44 employees honored for their years of service

Forty-four employees with a combined 571 years of service to the Tribe were honored during an Employee Recognition Breakfast held Thursday, Jan. 21, in the Tribal gym.

Leading the way and setting a record with every work anniversary was Tresa Mercier, Health & Wellness Clinic Business Office manager, who reached her 31^st anniversary of employment with the Tribe.

Reaching the coveted quarter-century mark were Public Works Coordinator John Mercier and Tribal Librarian Marion Mercier. Both received $250 gift cards in appreciation for their years of service.

The breakfast started with Tribal Artisan Travis Stewart performing a blessing song on drum. Nutrition Program employees Kristy DeLoe, Patti LeClair and Charles Neujahr served a breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage and waffles with all the fixings. They were assisted by Public Affairs Administrative Assistant Chelsea Clark and Tribal Council Administrative Assistant Shannon Simi.

After the employees ate, General Manager David Fullerton welcomed those in attendance and then presented certificates and bonus checks to employees reaching service milestones of five years or more. He was assisted by Compensation/HRIS Specialist Becky Mode and Tribal Council member Brenda Tuomi and Human Resources Department Manager Patrick Dempsey shook recipients’ hands.

In addition to the three Merciers already named, those honored were:

Five years: Assistant Chinuk Wawa Teacher Jeff Mercier and TERO Secretary Keri Kimsey.

Six years: After Care Adviser Jessica Lillard, Radiology Lab Technician Niki Mosley and K5 Chinuk Wawa Teacher Esther Stewart.

Seven years: Foster Care Recruitment Specialist Amanda Mercier, Cultural Education Specialist Flicka Lucero, Pharmacy Clerk Isaiah Sherwood and Patients Account Specialist Desiree Allen.

Eight years: Cultural Artisan Brian Krehbiel, Compliance Technician Misty Thorsgard, Housing Authority Administrative Program Manager Joan Dugger, Senior Staff Attorney Jennifer Biesack and Driver Assistant Arnoldo Moralez.

Nine years: Contract Health Specialist Tauni McCammon and Telecommunications Technician Joe Loomis.

10 years: Early Head Start Teacher Jessica Cruickshank, Children & Family Services Investigator John Genera, Housing Improvement Coordinator Loyal Hamilton and Gaming Commission Audit Manager Rose Smith. (People reaching the 10-year mark also received a Pendleton blanket).

11 years: Cook Rebecca Groserich and Education Home Visitor Shawn Bobb.

12 years: Employee Relations Specialist Eva Simmons and Cultural Education Department Manager Kathy Cole.

13 years: Police Chief Jake McKnight and Web Designer Willie Mercier.

14 years: Housing Improvement Coordinator Donald Coon.

15 years: Planning and Grants Development Manager Kim Rogers, Auditing Specialist Michelle Manso, Accreditation Coordinator Jill Hafliger and Shipping and Receiving Clerk Nathan Rolston.

16 years: Chinuk Language Specialist Crystal Szczepanski.

17 years: Health Information Technician Supervisor Lillian Engel.

18 years: Senior Dental Assistant Donnette Spaulding.

19 years: Ceded Lands Program Manager Michael Karnosh.

20 years: Social Services Department Manager Dana Ainam, Member Benefits Administrative Assistant Hollie Mercier, Asset Inventory Specialist Jerry George, Compensation/HRIS Administrator Candy Scranton, Recruitment/Employee Relations Administrator Daphney Colton and Benefits Administrator Tammy Gould.

“On behalf of Tribal Council, we thank you for your service,” Fullerton said. “I’ve attended a couple of these. Years ago, it was a lot of five- and six-year employees. Now we’re moving up to where we have the 12- and 15-year employees and 20-year employees, and that’s really nice to see.”

After the certificates and bonus checks were handed out, a raffle for a Chrome Notebook, coffeemaker, kitchen mixer and 48-inch TV was held.