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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (April 15, 2018)
S moke S ignals APRIL 15, 2018 9 Fifty employees honored for 587 years of service By Danielle Frost Smoke Signals staff writer Records Administrator Kim Mueller and A/V Network Techni- cian Wendell Olson led employees with 23 years of service to the Tribe during the first-quarter Employee Service Awards breakfast held on Thursday, April 5, in the Tribal gym. The first-quarter awards honored employees reaching their employ- ment anniversary date in January, February or March. Employees who were hired five years ago or longer received bonus checks and other awards. Fifty employees were honored for a combined 587 years of service to the Tribe during the event. Elders Activity Assistant Daniel Ham and Gaming Commission Licensing Manager Julia Papen reached the 22-year mark while Lands Department Manager Jan Reibach and Assistant Controller Jody Jerger both were hired in the first quarter of 1997. Tribal Council member Kathleen George blessed the breakfast and General Manager David Fullerton welcomed a large turnout of em- ployees to the awards ceremony. Other Tribal Council members who attended and congratulated employees were Vice Chair Chris Mercier, Brenda Tuomi, Jack Giff- en Jr. and Denise Harvey. Mercier thanked employees for all of their work, recalling how as a teenager with long hair in 1991 that he was on the first Tribal youth summer work crew. “The growth now astounds me,” he said. “The Tribe was restored to help its members and help the com- munity. It wasn’t all about keeping it in the Tribe. I think sometimes Tribal Council gets more credit than we need because what we do would be impossible without our employees. It is great for me to see our employees who have passion for the Tribe.” Cultural Resources Department Manager David Harrelson also spoke to attendees about what service to the Tribal community has meant during different periods in history. “We only have (approximately) Photo by Michelle Alaimo Daniel Ham, Tribal Elders activity assistant, shakes hands with Tribal Council member Brenda Tuomi as he is recognized for his 22 years of service to the Tribe during the first-quarter Employee Service Awards held in the Tribal gym on Thursday, April 5. 5,400 Tribal members, but the work this government does is about the persistence of a people,” he said. Other employees honored were: 20 years: Health & Wellness Center Payment Processing Spe- cialist Sunni Ulestad. 19 years: Social Services Ad- ministrative Assistant Tammy Garrison. 18 years: Compensation/HRIS Specialist Becky Mode and Tribal Career Development Manager Da- vid DeHart. 17 years: Facilities Manager Tyson Mercier and Cultural Protec- tion Specialist Christopher Bailey. 16 years: Legal Assistant Kerri- na Mishler and Cultural Resources Interpretive Coordinator Travis Stewart. 15 years: Post-Secondary Educa- tion Program Coordinator Joshua Clift and Nutrition Lead Cook Kevin Campbell. 14 years: Portland Office Trib- al Services Representative Lisa Archuleta. 13 years: Staff Accountant Nan- CTGR Community Health Coming to the Portland Office!!! * CTGR Community Health will be coming to help educate yourself/and families on how to live a better lifestyle. Every 3rd Wednesday of the month from 10-2pm CTGR Portland Office 4445 SW Barbur Blvd Portland, OR 97239 For any questions please call Lisa Archuleta 503-879-1881 cy Renfrow, who recently retired. 12 years: Education Department Manager Leslie Riggs, Cultural Re- sources Administrative Assistant Toni Mercier, K5 Tutor/Adviser George Neujahr, Full Charge Book- keeper Debra Nolen and Vocational Rehabilitation Caseworker Carmen Mercier. 10 years: Construction Supervi- sor Bart Bryant, Day Shift House- keeper Rosie Saldivas, Smoke Signals Photojournalist Michelle Alaimo, Gaming Commission Com- pliance Analyst Tyrell Soderberg, Natural Resources Senior Admin- istrative Assistant Michele Volz and Cultural Collections Specialist Nick LaBonte. 9 years: Hydrosystem Compli- ance Specialist Lawrence Schwabe. 8 years: Adult Foster Care Admin- istrative Assistant Candi Buswell, Swing Shift Lead Housekeeper Joseph Grammer, Rental Housing Coordinator Leon Ramos and Early Childhood Education Instructional Assistant Lindsay Ramer. 7 years: 477/Employment & Training Specialist Khani Schultz, Early Head Start Teacher Melissa Phillips, Employment Program Manager Michael Herrin, Dental Assistant Shelby Hoyt and Dental Hygienist Erin Muchmore. 6 years: Youth Prevention Co- ordinator Cristina Lara, Chinuk Wawa Assistant Halona Butler, Housing Maintenance Technician Gary LaChance Jr., Housing Main- tenance Technician Robert Wiggs, Historic Preservation Manager Briece Edwards and Accounts Pay- able Supervisor Tammy Chavez. 5 years: Utilities Maintenance Technician Richard Smith, Child and Family Services Caseworker Shauna Hastings, Employment and Training Specialist Barbara Gibbons, Swing Shift Housekeeper Gregory Shandy and Human Re- sources Manager Patrick Dempsey. Employees were served a breakfast consisting of scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, bagels, sausage, yogurt, fruit and juices by Tribal Council Chief of Staff Stacia Hernandez, Tribal Council Administrate Assis- tant Shannon Simi and Adminis- trative Assistant Meghan Zimbrick. After the awards, Fullerton, Her- nandez and Mercier raffled off door prizes that included $50 gas cards, gift cards to Kofi Haws, a garden took kit, an insulated hydration pack, memory foam bleacher seat, wind spinner, barbecue tool set, propane grills, waterproof tent, trail camera, $50 Amazon cards and administrative leave days.
