CTUIR Hires New Deputy Executive Directors

Mission, OR –Jonetta Herrera and Shana McConville-Radford have been hired to serve as Deputy Executive Directors of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR).

“Jonetta has an educational background in construction and business administration combined with work experience as a former Department Director for CTUIR. Shana has a law degree and has worked in national and regional legislative affairs and served as the BIA Superintendent for the Salish Kootenai area,” Said Donald Sampson, Executive Director. “I look forward to having both of these CTUIR Tribal members join our executive management team and build a solid working relationship with the Board of Trustees.”

In 2019, Moss Adams, LLP was hired to conduct a full review of the CTUIR organizational structure. Their report identified the need for two deputy executive director positions. The Board of Trustees directed the Office of the Executive Director to develop these positions to report to the Executive Director.  The Deputy Executive Directors will share the responsibility of supervising sixteen departments. The updated organizational structure will help CTUIR meet the demands of the tribal government.

“I am very honored to be chosen for this position,” said Herrera who began work on Monday, April 25. “I look forward to making a positive impact for our community working with the CTUIR team.”
Herrera holds a bachelor’s degree in Construction Management with a minor in Business Administration from Central Washington University. She has over 15 years of experience managing large projects often involving multimillion-dollar contracts.

“I am extremely thankful, hopeful, energized, and confident that our people, employees, and community will return stronger and more innovative than ever – it is an exciting opportunity and important time to meaningfully rebuild, reconnect and refocus our shared organizational values, relationships, identity, and purpose to allow our people and our organization to thrive in a post-pandemic environment,” said McConville-Radford who will begin on May 2. “I am committed to creating and promoting an emotionally safe environment where employees and tribal citizens are comfortable asking questions, offering ideas, and are confident that their leaders are present, engaged, and responsive.”

McConville-Radford holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Portland State University with a master’s in International Law from the University of New South Wales.

“I also want to thank Matt Johnson and Teara Farrow-Ferman who served as Interim Deputy Executive Directors for the past year for their exceptional service to the tribe. Both will assist the new Deputies as they transition into their new position,” said Sampson.

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation is made up of the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla Tribes, formed under the Treaty of 1855 at the Walla Walla Valley, 12 statute 945. In 1949, the Tribes adopted a constitutional form of government to protect, preserve and enhance the treaty rights guaranteed under federal statute.