Tribe honors employees during quarterly service awards

By Nicole Montesano

Smoke Signals staff writer

The Tribe honored 73 employees for more than 1,000 years of service on Thursday, Dec. 19, at the Spirit Mountain Casino Event Center during the quarterly service awards. The event doubled as the annual employee holiday party and luncheon.

Tribal Council Vice Chair Chris Mercier, Tribal Council Secretary Jon A. George, and Tribal Council members Lisa Leno, Kathleen George, Denise Harvey and Brenda Tuomi attended the event. Jon A. George gave the invocation, and the Canoe family drummed and sang a meal song.

Assistant General Manager Bryan Langley told the audience that when he was hired by the Tribe in 1991, he was working in the old train depot, noting how far the Tribe has come since then with the development of its campus.

“We really do appreciate you guys,” Langley said. “We really could not do what we do without the work that you do. … you guys all are valuable and important and contribute to the work we do.”

He made a point of mentioning employees and departments whose work is often quietly done behind the scenes and said they are vital for the overall operation of the Tribe.

Engineering and Community Development Department Manager Ryan Webb noted that the grants department has applied for more than $142 million in grants in the past year, and brought in just more than $62 million, a 42% success rate, which he said is much higher than the average.

“That’s no small feat,” Webb said.  

The December service awards included a lunch of salmon, turkey with stuffing, and prime rib along with cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, salad, rolls and desserts.

Human Resources employees raffled off $18,000 in cash prizes ranging from $250 to $2,000, in addition to administrative leave and prizes including Blackstone grills, televisions, DeWalt tools, gaming consoles and other items.

Additionally, employees participated in an ugly sweater contest and games, for prizes of $50 to $100.

Employees who reached a 5-year milestone received checks for $125. Those who achieved 10 years received either $50 and a blanket, or $150. Those who notched 25 years received $500. 

Health & Wellness Department Operations Director Tresa Mercier was honored as the Tribe’s longest-serving employee, with 40 years of service to the Tribe, dating back to just a year after the Tribe was Restored to federal recognition. Public Works Coordinator John Mercier was the runner-up this quarter with 34 years.

Together, employees honored have served a total of 1,071 years.

40 years: Health & Wellness Department Operations Director Tresa Mercier.

34 years: Public Works Coordinator John Mercier.

29 years: Benefits/Risk Manager Tammy Gould,

Compensation/HRIS Manager Candy Scranton, Senior Administrative Assistant Daphney Colton, Behavioral Health Scheduler Linda Evans, Tribal Lands Department Manager Jan  Reibach, Records Clerk Hollie Mercier and Social Services Department Manager Dana Ainam.

28 years: Ceded Lands Program Manager Michael Karnosh.

27 years: Restorative Assistant Donnette Spaulding, Police Records/Evidence Technician Egypt Leno, Cultural Center Supervisor Crystal Szczepanski and Judicial Operation Supervisor Julie Boekhoff.  

26 years: Employment Specialist Tauni Tollas.

25 years: Procurement Department Manager Nathan Rolston.

23 years: Housing Improvement Coordinator Donald Coon.

21 years: Librarian Kathy Cole.

19 years: Gaming Compliance Manager Rose Smith, Support Counselor Christopher Holliday Sr., Internal Auditor Heather Roberts and Housing Improvement Coordinator Loyal Hamilton.

18 years: Utility Maintenance Supervisor Joe Loomis and Quality Coordinator Tauni McCammon.

17 years: Administrative Program Manager Joan Dugger.

16 years: Cultural Education Specialist Flicka Lucero and Family Partnerships Coach Isaiah Sherwood.

14 years: Employment Caseworker Rhonda Leno and Infant-Toddler Site Coordinator Melissa Phillips.

13 years: Senior Maintenance Technician Brent Bruckner, Pharmacy Technician Supervisor Stephanie Wolfe, Senior Applications Administrator Jose Luna and Firefighter Daniel Hyatt.

12 years: Senior Administrative Assistant Nicholas Kimsey, Pharmacy Technician Cindy Brickell, Utility Maintenance Technician Richard Smith, Education Services Coordinator Devin Boekhoff and Secretary Jamie Adams.

11 years: Communications Specialist Daron Pond Jr. and Payroll Administrator Michelle Peterson.

10 years: Senior Peer Support Specialist Shelly Fox, Child Family Services Caseworker Santiago Atanacio, Lead Certified Medical Assistant Amanda Walker and Teacher Aide/Bus Monitor Shantell Ulestad-Salinas.

9 years: Teacher Aide Wendy Mercier, Health Services Executive Director Kelly Rowe, Grant Supervisor Gloria Schwalger, Maintenance Technician Winston Mercier and Lead Housekeeper Coley Parazoo.

8 years: Domestic Violence Relief Advocate Leah Bailey, Assistant Emergency Management Chief Torey Wakeland, Data Specialist Sommer Brucker and Tribal Security Officer Derek Ellenwood.

7 years: Publications Secretary Katherine Warren-Steffensmier, Certified Medical Assistant Fermin Deras Diaz, Family Partnerships Coordinator Lyndsey Stuckey, Librarian Aide Crystal Bigelow, Dental Assistant Nina Umfrid, Employee Relations Specialist Aaron Bigelow, Housing Safety Specialist Bradley Leno and Phlebotomist/Lab Assistant Kateri Marrufo.

6 years: Tribal Veterans Services Officer Ramona Quenelle, Driver/Cook Jason Ibarra, Community Support Specialist Isabell Bobb, Cultural Resources Specialist Christopher Rempel, Lead Patient Insurance and Eligibility Specialist Ashley Stonebrink, Teacher Aide/Bus Monitor Krystal King and Enrichment Coordinator Corina Limon.

5 years: Tribal Lead Security Officer Rick Sardegna, Social Media/Digital Journalist Kamiah Koch, Family/Community Partnership Coordinator Rebecca Ambrose, Senior Administrative Assistant Kristina Helfrich and Optometrist Terri Knowles.

After the event, employees were dismissed with pay for the remainder of the day.