10
JULY 15, 2017
S moke S ignals
Employees honored for 959 years of service
Intake Specialist Donna
Johnson and Family Ser-
vices Coordinator Audra
Seventy-five employees
Sherwood.
were honored on Thursday,
11 years: Housing Main-
July 13, for a combined
tenance Technician Randy
959 years of service to the
Bean, Gaming Commis-
Grand Ronde Tribe during
sion IT Network Ana-
a lunchtime barbecue picnic
lyst Tanner Fish, Health
held in the Tribal gym.
Information Technician
A record 14 employees
Leanna Norwood, Silvi-
were honored for serving
culture/Fire Protection
20 or more years, led by
Technician Jeremy Ojua,
Lead Groundskeeper Gregg
Post Treatment Counselor
Leno, who hit the 29-year
Chris Holliday, Adult Fos-
mark.
ter Care Caregiver Anna
Other employees who
Huston and Early Head
have reached or surpassed
Start Home-Based Visitor
two decades of Tribal ser-
Shelley Clift.
vice included Housing De-
10 years: Adult Foster
partment Maintenance
Care Caregiver Carmen
Coordinator Lonnie Leno,
Parren and Gaming Com-
27 years; Adult Education
Photo by Michelle Alaimo
mission Licensing Manag-
Coordinator Tracy Biery and
Lead
Groundskeeper
Gregg
Leno
shakes
hands
with
Tribal
Council
Secretary
Jon
A.
George
er Tisha Gleason.
General Manager’s Office
as
he
is
recognized
for
his
29
years
of
service
to
the
Tribe
during
the
second
quarter
service
9 years: Gaming Com-
Administrative Assistant
mission Executive Direc-
Barbara Branson, 26 years; awards held in the Tribal gym on Thursday, July 13. Other Tribal Council members present were
tor Michael Boyce, Chinuk
Member Services Benefits Denis Harvey, left, Chris Mercier, third from left, Tonya Gleason-Shepek, second from right, and
Language Program Man-
Administrator Liz Leno, 25 Chairman Reyn Leno.
ager Ali Holsclaw, Home
years; Dental Director Eric
Ownership Coordinator Victo-
Tribe as “weathered the storm”
bach gave the invocation before
Webster, 22 years; Human Re-
ria Jones, Senior Records Clerk
regarding the April opening of the
employees were served hot dogs,
sources Specialist Cindy Mitchell,
Dalette Remington-Nash, Spirit
Cowlitz casino in southwestern
hamburgers, potato and pasta
Vocational Rehabilitation Case-
Mountain Community Fund Di-
Washington.
salad, watermelon, and cookies
worker Dodie McKenzie, Youth
rector Mychal Cherry and Gaming
“On behalf of the council and on
and brownies for lunch.
Prevention Supervisor Lisa Leno
Commission Background Investi-
behalf of myself and my 21 years
Tribal Council Chairman Reyn
and Fish and Wildlife Program
gator Nicholas Bailey.
here, you guys have done a great
Leno said that he appreciates the
Manager Kelly Dirksen, 21 years;
8 years: Adult Foster Care
job for me,” Leno said.
Tribe’s staff, especially when he
and Tribal Court Administrator
Caregiver
Ardyth Hoffer-Halli-
Other Tribal Council members
is in Washington, D.C., testifying
Angela Fasana, Tribal Council
cola, Certified Medical Assistant
who attended were Secretary Jon
before Congress and needs infor-
Senior Administrative Assis-
Dana Seagrove and Head Start
A. George and Tribal Council
mation quickly.
tant Lauri Smith, Information
Teacher/Education Coordinator
members Tonya Gleason-Shepek,
“We’ve come a long way, but
Systems Operations Manager
Kristina Jaquith.
Chris Mercier and Denise Harvey.
we’ve come a long way because we
William Kephart and Health Pro-
7 years: Wildlife Biologist Lind-
Cultural Resources Department
have a great staff,” Leno said. “We
motion Specialist Darlene Aaron,
say
Belonga, Senior Forester Zach
Manager
David
Harrelson
gave
a
hear
that
a
lot.
You
guys
proba-
20 years.
Haas, Realty Specialist Teresa
bly don’t get to hear it a lot, but
brief cultural sharing presenta-
The ceremony honored employ-
Brocksen, Dentist Erin Lange,
definitely your council and your
tion, explaining that “ch” means
ees hired in the second quarter of
Lead Maintenance Technician
leadership and your directors do.”
“place of something” in Kalapuy-
the year between April and June.
Andrew Freeman, Health Pro-
Leno added that he thinks the
an, so that when employees see a
Tribal Lands Manager Jan Rei-
motion Specialist Tammy Leno
name like Chemeketa (the orig-
and Adult Foster Care Caregiver
inal name for Salem), it has a
Ginger Whitman.
meaning.
6 years: Swing Shift House-
Employees honored were:
keeper Nathan Mueller, Rent-
19 years: Human Resources
al Housing Assistant Michele
Training Specialist Vickie Her-
Plummer. Behavioral Health
nandez, Housing Department
Director Jan Kaschmitter, Sil-
Manager Shonn Leno, Senior
viculture/Fire Supervisor Jim
Staff Attorney Deneen Aubertin
Pinder, Youth Programs Assistant
Keller, Gaming Commission Ex-
Shannon Stanton and K5 Tutor
ecutive Assistant Kathy Doane
Adviser Tiffany Mercier.
and Children & Family Services
5 years: Vocational Rehabili-
Supervisor Kristi Petite.
tation Administrative Assistant
18 years: Publications Produc-
Rhonda Leno, Youth Education
tion Specialist Justin Phillips and
Program Manager Tim Barry,
Purchased/Referred Care Super-
Dental Secretary Carrie Brooks,
visor Melody Baker.
Public Affairs Administrative As-
17 years: Swing Shift House-
sistant Chelsea Clark, Chinuk Im-
keeping Supervisor Ben Bishop.
mersion Teacher Justine Colton,
16 years: General Manager
Gaming Commission Receptionist
David Fullerton, Natural Resourc-
Kristina Summers, Early Child-
es Department Secretary Mary
hood Education Program Assis-
Leith and Staff Accountant Amy
tant Denaee Towner, K-5 Tutor/
Gallant.
Adviser Kyla McCallister and
15 years: Procurement Man-
Budget Manager DeAnne Norton.
ager Larry Leith, Vocational
Employees received bonus
Rehabilitation/477 Trainee Chris
checks and those reaching the
Martin and Early Childhood In-
10-year mark in service had the
structional Assistant Roxanne
option of receiving a Tribal Pend-
Moniz.
leton blanket or an extra $100 in
14 years: Applications Adminis-
their bonus check.
trator Candice Olsen, Silviculture
The service awards included
and Fire Protection Manager Col-
a caricaturist and balloon artist
by Drake and Gaming Inspector
and ended with the raffling off of
Kary Turner.
prizes that included a drone, ro-
13 years: Senior Human Re-
bot vacuum cleaner, HP notebook
sources Generalist Steve O’Harra,
computer and additional adminis-
Staff Accountant Laura Mercier,
Ad created by George Valdez
trative time. 
Children and Family Services
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor