart and Compensation/HRIS Tribe for more than two decades at also received a Tribal Pendleton Specialist Becky Mode. 23 years. Others included Audio Vi- blanket. 15 years: Facilities Maintenance sual Network Technician Wendell After employees were honored, Supervisor Tyson Mercier and High Olson and Records Administrator Tribal Council members drew School Lead Christopher Bailey. Kim Mueller, who reached 21 years names for raffle prizes that in- 14 years: Tribal Artisan Travis of service, and Gaming Commission cluded a fire pit, gas grill, Fitbit, Stewart and Legal Assistant Ker- Licensing Program Coordinator tablet, tent and sleeping bags, and rina Mishler. Julia Papen and Elders Activities smoker. Assistant Dan Ham, who reached the 20-year mark in service. Other employees honored in- cluded: 19 years: Assistant Controller Hunting & Fishing Lifeways of the Grand Ronde People Who: All Grand Ronde Tribal members. What: We would like to record your family’s hunting and fishing stories for inclusion in the Tribe’s cultural and historical collections. Where: Chachalu: Tribal Museum and Cultural Center When: Starting September 1st, 2015 How: Contact Stacey Runningbird @ 503-879-2381 Ad created by George Valdez
