Tribal honors 151 employees for 1,822 years of service

By Dean Rhodes

Smoke Signals editor

An Employee Recognition Gathering held Thursday, June 4, in the Tribal gym honored employees who reached milestones in their years of service to the Tribe for three quarters – the final quarter of 2014 and the first two quarters of 2015.

The three quarters added up to some lofty numbers – 151 employees recognized for a combined 1,822 years of service to the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.

After employees partook of a waffle bar for breakfast prepared by Nutrition Program employees Kristy Deloe and Patti LeClaire, Human Resources Director Connie Holmes welcomed employees and introduced Land and Culture Manager Jan Looking Wolf Reibach, who gave a blessing.

Holmes then introduced Tribal Council members in attendance: Chairman Reyn Leno, Secretary Toby McClary and Ed Pearsall, Denise Harvey and Chris Mercier.

“Our staff has always done a great job,” Leno said. “I have always acknowledged our staff. I’ve been here a long time and seen our staff grow. … I think that we have a great staff and we try to make this a great place for you to work. So thank you. This is our way to recognize you.”

“I want to thank you for all of the hard work you do,” Harvey said. “It doesn’t go unnoticed.”

General Manager Dawn Doar then read off the lengthy list of employees honored. They were:

30 years: Tresa Mercier.

27 years: Gregg Leno.

25 years: Lonnie Leno.

24 years: Tracy Biery, Barbara Mercier, Marion Mercier, Karan Scharf and John Mercier.

23 years: Elizabeth Leno.

21 years: Penny DeLoe.

20 years: Eric Webster, Kim Mueller and Wendell Olson.

19 years: Cindy Mitchell, Lisa Leno, Dolores McKenzie, Kelly Dirksen, Dan Ham, Julia Papen, Dana Ainam, Hollie Mercier, Jerry George and Tammy Gould.

18 years: Lauri Smith, Angela Fasana, Vikki Bishop, William Kephart, Darlene Aaron, Michael Karnosh, Jan Looking Wolf Reibach and Jody Jerger.

17 years: Shonn Leno, Deneen Aubertin Keller, Kathy Doane, Kristi Petite, Sunni Ulestad and Donnette Spaulding.

16 years: Justin Phillips, Shirley Walkoff, Melody Baker, Tammy Garrison and Lillian Engle.

15 years: Ben Bishop, David DeHart, Connie Wyngarden and Crystal Szczepanski.

14 years: David Severns, David Fullerton, Marietta Leith, Amy Gallant, Christopher Bailey, Tyson Mercier, Kim Rogers, Michelle Manso, Jill Hafliger and Nathan Rolston.

13 years: Roxanne Moniz, Christopher Martin, Larry Leith, Kerrina Mishler, Travis Stewart, Charlean White and Donald Coon.

12 years: Candice Olson, Michael Burton, Colby Drake, Kevin Campbell, Stephanie Grim, Joshua Clift, Jake McKnight and Willie Mercier.

11 years: Sydney Clark, Donna Johnson, Laura Mercier, Steve O’Harra, Audra Sherwood, Lisa Archuleta and Kathy Cole.

10 years: Darin Riggs, Nancy Renfrow, Rebecca Goeserich and Shawn Bobb.

9 years: Bryan Fendell, Anna Huston, Shelley Clift, Christopher  Holliday, Jeremy Ojua, Leanna Norwood, Randy Bean, Tanner Fish, Debra Nolen, Leslie Riggs, George Neujahr, Toni Mercier, Michelle Sweeney, Jessica Cruickshank, John Genera Jr., Loyal Hamilton and Rose Smith.

8 years: Tisha Gleason, Carmen Parren, Eleanor Ashman, Joseph Shelley, Tauni McCammon and Joe Loomis.

7 years: Dennis Dinsmore, Michael Boyce, Victoria Jones, Ali Holsclaw, Dalette Remington-Nash, Brad Leno, Lewis Younger, Nicholas Bailey, Michelle Alaimo, Tyrell Soderberg, Michele Volz, Bart Bryant, Timothy George, Rosie Saldivas, Arnoldo Moralez, Brian Krehbiel, Misty Thorsgard, Joan Dugger and Jennifer Biesack.

6 years: Kristina Jaquith, Dana Seagrove, Linda Bird, Ardyth Hoffer-Hallicola, Lawrence Schwabe, Kari Culp, Shelby Wren, Amanda Mercier, Flicka Lucero, Angela Renteria, Isaiah Sherwood and Desiree Allen.

5 years: Teresa Clay, Erin Lange, Richard Nelson, Lindsay Belonga, Zachary Haas, Ginger Whitman, Andrew Freeman, Tammy Leno, Candi Buswell, Lindsay Ramer, Leon Ramos, Joseph Grammer, Jessica Lillard, Niki Mosley and Esther Stewart.

Health and Wellness Business Office Manager Tresa Mercier is the first Tribal employee to reach the 30-year mark in employment. She also was honored at the Oct. 9, 2014, employee appreciation event.

All employees received a bonus check and those reaching the 10-year mark in service received a Tribal Pendleton blanket.

Doar then granted administrative leave starting at noon for all Tribal employees to thank them for their service.