Page 3 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - June, 2019

3

Tribal Gaming Agency employee honored

By Frazier Myer
The Chehalis Tribal staff
enjoyed a Hawaiian theme lunch
together June 28 in the Gathering
Room as Mike Irby of the Tribal
Gaming Agency received the May
employee of the month for his
recent contributions as System
Administrator.
Before the candidates were
named and Irby was announced
as the winner, the staff was
treated to a complete island feast
prepared by staff members from
Behavioral Health, Housing and
Wellness.
Tribal employees filled
their plates with various
foods, including luau
pork, chicken, fruit
and veggie kabobs, tiki Irby is in the process
punch and pineapple of a major switch-over
upside down cake for for the surveillance
dessert. team. They are moving
Director of Behavioral from one company to
Health Leah Niccolocci another.
emceed the event and Irby has led the project,
announced Irby as the May which involves installing 14
employee of the month. She new servers and nearly 500 new
brought up co-workers who cameras.
nominated Irby to share a few Additionally, he helps
words. ensure all TGA computers are
They spoke about how Irby is functioning correctly and keeping
a quiet, modest man who didn’t all other products up-to date and
want any recognition. operational.
However, his contribution He also helped TGA retain
to the department is so vast specific gaming permits in a Above: Sheilah Bray and Leah Niccolocci perform a song for employees
that his work couldn’t go timely manner so there weren’t in attendance at the ACE luncheon. Top: Mike Irby was named the
unacknowledged. any setbacks on the gaming floor. Chehalis Tribe’s Employee of the Month for May.

PLANNING Sarra Burnett

From page 2
GRANT WRITER
ports in the Western Pacific.
He became a full-time Burnett started working
employee for the Chehalis Tribe for Planning in 2008 as an
in 2006 but worked as a general administrative assistant. She
contractor for 12 years before he became interested in grant writing
was officially hired. during this time but needed to
Terry started his career earn a bachelor’s degree to apply
in construction during 1986, for a grant writer position.
specializing in high-end From late 2009-2016, she
residential remodels and new stayed at home to raise her two
construction, which included Terry also contracted with the Don and Gail moved their children, Jordan and Ali. In 2014,
Indian health clinics around the Planning Department in 1997 to family to Oakville in 1981. The she went back to school and earned
state and up in Alaska. project manage the Elders and Terrys have been married 43 a bachelor’s degree from The
Terry’s company employed Head Start building in 1998. years and have 12 grandchildren Evergreen State College in 2016.
tribal members on various Prior to his professional ranging in age from 2-21. In June of 2016, Burnett began
projects, such as the construction career, Terry and his wife, Gail, working for Planning on contract
of the tribal fish house behind the started their family in 1977 and Don enjoys camping and as a grant writer. She was hired
Department of Natural Resources. raised three children. Josh, the spending time with his grandkids, permanently in January of 2019 as
They rebuilt the old storage oldest, worked here at the tribe wood working, tinkering with a part-time grant writer.
barn creating the youth gym and in Facilities. Stephanie was born his classic cars and going to the She loves spending her free time
classrooms that now serve as the in 1979 and Brandon was born in ocean for razor clams and beach with her husband and children,
childcare center. 1984. combing. often watching the kids play sports.