Over 70 GRIC Employees Recognized for Years of Service
July 15, 2022
Emma Hughes
Community Newsperson
More than 70 employees of the Gila River Indian Community were honored for their years of dedication and service during a “20-Year Club” ceremony hosted by GRIC’s Human Resources Department at the Governance Center in Sacaton on June 23.
“This is the first time we were able to do this in a couple of years because of the pandemic,” said Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis.
The ceremony honored those who had served the Community for over 20, 30 and even 40 years as of 2020 and 2021. Each employee was welcomed and presented with an award and a small gift as well as a to-go steak lunch.
“I think it’s really just a special opportunity to be able to reach out to those employees that have dedicated their professional careers to our Community, bettering our tribal government,” Gov. Lewis said.
“Congratulations, and we look forward to many more years of service; thank you!”
“It’s an honor to see them—all the employees and their commitment and dedication,” said Lt. Gov. Monica Antone.
She added, “I just want to say a big shout out to each of them for all of their dedication and service to our community. Thank you, Gila River employees; thank you for your service. God bless.”
20 Years of Service:
Bruce Ballard, GRFD
Martha Begaye, Gaming Commission Office
Sandy Brown, GRPD
David DeJong, P-MIP
Ruben Gonzales, MIS
Ja Ja Hastings, Department of Community Housing
Christopher Huang, Department of Public Works
Michelle Johns, Facilities Maintenance Division
Caroline Johnson, GRPD
Ann Long, Finance Dept.
Ileta Meredith, Finance Dept.
Candida Munoz, Finance Dept.
Delmer Peters, District 6
Salvador Ramirez, DCH
Tonya Raphael, Gaming Commission Office
Robert Russin, Gaming Commission Office
Jennifer Talas, CRMP
Kathleen Terrazas, Head Start Program
Mary Thompson, Gaming Commission Office
Randy Valdez, DHD
Johnny Valenzuela, DCH
Erma Antone, CSD
Donna Apodaca, OGC
Linda Blodgett, Facilities Maintenance Division
Valerie Bustos, Procurement Department
Teodoro Cuellar, DRS
Eddie Duarte, District 1
Rosemary Garcia, Judicial Department
Mandra Gutierrez, P-MIP
Abel Hernandez, DCH
Jeffrey Hunter, GRPD
Nelson Johnson, District 1
Gordon June, MIS
Roland Justin, DRS
Gary Kisto, District 4 Service Center
Christopher Marbell,GRPD
Anthony Mccandless, DEQ
William Morago, GRPD
Katrina Santos, Council Secretary’s Office
John Taraskiewicz, P-MIP
Pamela Torres, Gaming Commission Office
Freddy Trujillo, DPW
25 Years of Service:
Jacqueline Allison, District 6
Anthony Antone, LUPZ
Clyde Antone, Head Start Program
Carlos Cabanillas, DCH
Carmen Duarte, DRS
Cynthia Harris, DRS
Shirley Jackson, HHC
Andrea Johnson, Gaming Commission Office
James Martinez, DPW
Keith Mcdonald, LUPZ
Diana Sangster, CRMP
Leslie Stovall, LUPS
Laurie Thomas, CSD
Kyle Woodson, CRMP
Christopher Bauer, GRFD
Donald Jackson, GRIID
Dwayne Justin, DHD
Lawrence Makil, Procurement Department
Deanna Mendoza, Finance Department
Susan Morago, Finance Department
Keith Williams, DCH
30+ Years of Service:
Lanadine Allen, GRPD – 31 years
Marie Stewart, Finance Department – 31 years
Carleton Giff, Office of The Prosecutor – 31 years
Lana Chanda, Employment & Training – 32 years
Eugenia Franklin, Judicial Department – 32 years
Dorothea Guy, Finance Department – 34 years
Valerie Johnson-Antone, District 3 Service Center – 34 years
Cheryl Pablo, Office of Special Funding – 37 years
40+ Years of Service:
Alan Blackwater, Community Services Department – 40 years
Danielle Jackson, Finance Department – 41 years
