sNok signflz
DECEMBER 1, 2021
13
Years of Service awards honor 73 employees
By Danielle Harrison
Smoke Signals staff writer
Seventy-three employees with
a combined 1,138 years of service
to the Grand Ronde Tribe were
honored during the third quarter
of 2021.
Pre-COVID, honorees and other
Tribal employees typically enjoyed
a hearty breakfast served in the
Tribal gym. However, due to the
pandemic, large indoor group gath-
erings are still not occurring at the
Tribe.
Leading those honored in em-
ployment longevity are GED Co-
ordinator Tracy Biery, General
Manager’s Office Administrative
Assistant Barbara Branson, Bene-
fits Specialist Barbara Steere and
Staff Accountant Melanie Hubbard,
who all reached the 31-year mark
in working for the Tribe.
Joining them in the three de-
cades or more club were Higher
Education Manager Bryan Langley
and Chinuk Immersion Preschool
Teacher Jeff Mercier, who each
notched 30 years of service.
In the quarter-century or more
club were Assistant Tribal Attorney
Kim D’Aquila and Cultural Advisor
Bobby Mercier, who both reached
25 years, Tribal Attorney Rob
Greene at 27 years, Social Services
Administrative Assistant Tammy
Garrison with 28 years and Finance
Officer Chris Leno, who reached 29
years of service.
Achieving 20 or more years of
service are Security Department
Supervisor Roel Hernandez, Pur-
chase/Referred Care Health Care
Payment Specialist Erica Mercier
and Interpretive Coordinator Tra-
vis Stewart with 20 years while
Elementary Lead Matthew Buck-
nell and Facilities Manager Tyson
Photo by Timothy J. Gonzalez
Tribal Security Supervisor Roel Hernandez is congratulated for his years
of service with the Tribe during the third quarter Employee Recognition
event held in the Tribal gym in 2019. Hernandez reached the 20-year mark
this year and was among 73 employees honored by the Human Resources
Department.
Mercier hit 21 years of service.
Procurement Supervisor Kevin
Mueller and Cultural Resources
Specialist Christopher Bailey
reached 22 years. Family Services
Assistant Elaine Lane Raven, Den-
tal Hygienist Sheila Blacketer and
Swing Shift Supervisor Ben Bishop
reached the 23-year mark.
Third-quarter award recipients
were hired between July and Sep-
tember.
Employees received certificates
and bonus checks in appreciation
of their increasing tenure with the
Tribe. In addition, those reaching
the 10-year mark received a Tribal
Pendleton blanket or an extra $100
in their bonus check.
Other employees honored during
the third quarter included:
19 years: Audit Director Trudi
VETERANS AND FAMILY MEMBERS!
Yoshikawa, Swing Shift House-
keeper Nathan Mueller, Treasury
Manager Rick Andersen, Cook Kev-
in Campbell and Firefighter-EMT
Jennifer Colton.
18 years: Benefits Special-
ist Peggy Carpenter and Nutri-
tion Program Manager Kristy
Criss-Lawson.
17 years: Health Information
Technician Stephanie Simmons,
Member Services Administrator
Shannon Simi, Finance Executive
Assistant Ken Trevino and Employ-
ment Specialist Brandy Hembree.
16 years: Health Information
Technician Leanna Norwood and
Housekeeper Susan Sabey.
14 years: Central Phones Re-
ceptionist Scarlett Holtz, Senior
Help Desk Technician Alec Pala-
nuk-Mercier, Smoke Signals Ed-
itor Dean Rhodes, Preschool Bus
Driver/Aide Jennifer Jerabek and
Employment Specialist Misty Carl.
12 years: Mail Room/Printing
Clerk Anna White, Help Desk
Technician Spencer Olson and
Maintenance Supervisor Andrew
Freeman.
11 years: Maintenance Techni-
cian Jason Bailey, TERO Admin-
istrative Assistant Lori Sterling,
Member Services Department Man-
ager Veronica Montano, Mainte-
nance Technician Gary LaChance
Jr., Early Childhood Education De-
partment Manager Angie Blackwell,
Housing Maintenance Technician
Michael Lane, Young Child Well-
ness Community Coordinator Keri
Kimsey and Adult and Family Ser-
vices Supervisor Amber Zimbrick.
10 years: Vocational Rehabilita-
tion Trainee Amber Yates, Medical
Technologist Staci Pemble, Family
Support Services Specialist Joanna
Brisbois, Maintenance Technician
Daniel Mooney and Legal Secretary
Susan June.
9 years: Child and Family Ser-
vices Caseworker Tara Summers,
Tribal Council Chief of Staff Stacia
Hernandez, 477 Employment and
Training Specialist Angey Rideout,
Registered Nurse Tashina Blair,
Senior Telecommunications Tech-
nician Mark Scheelar, Parks and
Recreation Specialist Jerry Bailey
and Social Services Secretary Darla
Patterson.
8 years: Cultural Education Co-
ordinator Jordan Mercier.
7 years: Health & Wellness Clin-
ic Medical Director Lance Loberg
and Food Sustainability Program
Assistant Patricia LeClaire.
6 years: Housekeeper Jonathan
Baker, Senior Help Desk Techni-
cian Braden Ebensteiner, Lead
Chemical Dependency Counselor
Joe Martineau, Help Desk Techni-
cian Nathan Hoff and Tribal Police
Officer Tokata Tehama.
5 years: Infant/Toddler Site Co-
ordinator Star Weatherall, Staff
Attorney Brooks Wakeland and
Great Circle Recovery Client Reg-
istration Specialist Jesseca Curi-
el-Taggart. 
YOU ARE INVITED TO OUR INTRODUCTION
TO YOGA (A HYBRID CLASS)
Hybrid means we are offering a limited number of in-person sign-ups and/or
the option to participate via Zoom. The link will be sent upon registration.
We will explore breathing techniques, mindfulness exercises and provide an
introduction to basic yoga poses. Each veteran or family member who signs up
will receive a yoga mat, a sport towel, a water bottle and a pair of headphones.
Free Playgroup in
Grand Ronde!
FIRST CLASS: December 3, 2021, at Noon.
(Sign up by Nov. 19th, 2021)
SECOND CLASS: December 14, 2021, at 5 p.m.
(Sign up by Dec. 3rd, 2021)
Introducing our yoga instructor.
My name is Diana Robertson. I started practicing yoga
in 2018 and it has been one of my strongest tools to
healing. I’ve been teaching yoga since January 2021.
My focus is foundational yoga. The core of my teach-
ing is to offer the fundamentals of yoga to allow your
body, mind and spirit to heal and align naturally. Any-
one can learn this practice. It’s simple and the healing
benefits are so rewarding. I am excited to be able to
bring this to our community and look forward to con-
necting with others who want to learn about yoga.
Contact CTGRTribalVSO@GrandRonde.Org or call 503-879-1484 to sign up!
Ad by Samuel Briggs III
*
When: First Thursday of each
month 10:00 am-11:30 am
Where: CTGR – Community
Service Center 9615 Grand Ronde
Road Grand Ronde, OR 97347
Who: Parents and caregivers of
children under 5 years.
Why: Come to play, have a snack
and have fun!