Third-quarter service awards honor 94 employees

By Nicole Montesano

Smoke Signals staff writer

The Tribe treated its employees to breakfast Thursday, Sept. 18, in the Tribal gym as part of its third-quarter Years of Service Awards, honoring 94 employees for their years of service to the Tribe, ranging from five years to 35 years.

Economic Development and Lands Director Jan Reibach played a flute song to honor employees.

“You’re the reason the Tribe gets to hold its sovereignty,” he said. “You’re the reason we can take care of our people. … each one of you is part of our family.”

Tribal Council member Matthew Haller gave the invocation. Tribal Council Vice Chair Chris Mercier and Tribal Council members Kathleen George, Pete Wakeland, Toby McClary and Lisa Leno joined Haller to shake the hand of each employee who was honored.

Employees enjoyed a breakfast of scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, bacon, sausage, potatoes and fruit salad, provided by Washington Street Catering.

Tribal Employee Services Office Director Harris Reibach served as emcee for the event. He pulled ticket numbers for employees to participate in games, for which they won cash prizes of $100 or $50, as well as sweatshirts.

He called employees forward to be honored by years of service, noting that those who reached the 10-year mark could choose between receiving a Pendleton blanket or $200. Those who reached 30 years received a sweatshirt.

Harris Reibach then drew names for cash prizes and administrative leave. The Tribe gave away three $1,000 prizes, eight $500 prizes, 13 $250 prizes and eight days of administrative leave.

The following employees were honored:

35 years: Health Benefits Specialist Barbara Steere, Support Services Coordinator Barbara Branson, Staff Accountant Melanie Hubbard and Continuing and Adult Education Coordinator Tracy Biery.

34 years: Interim General Manager Bryan Langley and chinuk wawa Preschool Teacher Jeff Mercier.

33 years: Finance Officer Christopher Leno.

31 years: Tribal Attorney Rob Greene.

30 years: Organizational Development and Training Manager Scott Mode.

29 years: Assistant Tribal Attorney Kimberly D’Aquila, Cultural Advisor Bobby Mercier and Driver MSR Caryn George.

27 years: Education Services Coordinator Elaine Lane Raven, Housekeeping Supervisor Ben Bishop and Dental Department Manager Sheila Blacketer.

26 years: Cultural Protection Specialist Christopher Bailey.

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

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

23 years: Lead Cook Kevin Campbell and Firefighter/EMT Jennifer Colton.

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

21 years: Member Services Program Manager Shannon Simi, Health Information Technician Stephanie Simmons and Employment Specialist Brandy Hembree.

19 years: Asset Inventory Specialist Nathan Mueller.

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

16 years: Teacher Aide/Bus Monitor Bradly Roberston and Project Manager in Training Andrew Freeman.

15 years: Facilities Maintenance Technician Gary LaChance Jr., Facilities Maintenance Technician Jason Bailey, Chachalu Assistant Manager Veronica Montano, Native Connections Coordinator Keri Kimsey, Youth Prevention Manager Amber Zimbrick and Facilities Maintenance Technician Michael Lane.

14 years: Maintenance Supervisor Daniel Mooney, Community Support Specialist Joanna Brisbois and Medical Technologist Staci Pemble.

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

12 years: Cultural Education Coordinator Jordan Mercier.

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

10 years: Police Cpl. Tokata Tehama, Senior Help Desk Technician Nathan Hoff, Employment Coordinator Shylo Williams, Help Desk Administrator Braden Ebensteiner, Housekeeper Jonathan Baker, Compliance Manager Corey Tharp and Infant/Toddler Teacher Ellis Maranda.

9 years: Senior Staff Attorney Brooks Wakeland and Inclusion Coordinator Star Weatherall.

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

7 years: Pharmacy Technician Carrie Lewis, Lead Certified Medical Assistant Jennifer Lott, Pharmacy Clerk Amber Thiede, Assistant Teacher Brettia Vale and Staff Pharmacist Andrew Canning.

6 years: Senior Executive Assistant Danielle Dickey, Cultural Policy Analyst Gregory Archuleta, Controller Christine O’Day, Emergency Assistance Programs Coordinator Tawnie Kimsey, Curriculum Specialist Cheyanne Fasana-Heidt, Payment Processing Specialist Dorothy Anderson, Facilities Maintenance Technician Dyami Eastman, Licensed Practical Nurse Charlene Brewer, Children & Family Services Caseworker Michelle Baker, Optometric Technician Sandra Galligher and Smoke Signals Graphic Design Specialist Samuel Briggs.

5 years: Lead Driver and Wellness Assistant Damon Dickinson, Administrative Assistant Josie Justen, Infant/Toddler Teacher Hannah Nice, Substance Use Disorder Therapist Heidi Hicinbothom, Senior Dental Assistant Anna Novak and Community Programs Manager Caitlin Zimbrick.