By SCOTT MCKIE B.P.
ONE FEATHER STAFF
Principal Chief Richard G. Sneed gathered employees of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians together on the morning of Tuesday, June 6 in the Chief Joyce Dugan Cultural Arts Center to lay out his vision for his administration. The event started with a short film, produced by the EBCI Communications Department, whose message centered around the lyrics and music video style of the song “Right now” by Van Halen.
“In everything that has happened over the last few months, I think everyone has had some anxiety,” said Chief Sneed who said now is the time for healing and forgiveness. “It’s time for us to come together. It’s time for us to be a Tribe again.”
He said a core value of his administration will be to “do things the right way”, and he outlined some plans and goals to meet that tenet. “People who are running for office and people who are running for re-election always promise to do things the right way. It’s what we say to you. We say, ‘If you vote for me, I’m going to do things the right way…you can trust me.’ And, some do. And, some don’t.”
PLAN: Principal Chief Richard G. Sneed addresses tribal employees and outlines the vision for his administration during a meeting at the Chief Joyce Dugan Cultural Arts Center on the morning of Tuesday, June 6. (SCOTT MCKIE B.P./One Feather photos)
Chief Sneed said, “It is the commitment of this administration that we’re going to do things the right way, and we’re going to do them right now. Starting right now, from day one of this administration, things will be done the right way.”
One of the first areas Chief Sneed touched on during his speech on Tuesday morning was human resources. “My commitment to every one of you, as a tribal employee, is that our HR (human resources) policies will be followed. That is my promise to you. HR policies are not just in place so that you know what our expectations are of you. But, it is important that you know what you can expect from us.”
He said the hiring process, which goes along with the human resources policies, will be followed. “As you can imagine, my phone has blown up the past week. Many people have been saying, ‘Hey, I’m so glad you’re there. I need a job.’ And, I understand that, but my response has always been the same since I took the office of Vice Chief. Apply, there’s a process.”
Another major area he touched on was housing. “We spend a lot of money every year on housing, millions of dollars, and we put very few homes on the ground…there are some very serious challenges that we face in housing.”
Chief Sneed said he is currently planning a Housing Summit to get everyone involved in housing for the Tribe together for a day of input, listening, and problem-solving. “We’re taking a collaborative approach to correct the shortfalls of our overall system. It’s like anything else. The system, over the years, has grown with not a lot of real direction. And, when organizations just grow with no direction, you create bureaucracy and things tend to just bog down and things don’t get done.”
He said his administration will adhere to what he calls the “Three Cs” which are communication, collaboration, and community. “No one has all the answers,” he noted stating the need for both communication and collaboration between tribal programs and departments. “It takes all of us working together to make this thing work.”
TEAM: The new leadership team for Chief Sneed was introduced and are shown (left-right) – Dr. Mickey Duvall, Secretary of Commerce; Jimmy Bradley, Secretary of Education; Sarah Teesateskie, Executive Assistant; Tara Reed, Secretary of Human Resources; Chief Sneed; Paxton Myers, Chief of Staff; Cory Blankenship, Secretary of Treasury; Vickie Bradley, Secretary of Public Health and Human Services; Joey Owle; Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources; and Jeremy Hyatt; Secretary of Administration.
During the event, Chief Sneed introduced his new leadership team including: Jeremy Hyatt, Secretary of Administration; Tara Reed, Secretary of Human Resources (will take job later this month); Cory Blankenship, Secretary of Treasury; James Bradley, Secretary of Education; Dr. Mickey Duvall, Secretary of Commerce; Vickie Bradley, Secretary of Public Health and Human Services; Joey Owle; Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources; Albert Crowe, Director of Tribal Realty Services; Juanita Wilson, Director of Cherokee County/Snowbird Services; and Paxton Myers, Chief of Staff. The Secretary of State position has been eliminated, and the Secretary of Housing, whose duties will be discussed in the upcoming summit, will be filled at a later date.
“Leadership is a servant position,” Chief Sneed commented stating he learned valuable leadership lessons from Ray Kinsland, former Cherokee Boys Club general manager. “He would always say, ‘Remember I work for you, not the other way around’. My commitment to you is that I work for you, not the other way around. This team of leaders, we work for you. We are here to serve you. We are here to equip you, to facilitate you in your duties every day so that you can accomplish the mission of your department for our enrolled members.”
