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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 2023)
8 OCTOBER 1, 2023 Smoke Signals ‘We have close to 700 employees now’ AWARDS continued from front page Cherry said. “We have close to 700 employees now. When I started here in the 1990s, all the employees worked out of the Depot (building). Growing up in Grand Ronde, the only land we had was the cemetery and five acres.” Other Tribal Council members in attendance included Brenda Tuomi and Denise Harvey. Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy was unable to attend, but sent a message to share with employees. “Please express my congratulations to staff and tell them that I greatly value and appreciate them. I’m sorry I can’t be there today.” Employees were served biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage links, potatoes and fruit. 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 33-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 32 years of service, Finance Officer/Interim General Manager Chris Leno, who reached 31 years of service and Social Services Ad- ministrative Assistant Tammy Garrison, with 30 years of service. In the quarter-century or more club were Education & Services Coordinator Elaine Lane Raven, Dental Department Manager Shei- la Blacketer and Swing Shift Su- TO SEE MORE PHOTOS @SmokeSignalsCTGR TO SEE MORE PHOTOS VISIT US ON @CTGRsmokesignals pervisor Ben Bishop, who reached the 25-year mark. Assistant Tribal Attorney Kim D’Aquila and Cultural Advisor Bobby Mercier both reached 27 years, Organizational & Training Manager Scott Mode hit 28 years and Tribal Attorney Rob Greene notched 29 years. Achieving 20 or more years of service were Benefits Specialist Peggy Carpenter, Community Fund Program Coordinator Angela Schlappie and Nutrition Program Manager Kristy Criss-Lawson with 20 years, Cook Kevin Campbell and Firefighter-EMT Jennifer Colton with 21 years, Security Department Supervisor Roel Hernandez, Pur- chase/Referred Care Health Care Payment Specialist Erica Mercier and Chachalu Manager Travis Stewart with 22 years while Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coordinator Matthew Bucknell and Facilities Manager Tyson Mercier hit 23 years of service. Procurement Su- pervisor Kevin Mueller and Cultur- al Protection Specialist Christopher Bailey reached 24 years. Employees received certificates in appreciation for their increasing tenure with the Tribe. Employees who hit milestone years of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years also received bonus checks. In addition, those reaching the 10-year mark received a Tribal Pendleton blanket and a $50 check, or a $150 check. 2 0 2 3 - 2 4 BACK TO S CHOOL A S S I S TANC E PROGRAM Program details and applicant requirements This program is for enrolled CTGR Tribal member students entering into Kindergarten through 12th grade (enrolled in the 2023-24 school year). Enrolled Tribal member students may apply for a $150 Wal-Mart gift card to be used toward school supplies or school clothing. Registration information Registration opened on July 28 and the initial deadline closed Aug. 11. It will be a rolling application open until Nov. 10. Please allow up to two weeks after submission to process applications and distribute your gift card. Applicants will not be required to provide receipts with the application, however all applicants are subject to audit and may be required to provide receipts at a later date. Ap p l y h e r e h t t p s : / / b i t . l y / b a c k t o s c h o o l a s s i s t a n c e or scan the QR code to apply! Other employees honored during the third quarter included: 19 years: Health Information Technician Stephanie Simmons, Member Services Program Man- ager Shannon Simi, Finance Ex- ecutive Assistant Ken Trevino and Employment Specialist Brandy Hembree. 18 years: Health Information Technician Leanna Norwood and Chinuk Wawa Program Aide Susan Sabey. 17 years: Asset Inventory Spe- cialist Nathan Mueller. 16 years: Central Phones Recep- tionist Scarlett Holtz, Information Services Program Manager Alec Palanuk-Mercier, Publications Coordinator Dean Rhodes and Preschool Bus Driver/Aide Jennifer Jerabek. 14 years: Senior Help Desk Technician Spencer Olson, Teacher Aide/Bus Monitor Bradly Robert- son and Maintenance Supervisor Andrew Freeman. 13 years: Maintenance Techni- cian Jason Bailey, Budget Manager Veronica Montano, Maintenance Technician Gary LaChance Jr., Early Childhood Education Depart- ment Manager Angie Blackwell, Housing Maintenance Technician Michael Lane, Native Connections Project Coordinator Keri Kimsey and Child and Family Services Supervisor Amber Zimbrick. 12 years: Vocational Rehabili- tation Caseworker Amber Yates, Medical Technologist Staci Pemble, Community Support Specialist Joanna Brisbois and Senior Main- tenance Technician Daniel Mooney. 11 years: Vocational Rehabilita- tion Caseworker Tara Summers, Tribal Council Chief of Staff Sta- cia Hernandez, Youth Prevention Grant Coordinator Angey Rideout, Senior Telecommunications Ad- ministrator Mark Scheelar, and Parks and Recreation Specialist Jerry Bailey. 10 years: Cultural Education Coordinator Jordan Mercier. 9 years: Health & Wellness Clin- ic Medical Doctor Lance Loberg. 8 years: Housekeeper Jonathan Baker, Help Desk Administrator Braden Ebensteiner, Senior Help Desk Technician Nathan Hoff, Employment Coordinator Shylo Williams and Tribal Police Officer Tokata Tehama. 7 years: Education & Inclu- sion Coordinator Star Weatherall and Senior Staff Attorney Brooks Wakeland. 6 years: Health Information Technician Norma Reed, House- keeper Dorene Gillespie, Pharmacy Director Lincoln Wright, Dental Assistant Sam King, Pharmacist Timothy Wood, Security Officer Eu- gene Pribble, Smoke Signals Editor Danielle Harrison, Spirit Mountain Community Fund Administrative Assistant Pamala Warren-Chase and Silviculture & Fire Protection Technician Nicholas Larsen. 5 years: Certified Application Assistor Cassandra Rhamy, Audit Director Steve Harrop, Pharmacy Technician Carrie Lewis, Pharma- cy Clerk Amber Thiede, Certified Medical Assistant Jennifer Lott, Assistant Chinuk Wawa Teacher Brettia Vale, Warriors of Hope Program Manager Danielle Murrell and Pharmacist Andrew Canning. Raffles were conducted during the event that included addition- al administrative leave and cash drawings for $50 to $1,000. Afterward, staff were invited to participate in a service event to help prepare native plant patches at the Thompson property near Chachalu Museum & Cultural Center.