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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 2025)
sNok signflz OCTOBER 1, 2025 9 Third-quarter service awards honor 94 employees By Nicole Montesano Smoke Signals staff writer The Tribe treated its employees to breakfast Thursday, Sept. 18, in the Tribal gym as part of its third-quarter Years of Service awards, where it honored 94 em- ployees for their years of service, ranging from fi ve years to 35 years. Economic Development and Lands Director Jan Reibach played a fl ute song to honor employees. “You’re the reason the Tribe gets to hold its sovereignty,” he said. “You’re the reason we can take care of our people. … each one of you is part of our family.” Tribal Council member Matthew Haller gave the invocation. Tribal Council Vice Chair Chris Merci- er and Tribal Council members Kathleen George, Pete Wakeland, Toby McClary and Lisa Leno joined Haller to shake the hand of each employee who was honored. Employees enjoyed a breakfast of scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, bacon, sausage, potatoes and fruit salad, provided by Washington Street Catering. Tribal Employee Services Offi ce Director Harris Reibach served as emcee for the event. He pulled ticket numbers for employees to participate in games, for which they won cash prizes of $100 or $50, as well as sweatshirts. He called employees forward to be honored by years of service, noting that those who reached the 10-year mark could choose between receiving a Pendleton blanket or $200. Those who reached 30 years received a sweatshirt. Harris Reibach then drew names for cash prizes and administrative leave. The Tribe gave away three $1,000 prizes, eight $500 prizes, 13 $250 prizes and eight days of administrative leave. Photo by Michelle Alaimo Tribal Facilities Manager Tyson Mercier, right, shakes hands with Tribal Council member Toby McClary as he is recognized during the third-quarter Years of Service awards breakfast in the Tribal gym Thursday, Sept. 18. Mercier has worked for the Tribe for 25 years. The following employees were honored: 35 years: Health Benefi ts Spe- cialist Barbara Steere, Support Services Coordinator Barbara Branson, Staff Accountant Mela- nie Hubbard and Continuing and Adult Education Coordinator Tracy Biery. 34 years: Interim General Man- ager Bryan Langley and chinuk wawa Preschool Teacher Jeff Mer- cier. 33 years: Finance Offi cer Chris- topher Leno. 31 years: Tribal Attorney Rob Greene. 30 years: Organizational De- velopment and Training Manager Scott Mode. 29 years: Assistant Tribal Attor- ney Kimberly D’Aquila, Cultural Advisor Bobby Mercier and Driver MSR Caryn George. 27 years: Education Services Coordinator Elaine Lane Raven, Housekeeping Supervisor Ben Bishop and Dental Department Manager Sheila Blacketer. 26 years: Cultural Protection Specialist Christopher Bailey. 25 years: Facilities Manager Tyson Mercier and Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coordinator Matthew Bucknell. 24 years: Chachalu Manager Travis Stewart, Tribal Security Supervisor Roel Hernandez and Health Care Payment Specialist Erica Mercier. 23 years: Lead Cook Kevin Campbell and Firefighter/EMT Jennifer Colton. 22 years: Benefi ts Safety Spe- cialist Peggy Carpenter, Nutrition Program Manager Kristy Lawson and Community Fund Program Coordinator Angela Schlappie. 21 years: Member Services Pro- gram Manager Shannon Simi, Health Information Technician Stephanie Simmons and Employ- ment Specialist Brandy Hembree. 19 years: Asset Inventory Spe- cialist Nathan Mueller. 18 years: Information Systems Program Manager Alec Pala- nuk-Mercier; Central Telephone Receptionist Scarlett Holtz and Bus Driver Jennifer Jerabek. 16 years: Teacher Aide/Bus Mon- itor Bradly Roberston and Project Manager in Training Andrew Free- man. 15 years: Facilities Maintenance Technician Gary LaChance Jr., Facilities Maintenance Technician Jason Bailey, Chachalu Assistant Manager Veronica Montano, Na- tive Connections Coordinator Keri Kimsey, Youth Prevention Manager Amber Zimbrick and Facilities Main- tenance Technician Michael Lane. 14 years: Maintenance Super- visor Daniel Mooney, Community Support Specialist Joanna Brisbois and Medical Technologist Staci Pemble. 13 years: Parks Recreation Co- ordinator Jerry Bailey, Senior Telecommunications Administra- tor Mark Scheelar, Tribal Council Chief of Staff Stacia Hernandez, Youth Prevention Grant Coordina- tor Angela Rideout and Vocational Rehabilitation Caseworker Tara Summers. 12 years: Cultural Education Coordinator Jordan Mercier. 11 years: Physician Lance Loberg and Administrative Assis- tant Deann Dickinson. 10 years: Police Cpl. Tokata Tehama, Senior Help Desk Tech- nician Nathan Hoff, Employment Coordinator Shylo Williams, Help Desk Administrator Braden Eben- steiner, Housekeeper Jonathan Baker, Compliance Manager Corey Tharp and Infant/Toddler Teacher Ellis Maranda. 9 years: Senior Staff Attorney Brooks Wakeland and Inclusion Coordinator Star Weatherall. 8 years: Health Information Technician Norma Reed, Lead Housekeeper Dorene Gillespie, Pharmacy Director Lincoln Wright, Spirit Mountain Community Fund Administrative Assistant Pamala Warren-Chase, Silviculture and Fire Protection Technician Nicho- las Larsen, Smoke Signals Editor Danielle Harrison, Staff Pharma- cist Timothy Wood, Senior Dental Assistant Samuel King and Tribal Security Offi cer Eugene Pribble. 7 years: Pharmacy Techni- cian Carrie Lewis, Lead Certifi ed Medical Assistant Jennifer Lott, Pharmacy Clerk Amber Thiede, Assistant Teacher Brettia Vale and Staff Pharmacist Andrew Canning. 6 years: Senior Executive As- sistant Danielle Dickey, Cultural Policy Analyst Gregory Archule- ta, Controller Christine O’Day, Emergency Assistance Programs Coordinator Tawnie Kimsey, Cur- riculum Specialist Cheyanne Fasa- na-Heidt, Payment Processing Specialist Dorothy Anderson, Facilities Maintenance Techni- cian Dyami Eastman, Licensed Practical Nurse Charlene Brewer, Children & Family Services Case- worker Michelle Baker, Optomet- ric Technician Sandra Galligher and Smoke Signals Graphic Design Specialist Samuel Briggs. 5 years: Lead Driver and Well- ness Assistant Damon Dickinson, Administrative Assistant Josie Justen, Infant/Toddler Teacher Hannah Nice, Substance Use Dis- order Therapist Heidi Hicinboth- om, Senior Dental Assistant Anna Novak and Community Programs Manager Caitlin Zimbrick. n Gas discount in Grand Ronde Grand Ronde Tribal members, as well as Tribal and Spirit Mountain Casino employees, can receive a 30-cent per gallon discount on gasoline at the Tribally owned Grand Ronde Station convenience store. There are, however, a few rules. Tribal members and em- ployees must go inside and show either their enrollment card or employee identifi cation card to receive the discount. n
