Oneida Nation Enterprises, parent company of Turning Stone, values its people, and earlier this month we returned to our annual tradition of honoring employees celebrating anniversaries of 10, 15, 20 or 25 years with an in-person Service Awards dinner and gala.

The event, held in the Oneida Room at Turning Stone Resort Casino, feted more than 250 of our colleagues for their years of service and commitment. Award-winners hailed from various departments and businesses across Oneida Nation Enterprises.

Together the group represented more than 4,000 years of experience.

Those who were recognized received their choice of gifts in appreciation of their hard work and dedication. We also presented employees with dreamcatcher feathers commemorating their milestone anniversaries. Each feather features a gemstone that represents years of service, with an onyx for 10 years, ruby for 15 years, emerald for 20 years and diamond for 25 years.

Many employees proudly display these feathers on their dreamcatchers while they are at work.

Ray Halbritter, Oneida Indian Nation Representative and CEO of Oneida Nation Enterprises, spoke at the event, and thanked employees for their dedication and hard work.

“Each of you hard-working people has made an incredible contribution over the years, and together all of these individual contributions have helped us with all the things we have achieved as a group,” he told the room of honorees and their guests.

“Bells” was the theme of this year’s event, and Mr. Halbritter explained how bells extend and amplify this notion of calling people to come together and work as a team.

“In a way, you all ring bells for the Oneida Indian Nation, your leadership in the workplace offers a clear and guiding signal,” Mr. Halbritter noted. “This has never been more important than in the last few years. Our employees have stepped up in new ways to work together as one. When people work together, there’s power in that. Longevity of employees is what makes a good business great.”

We salute all our Service Award winners, and congratulate them on their accomplishments.