History

GRTI promotes Education Awareness with Adam Beach


GRTI Apprentice, Miane Gonazles with new friend Adam Beach.

The famed actor Adam Beach visited the Gila River Indian Community on Tuesday, July 31. He spent the day visiting Tribal Council, the Elderly and the youth at the Boys & Girls Clubs in Sacaton and Komatke.

Adam talked about his struggles as a youth and how he was determined to make it in the movie industry. Adam had played the role of community member Ira Hayes in the movie Flags of Our Fathers.

GRTI was at the Komatke Boys & Girls Club to promote the Education Outreach program which encourages youth to finish high school and go on to higher education. It was a great surprise to have infamous actor Adam Beach show up. He danced with the kids and learned the cha-cha. He signed autographs to the never ending line of fans. Adam was very gracious in meeting everyone that wanted to meet him. GRTI apprentice, Miane Gonzales got a hug and close up photo with him. Mr. Beach stated he had a great time and wanted to come back again to work with the youth. Anytime Adam!

The GRTI Education Outreach program will be visiting more youth in the community. We hope to encourage the youth to think about their future and to consider the types of careers in the technology fields. What a great day.


GRTI gets round of applause from youth for providing hot dog lunch and presentation.

Komatke Boys & Girls club attendee shows off his new business card.

Youth listen to presentation on staying in school, then work on their future goals.

Adam Beach kicks it up dancing with Komatke youth.

Lots and lots of autographs, Adam made sure he got each name spelled right.

The Komatke youth gave Adam gifts they made and he was very thankful.

GRTI Marketing team with Danny Saenz, a friend of Adam and CEO of Native American Hospitality Group from San Diego CA.
 

GRTI was established on July 6, 1988 for the purpose of providing the Gila River Indian Community with telephone service and other telecommunications services.

GRTI currently has over 3,800 lines, including business, residence, and private line circuits. Approximately 48% of these are business lines.  

Other enhanced services offered by GRTI are dial-up Internet and Sothk-DSL (High Speed Internet).

Gila River Telecommunications, Inc. is also a 25% owner of the Gila River Cellular General Partnership with Verizon Wireless, serving the Rural Service Area 5 in Arizona . The service area includes a portion of the Interstate 10 corridor between Phoenix and Tucson , as well as all of Pinal and Gila counties.

With over forty-five employees, GRTI is capable of providing many services with the use of in-house personnel, including our own engineering and construction departments. GRTI will continue to bring the latest services and technologies to the Gila River Indian Community and ensuring the best service possible.


Gila River, the Great Flood of 2006

Nature dropped a lot of rain during the weekend of July 28, 2006 and the usually dry Gila River was over flowing with water.

These photos of the flood waters were taken when most of the water level had decreased. Then the Coolidge Dam needed to release water because of the excessive rain. The Gila River flooded again and on Tuesday, August 1, the river water broke a GRTI phone cable on Skousen Road in District 1 (North Blackwater). When the flood waters subsided, GRTI restored service within 48 hours.


Flood waters on Skousen Road, North Blackwater.


Facing North East on Skousen Road, flood water rose above
the fence where dubris collected.


Flood Waters on Gila River facing West to Gila Buttes off of State Road 587 .


Blackwater Road by the Gila River flood waters.

FCC Visits GRTI

Federal Communications Commissioner (FCC) Deborah Taylor Tate met with Gila River Telecommunications, Inc. Board of Directors on Thursday, October 19, 2006. Ian Dillner, Legal Advisor and part of the FCC also met with GRTI board, Derek White, Dale Enos, Mary Thomas and Anika Enos. The discussions were about concerns for telecom services in Indian country.


(L to R) Richard Mathis-GRTI CFO, Sue Pasqual-GRTI Board Secretary, Mike Scully-GRTI General Manager,
Mary Thomas-GRTI BOD, Ian Millner-FCC Legal Advisor, FCC Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate,
Dale Enos-BOD, Anika Enos-BOD, Derek White-BOD.