Celebrating Five-Year Incremental Work Anniversaries at NHBP

“Our Team Members are the beat of the heart who keep the organization growing and evolving with each moment of service that they provide to NHBP Tribal Government,” said Human Resources Director Audrey Wieber at NHBP’s annual Service Awards Ceremony. “We are so happy to have each one of them and to be able to celebrate in this way.”

Held annually, the Service Awards Ceremony recognizes those Team Members celebrating 5-year increments of service to NHBP Tribal Government. This year’s award ceremonies honored nearly 20 team members Thursday, Dec. 16, at the Pine Creek Indian Reservation and several more team members Jan. 7 in Grand Rapids.

Although COVID-19 protocol has changed much of the layout and logistics of the event, the spirit of the event remained the same, with CEO Barry Skutt hosting a red-carpet event to make the Team Members feel special and know they are valued.

As Team Members received their award from Skutt, he personally thanked them, acknowledging their specialized skills, talents and personality they each bring to the Tribe. Often, he shared laughs and his favorite memories and stories with the team member. The team member’s director was also present to share stories and to thank the individual for their contributions to NHBP.

One Team Member who was especially thanked was Ann Halbeisen, who not only celebrated her five-year anniversary, but also her retirement from NHBP on Dec. 15, 2021. A certified medical assistant, Halbeisen is credited as one of the founding members of the NHBP Health Facility @ FireKeepers in 2016.

“Everyone always remembers my first day – I had forgotten to ask when the official start time was,” recalled Halbeisen. “I showed up when nobody else had arrived yet. I saw a stack of boxes, so I started opening them and moving their contents to where they needed to go. When the rest of the team arrived a few minutes later, they were impressed I had already been hard at work. That mindset set the tone for my five years at NHBP Health Facility @ FireKeepers: to make the clinic operate the best it can and to put the best in everything I do.”

After Skutt and their director expressed thanks to the team member, the team member’s photo was taken if they wished and then they proceeded to walk the red carpet, where they received their gift box of special desserts and a beverage as they left the facility.

Congratulations and thank you to the following team members celebrating milestone anniversaries with NHBP:

15 Years of Service:

John Rodwan
Kimberly Christy

10 Years of Service:

Donna Chippewa
Kristen Main
Larysa Hill
LaShelle Gumbs
Ryan Pedley (not pictured) 
Zane Johnston (not pictured)

 5 Years of Service:

Aleaha Bowen
Ann Halbeisen
April Shephard (not pictured) 
Cody Hoehne (not pictured) 
Danielle Pfeifer 
Dawn Cordero-Reyes
Emilee Guzak
Heather Dittenber
Jane Brown
Jay Swanson (not pictured) 
Kaytlin Perry (not pictured) 
Megan Kemink, DDS
Michelle Simms
Morgan Mendez
Nichol Bremer
Nina Watters
Robin Butters
Shelby Brueck
Valerie Schultz