Staff Spotlight

Paris FiveThunders, Maintenance Mechanic

By Clare Jensen

For Puyallup Tribal News
cjensen@tacomaweekly.com
Published on: August 21, 2008

Paris FiveThunders started working at the Puyallup Tribal Health Authority (PTHA) six years ago in a temporary position.

That evolved into a full-time, long-term job, and today he could not be happier.

He loves his job, the people he works with, his four teenage daughters, and his long-time girlfriend Mandy.

While talking to Paris FiveThunders, it is clear that he loves pretty much everything – everything except for the way the masked Batman’s voice sounds in the latest blockbuster.

Before starting at the PTHA, Paris FiveThunders had a variety of odd jobs. He fit in just as easily fighting fires with the forestry department for the Nez Perce Tribe in Idaho, as he did working as an employee at a poultry company.

He likes variety, after all, which is one of the reasons his current job is the “best one he’s ever had.

“I’m not tied to a desk all day,” he said. “There’s always something…you never know what’s going to happen.”

As a maintenance mechanic, Paris FiveThunders gets called upon to do pretty much anything that needs to be taken care of at the PTHA, from fixing boilers, to unclogging toilets, to remedying a leaky roof.

“It can get hectic, but it’s easy to deal with when you work with good people.”

The facilities staff at the PTHA is like a close-knit family, he said. Everyone gets along, works well together, and even spends time together outside of work.

“This wouldn’t be a good job if it weren’t for good people,” he said.

He said in particular that his boss Ray McCloud is a pleasure to work for because of his emphasis on family, culture and spirituality.

He said his co-workers Roger, Rob, Marlee and Terry deserve props as well.

Because of the closeness of him and his co-workers, Paris FiveThunders said he can share his problems, get advice and general support from his friends at facilities.

“You really can’t do that at a lot of jobs,” he observed.

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