Tribe honors 95 employees for 1,383 years of service

By Nicole Montesano

Smoke Signals staff writer

The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde took time to honor 95 employees for their service on Thursday, Sept. 19, with certificates, drawings and games, along with a hearty breakfast.

The employees, who have worked from 5 years to 34 for the Tribe, have a combined total of 1,383 years of service.

“Forty-one years ago, this was not here,” Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy told the audience. “None of this was here. There were cow fields, primarily.”

The newly-restored Tribe started with just two employees, a general manager and an accountant, according to Kennedy.

“And then there was the third one, who was the one who put together all the programs, and that was me,” she said.

Kennedy said the long-term dream those determined early visionaries laid out for the Tribe “is still unfolding,” and a part that brings her particular joy is seeing the Tribe’s language coming back into regular use.

“It is the backbone of our culture,” she said. “Those of you employees are who are Tribal members, hayu masi. And for those others who are not, we so appreciate your hands and your minds, and your work.”

General Manager Angie Blackwell noted how many employees have been with the Tribe almost since Restoration.  

Tribal Council member Jon A. George gave a blessing, and then employees enjoyed biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes and fruit.

Tribal Council Vice Chair Chris Mercier and Tribal Council members Tonya Gleason-Shepek, Matthew Haller, Brenda Tuomi, Lisa Leno and Kathleen George also attended.

A new twist this quarter was the addition of two games, where employees were selected by raffle ticket to participate with prizes of cash or administrative leave.

Additionally, prizes for administrative leave and cash ranging from $50 to $1,000 were raffled off.

Employees honored for 34 years of service were Senior Executive Assistant Barbara Branson, Health Benefits Specialist Barbara Steere, Continuing & Adult Education Coordinator Tracy Biery and Staff Accountant Melanie Hubbard.

Employees who have been with the Tribe for more than three decades were Assistant General Manager Bryan Langley and Chinuk Wawa Preschool Teacher Jeff Mercier, 33 years; Finance Officer Christopher Leno, 32 years; Administrative Assistant Tammy Garrison, 31 years; and Tribal Attorney Rob Greene, 30 years.

In the quarter century or more category were Organizational Development & Training Manager Scott Mode, 29 years; Assistant Tribal Attorney Kimberly D’Aquila and Cultural Advisor Bobby Mercier, 28 years; Education & Services Coordinator Elaine Lane Raven, Dental Department Manager Sheila Blacketer and Housekeeping Supervisor Ben Bishop, 26 years; and Cultural Protection Specialist Christopher Bailey, 25 years.

Employees received certificates of appreciation and those hitting milestone years received bonus checks.

Other employees honored were:

24 years: Facilities Manager Tyson Mercier and Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coordinator Matthew Bucknell.

23 years: Tribal Security Supervisor Roel Hernandez, Chachalu Manager Travis Stewart and Health Care Payment Specialist Erica Mercier.

22 years: Lead Cook Kevin Campbell and Firefighter-EMT Jennifer Colton.

21 years: Benefits/Safety Specialist Peggy Carpenter, Community Fund Program Coordinator Angela Schlappie and Nutrition Program Manager Kristy Lawson.

20 years: Health Information Technician Stephanie Simmons, Executive Assistant Jose Trevino, Member Services Program Manager Shannon Simi and Employment Specialist Brandy Hembree.

19 years: Health Information Technician Leanna Norwood and After Care Educator Susan Sabey.

18 years: Asset Inventory Specialist Nathan Mueller.

17 years: Central Telephone Receptionist Scarlett Holtz, Information Systems Program Manager Alec Palanuk-Mercier and Bus Driver Jennifer Jerabek.

15 years: Engineering & Community Development Project Manager (in training) Andrew Freeman, Teacher Aide/Bus Monitor Bradly Robertson and Applications Specialist Spencer Olson.

14 years: Maintenance Technician Jason Bailey, Maintenance Technician Gary LaChance Jr., Chachalu Assistant Manager Veronica Montano, General Manager Angie Blackwell, Native Connections Project Coordinator Keri Kimsey, Maintenance Technician Michael Lane and Children & Family Services Supervisor Amber Zimbrick.

13 years: Maintenance Supervisor Daniel Mooney, Vocational Rehabilitation Caseworker Amber Haller, Community Support Specialist Joanna Brisbois and Medical Technologist Staci Pemble.

12 years: Parks Recreation Coordinator Jerry Bailey, Senior Telecommunications Administrator Mark Scheelar, Youth Prevention Grant Coordinator Angey Rideout, Chief of Staff Stacia Hernandez and Vocational Rehabilitation Caseworker Tara Summers.

11 years: Cultural Education Coordinator Jordan Mercier.

10 years: Physician Lance Loberg and Administrative Assistant Deann Dickinson.

9 years: Senior Help Desk Technician Nathan Hoff, Detective Tokata Tehama, Help Desk Administrator Braden Ebensteiner, Housekeeper Jonathan Baker and Employment Coordinator Shylo Williams.

8 years: Senior Staff Attorney Brooks Wakeland and Education Coordinator Star Weatherall.

7 years: Health Information Technician Norma Reed, Lead Housekeeper Dorene Gillespie, Pharmacy Director Lincoln Wright, Spirit Mountain Community Fund Administrative Assistant Pamala Warren-Chase, Senior Dental Assistant Samuel King, Staff Pharmacist Timothy Wood, Tribal Security Officer Eugene Pribble, Smoke Signals Editor Danielle Harrison, and Silviculture & Fire Protection Technician Nicholas Larsen.

6 years: Audit Director Steven Harrop, Pharmacy Technician Carrie Lewis, Pharmacy Clerk Amber Thiede, Lead Certified Medical Assistant Jennifer Lott, Chinuk Wawa Assistant Teacher Brettia Vale and Staff Pharmacist Andrew Canning.

5 years: Mail/Printing Specialist Marcus Ibarra, Senior Executive Assistant Danielle Dickey, Cultural Policy Analyst Greg Archuleta, Controller Christine O’Day, Licensed Practical Nurse Charlene Brewer, Payment Processing Specialist Dorothy Anderson, Curriculum Specialist Cheyanne Fasana-Heidt, Maintenance Technician Dyami Eastman, Groundskeeper Nicholas Colton, Pharmacy Technician Karlee Ritthaler, Vocational Rehabilitation Trainee Tawnie Kimsey, Children & Family Services Caseworker Michelle Baker, Optometric Technician Sandra Galligher, Graphic Design Specialist Samuel Briggs III and Cultural Wellness Specialist Kailiyah Krehbiel.