Employees honored for 861 years of service

Sixty-eight employees were honored on Thursday, Aug. 25, for a combined 861 years of service to the Grand Ronde Tribe during a morning ceremony held in the Tribal gym.

A record 10 employees were honored for serving 20 or more years, led by Lead Groundskeeper Gregg Leno, who hit the 28-year mark.

Other employees surpassing two decades of Tribal service included Housing Department Maintenance Coordinator Lonnie Leno, 26 years; Adult Education Coordinator Tracy Biery and General Manager’s Office Administrative Assistant Barbara Branson, 25 years; Member Services Benefits Administrator Liz Leno, 24 years; Dental Director Eric Webster, 21 years; and Human Resources Specialist Cindy Mitchell, Vocational Rehabilitation Caseworker Dodie McKenzie, Youth Prevention Supervisor Lisa Leno and Fish and Wildlife Program Manager Kelly Dirksen, 20 years.

The ceremony honored employees hired in the second quarter of the year.

Tribal Council member Jon A. George started the ceremony with an invocation and then employees were treated to a breakfast prepared by Simply Delish Catering. The meal included biscuits and gravy, breakfast sandwiches, pastries and fruit, as well as orange juice, bottled water and coffee to drink.

In addition to George, Tribal Council Chairman Reyn Leno and Tribal Council members Tonya Gleason-Shepek, Brenda Tuomi and Denise Harvey lined up to shake hands with those being honored for five years or more of service.

Tribal Council Chief of Staff Stacia Martin handed out the certificates and checks, and in the case of employees reaching 10 years of service she also distributed Tribal Pendleton blankets.

Those honored were:

19 years: Tribal Court Administrator Angela Fasana, Tribal Council Senior Administrative Assistant Lauri Smith, Information Systems Operations Manager William Kephart and Health Promotion Specialist Darlene Aaron.

18 years: Human Resources Training Specialist Vickie Merrill, Housing Department Manager Shonn Leno, Senior Staff Attorney Deneen Aubertin Keller, Gaming Commission Executive Assistant Kathy Doane and Children & Family Services Supervisor Kristi Petite.

17 years: Publications Production Specialist Justin Phillips and Purchased/Referred Care Supervisor Melody Baker.

16 years: Swing Shift Housekeeping Supervisor Ben Bishop.

15 years: General Manager David Fullerton and Staff Accountant Amy Gallant.

14 years: Procurement Manager Larry Leith, Vocational Rehabilitation/477 Trainee Chris Martin and Early Childhood Instructional Assistant Roxanne Moniz.

13 years: Applications Administrator Candice Olsen, Nutrition Program Cook Michael Burton, Silviculture and Fire Protection Manager Colby Drake and Gaming Inspector Kary Turner.

12 years: Senior Human Resources Generalist Steve O’Harra, Staff Accountant Laura Mercier, Social Services Senior Intake Specialist Donna Johnson and Family Services Coordinator Audra Sherwood.

10 years: Housing Maintenance Technician Randy Bean, Gaming Commission IT Network Analyst Tanner Fish, Health Information Technician Leanne Norwood, Silviculture/Fire Protection Technician Jeremy Ojua, Post Treatment Counselor Chris Holliday, Aquatic Biologist Bryan Fendall, Adult Foster Care Caregiver Anna Huston and Early Head Start Home-Based Visitor Shelley Clift.

9 years: Adult Foster Care Caregiver Carmen Parren and Gaming Commission Licensing Manager Tisha Gleason.

8 years: Gaming Commission Executive Director Michael Boyce, Cultural Interpretive Specialist Brad Leno, Chinuk Language Program Manager Ali Holsclaw, Home Ownership Coordinator Victoria Jones, Senior Records Clerk Dalette Remington-Nash and Gaming Commission Background Investigator Nicholas Bailey.

7 years: Adult Foster Care Caregiver Ardyth Hoffer-Hallicola, Certified Medical Assistant Dana Seagrove and Head Start Teacher/Education Coordinator Kristina Jaquith.

6 years: Wildlife Biologist Lindsay Belonga, Senior Forester Zach Haas, Realty Specialist Teresa Brocksen, Dentist Erin Lange, Lead Maintenance Technician Andrew Freeman, Health Promotion Specialist Tammy Leno and Adult Foster Care Caregiver Ginger Whitman.

5 years: Swing Shift Housekeeper Nathan Mueller, Rental Housing Assistant Michele Plummer. Behavioral Health Director Jan Kaschmitter, Silviculture/Fire Supervisor Jim Pinder, Youth Programs Assistant Shannon Stanton, K5 Tutor Adviser Tiffany Mercier and Housing Department Maintenance Technician Lee Wilson.

After the certificates were distributed, Fullerton raffled off six one-day administrative leaves only for employees in attendance, and door prizes for all employees. Door prizes included a Fitbit exercise monitor, espresso coffee-making machine, hammock and grill.