Steiner hired as Red Lake Industries Plant Manager

By Michael Barrett

Freelance Writer

       At the Special Tribal Council Meeting held on Wednesday, September 24, 2003, the Red Lake Business Development Program presented their recommendations to the Council for the hiring of a new general manager at Red Lake Industries.

       The home manufacturing plant located in Redby had shut down its operation about a year ago, but was recently revived in August through a joint partnership with Integrity Homes of Bemidji.

       Red Lake Industries has the task of building the homes, while Integrity Homes will do the rest, including marketing, transportation and set-up of the finished product..

       Adrian Omen explained to the Council that they had conducted interviews of the applicants on the previous week, with the position having been advertised for about a month and a half. Those on the interview committee along with Omen were Treasurer Darrell Seki, Representatives Clifford Hardy and Jim White, Jerry Collie of Integrity Homes and Lisa Brun.

       “All the applicants, they brought good ideas and had experience,” Omen said. “Some were experienced in carpentry, electricity–they were good applicants. Our final choice was Mark Steiner as plant manager, with Loren Radke as alternate.”

       Council members had packets with the list of all those who applied and were interviewed, along with the reasons of the hiring committee.

       Omen explained that Steiner had been in the home manufacturing business since 1977 and put up a lot of homes in the Red Lake area.

       Representative White made the motion to hire Steiner, and it was seconded by Representative Hardy, for which Chairman King asked if there were any other comments or questions before a vote was taken by the Council.

       Martin ‘Mott’ Parkhurst addressed the Council, stating he had went through the application process for the position, along with the interview. He asked “whatever happened to Indian preference” in hiring for jobs on the Reservation and questioned how much Indian one had to be to get a job in Red Lake.

       Representative White, who had also sat on the selection committee, explained that he was making his recommendation based on who was the most qualified all around.

       Omen explained to Parkhurst that he did have good qualifications as an electrician, but as for overall construction, Steiner had the most experience. He added that Steiner, although not a Red Lake tribal members, was married to a Red Lake member.

       “We wished we could have hired everybody,” Omen said.

       The vote was called for and the motion to hire Steiner as Red Lake Industries Plant Manager passed. Steiner proceeds former plant manager, Jerry Loud, and a list of others who have held the position since Red Lake Industries first opened in the latter 90s.