History
GRTI Contributes to GRIC
GRTI Presents $406,250 to GRIC
Presenting the GRTI check to GRIC Tribal Council, Left to Right, Wallace
Jones-GRTI Engineering Manager
Tammy Antone-GRTI Customer Service, Theresa
Gibson-GRTI Purchasing Agent, Lt. Gov. Joseph Manuel
Gila River Telecommunications, Inc. (GRTI) develops a strategic plan every year to provide better and more services to meet the needs of the Gila River Indian Community (GRIC). As part of the goals of GRTI, a dividend will be given to the Community for each quarter of 2010. The first quarter GRTI dividend was presented to GRIC Tribal Council on June 2, 2010 for $406,250 (four hundred six-thousand, two hundred-fifty dollars).
The GRTI Board of Directors asked employees to participate and present the check to the GRIC Tribal Council. The employees attending were employees in the photo, including Mary Lou Lorenzen-NTS Procurement Specialist, Dan Reynolds-NTS Structure Cabling Supervisor, Tanda Suchta-GRTI Central Office Technician, Clarice Chiago-Jones-GRTI Marketing Assistance, Bruce Holdridge-GRTI General Manaager, Derek White-NTS & Alluvion Manager and Jean Nahomni Mani-GRTI Marketing Manager.
All five board members were present, Malcom Eschief, Anthony Newkirk, Rebecca Kisto, Dale Enos and Gordon Santos. It just so happens that the term for Anthony Newkirk's position on the board was up for election. On the same day, the GRIC Tribal Council had selected for that GRTI board position. We say a big thank you and farewell to Anthony for all his hard work and knowledge he has given to the efforts for GRTI, NTS and Alluvion. We welcome Darrell Gerlaugh from District 4 as the newest member of the GRTI board of directors.
We appreciate the support of the Community to provide an opportunity for your telecommunication needs for residents and businesses of the Gila River Indian Community. Congratulations on the success of GRTI, NTS and Alluvion.
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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. |
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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.
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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.
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