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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2025)
8 JANUARY 1, 2025 SMOKE SIGNALS ‘We really do appreciate you guys’ AWARDS continued from front page Council Secretary Jon A. George, and Tribal Council members Lisa Leno, Kathleen George, Denise Harvey and Brenda Tuomi attended the event. Jon A. George gave the invocation, and the Canoe family drummed and sang a meal song. Assistant General Manager Bry- an Langley told the audience that when he was hired by the Tribe in 1991, he was working in the old train depot, noting how far the Tribe has come since then with the development of its campus. “We really do appreciate you guys,” Langley said. “We really could not do what we do without the work that you do. … you guys all are valuable and important and contribute to the work we do.” He made a point of mentioning employees and departments whose work is often quietly done behind the scenes and said they are vital for the overall operation of the Tribe. Engineering and Community Development Department Manager Ryan Webb noted that the grants department has applied for more than $142 million in grants in the past year, and brought in just more than $62 million, a 42% success rate, which he said is much higher than the average. “That’s no small feat,” Webb said. The December service awards included a lunch of salmon, turkey with stuffing and prime rib, along with cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, salad, rolls and desserts. Human Resources employees raffled off $18,000 in cash prizes ranging from $250 to $2,000, in ad- dition to administrative leave and prizes including Blackstone grills, televisions, DeWalt tools, gaming consules and other items. Additionally, employees partic- ipated in an ugly sweater contest and games, for prizes of $50 to $100. Employees who reached a 5-year milestone received checks for $125. Those who achieved 10 years re- ceived either $50 and a blanket, or $150. Those who notched 25 years Records/Evidence Technician Egypt Leno, Cultural Center Supervisor Crystal Szczepans- ki and Judicial Op- eration Supervisor Julie Boekhoff. 26 years: Em- ployment Specialist Tauni Tollas. 25 years: Pro- curement Depart- ment Manager Nathan Rolston. 23 years: Hous- ing Improvement Coordinator Donald Photo by Michelle Alaimo Coon. 21 years: Librar- Tribal Community Health Driver/Wellness Assistant ian Kathy Cole. Solomon George makes a claw as he competes in 19 years: Gam- the ugly sweater contest during the fourth quarter ing Compliance service awards and annual holiday party held at Spirit M a n a g e r R o s e Mountain Casino’s Event Center on Thursday, Dec. 19. S m i t h , S u p p o r t George’s ugly sweater won third place in the contest. Counselor Christo- pher Holliday Sr., received $500. Internal Auditor Heather Roberts Health & Wellness Department and Housing Improvement Coordi- Operations Director Tresa Mer- nator Loyal Hamilton. cier was honored as the Tribe’s 18 years: Utility Maintenance longest-serving employee, with 40 Supervisor Joe Loomis and Quality years of service to the Tribe, dating Coordinator Tauni McCammon. back to just a year after the Tribe 17 years: Administrative Pro- was Restored to federal recognition. gram Manager Joan Dugger. Public Works Coordinator John 16 years: Cultural Education Mercier was the runner-up this Specialist Flicka Lucero and Fam- quarter with 34 years. ily Partnerships Coach Isaiah Together, employees honored Sherwood. have served a total of 1,071 years. 14 years: Employment Case- 40 years: Health & Wellness worker Rhonda Leno and In- Department Operations Director fant-Toddler Site Coordinator Tresa Mercier. Melissa Phillips. 34 years: Public Works Coordi- 13 years: Senior Maintenance nator John Mercier. Technician Brent Bruckner, Phar- 29 years: Benefits/Risk Manag- macy Technician Supervisor Steph- er Tammy Gould, Compensation/ anie Wolfe, Senior Applications HRIS Manager Candy Scranton, Administrator Jose Luna and Senior Administrative Assis- Firefighter Daniel Hyatt. tant Daphney Colton, Behavioral 12 years: Senior Administrative Health Scheduler Linda Evans, Assistant Nicholas Kimsey, Phar- Tribal Lands Department Manager macy Technician Cindy Brickell, Jan Reibach, Records Clerk Hollie Utility Maintenance Technician Mercier and Social Services Depart- Richard Smith, Education Services ment Manager Dana Ainam. Coordinator Devin Boekhoff and 28 years: Ceded Lands Program Manager Michael Karnosh. 27 years: Restorative Assis- tant Donnette Spaulding, Police story ideas? Do you have Tribal story ideas you would like to see in Smoke Signals? Please share your suggestions at news@grandronde.org or by calling Editor Danielle Harrison at 503-879-4663. WWW.SMOKESIGNALS.ORG Ad by Samuel Briggs III Secretary Jamie Adams. 11 years: Communications Spe- cialist Daron Pond Jr. and Payroll Administrator Michelle Peterson. 10 years: Senior Peer Support Specialist Shelly Fox, Child Fam- ily Services Caseworker Santiago Atanacio, Lead Certified Medical Assistant Amanda Walker and Teacher Aide/Bus Monitor Shantell Ulestad-Salinas. 9 years: Teacher Aide Wendy Mercier, Health Services Executive Director Kelly Rowe, Grant Supervi- sor Gloria Schwalger, Maintenance Technician Winston Mercier and Lead Housekeeper Coley Parazoo. 8 years: Domestic Violence Relief Advocate Leah Bailey, Assistant Emergency Management Chief Torey Wakeland, Data Specialist Sommer Brucker and Tribal Secu- rity Officer Derek Ellenwood. 7 years: Publications Secretary Katherine Warren-Steffensmier, Certified Medical Assistant Fermin Deras Diaz, Family Partnerships Coordinator Lyndsey Stuckey, Librarian Aide Crystal Bigelow, Dental Assistant Nina Umfrid, Em- ployee Relations Specialist Aaron Bigelow, Housing Safety Specialist Bradley Leno and Phlebotomist/ Lab Assistant Kateri Marrufo. 6 years: Tribal Veterans Services Officer Ramona Quenelle, Driver/ Cook Jason Ibarra, Community Sup- port Specialist Isabell Bobb, Cultural Resources Specialist Christopher Rempel, Lead Patient Insurance and Eligibility Specialist Ashley Stonebrink, Teacher Aide/Bus Mon- itor Krystal King and Enrichment Coordinator Corina Limon. 5 years: Tribal Lead Security Of- ficer Rick Sardegna, Social Media/ Digital Journalist Kamiah Koch, Family/Community Partnership Coordinator Rebecca Ambrose, Senior Administrative Assistant Kristina Helfrich and Optometrist Terri Knowles. After the event, employees were dismissed with pay for the remain- der of the day. n
