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Yavapai-Apache Chairwoman Inspired by Elders

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Tanya Lewis advises young people to know where they came from.

Embracing the advice of her elders for wisdom and guidance is what keeps Yavapai-Apache Chairwoman Tanya Lewis grounded and steadfast as she serves in one of the highest positions in her nation.

“My biggest mentor has been my mom,” she said. “She taught me about compassion, understanding and common sense. My father was amazing; he worked in telecommunications with AT&T for 25 years and taught me to be strong. They are a huge part of who I am today, and I miss them daily.”

Lewis was sworn in as Yavapai-Apache Chairwoman in October 2022. Her father, Lyman Lewis, was with her at her inauguration, but passed away a few months later.

Soft-spoken with kind eyes that reflect her sincerity and integrity, Lewis is approachable, cordial and yet stalwart and wise. She holds an associate degree in business management from Yavapai College.

“Working alongside the Tribal Council, I oversee about 30 programs and govern a management team,” she said. “This encompasses everything from law enforcement, social services, food bank, health clinic, cultural department, Senior Program, Yavapai-Apache Cultural Center and others.”

Located in the Verde Valley, the Yavapai-Apache Nation is comprised of five tribal communities: Tunlii, Middle Verde, Rimrock, Camp Verde and Clarkdale. It is the largest employer in Verde Valley, operating six businesses and numerous government departments.

Born and raised on the reservation in Clarkdale, Lewis says it’s important to know where you came from. “My dad hunted for the meat that we ate and our food came from food boxes. I have 10 brothers and sisters, but I consider the Yavapai-Apache people to be my family and we were always there for our neighbors.”

Before assuming her position as chairwoman, Lewis served as Yavapai-Apache vice chairwoman, a Tribal Council member and executive assistant for two administrations.  She says her strength comes from God. “I get up early every morning to pray, not just for myself and my family, but I also pray for our community. I chose to be here because I love it here and love serving to the best of my ability for my people.”

“Chairwoman Tanya Lewis was an outstanding student of mine while I was a professor at Yavapai College (YC),” said Northern Arizona University (NAU) Professor Dr. Joy D’Angelo. “She stood out as a collaborator with her fellow YC students by her exemplary academic work. In addition, I had the honor of working with her to bring a vision she had for leadership education for the Yavapai-Apache nation.”

As a woman leading a Native American tribe, challenges can arise periodically. “Sometimes misunderstandings in communication occur and we always work it out,” she said.

Yavapai-Apache Cultural Resource Center employee and elder, Barbara McCabe has known Lewis since 2005 and was close friends with Lewis’s mom. “Tanya took good care of her mom and dad. We talk quite often and sometimes she will seek elders’ advice on cultural or environmental issues.”

As a mom of two adult children, Lance, 29, and Taylor, 18, Lewis’ advice to younger Native women is to “always look toward your elders for wisdom, guidance and advice. Take to heart their teaching and learn it and live it.  It will keep you grounded as it teaches us why and who we are.” She added that it is very important to lead by example.

Leisure time for Lewis is sewing. She makes all her dresses.  “I love to sew and make ribbon shirts. I recently learned to make pillowcases and pillows and I’m learning to quilt. I also enjoy following my daughters’ rodeos.”

My Favorite Meal

I love tacos!  Tacos make me happy. They are my comfort food.  I like to make my own soft-shell tacos. They have a lot of flavor; I love to eat them with salsa and they are quick to make and eat.

Meaningful Childhood Memory

Every weekend when my dad came home we were all at the softball field cheering on my older sisters.

Advice for Young People

Look for a purpose. You need to know who we are as individuals. There are no limits in life and there’s always somebody out there to help you, guide you and show you the way.

The Moment I Knew I was a Leader

It was many years ago when I worked with the Yavapai-Apache Nation Pageant Committee. We spent the time with the young ladies mentoring them and teaching, talking and listening. To see these young women grow and see where they are today is wonderful. After that, I sought election and served as a Tribal Council Member from 2010 to 2013. I set expectations for myself and went out there and did it. I thought, “Wow! I can do it.”

Where I Go for Solitude and Contemplation

I love kickboxing and working out at Sensei Robert Gonzales’ HDH Powerhouse Gym in Cottonwood. I also like working in my yard and just being outside. QCBN

By V. Ronnie Tierney, QCBN

Photo by V. Ronnie Tierney, Fresh Focuses Photography: Chairwoman Tanya Lewis oversees multiple Yavapai-Apache Nation programs including law enforcement, social services, the food bank and health clinic.

Survey to Evaluate Broadband Capabilities for Rural Populations

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As many as 42 million citizens may not have access to high-speed internet.

A direct consequence of the shutdowns and isolation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has been “front and center awareness of the criticality of broadband and its significance in issues such as emergency management, education, health care and work access – and many others,” according to Teri Drew, regional director for the Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG) in Prescott.

“The intensity for creating broadband awareness has prompted us with NACOG to sponsor a major survey throughout Yavapai, Coconino, Apache and Navajo Counties. That survey will help us develop a strategic blueprint for improving connectivity and digital equity among our citizens,” she explained.

Drew defined broadband infrastructure as the cabling and electrical systems that wire homes and businesses into local and regional telecommunication and cable companies. “Communications networks and the internet are linked together, making it possible to interconnect local users with internet, telephone, television and other similar services.”

Bandwidth describes how much information can be transmitted in a network. “The more bandwidth, the fewer bottlenecks to slow the flow of information,” she said.

Drew and her NACOG colleagues with the Economic and Workforce Development program have partnered with Magellan Advisors, an industry-leading broadband company, to assess broadband availability in the four counties that comprise NACOG.

“Our primary goal is to gather information from residents and organizations within our various communities – large and small – so we can better understand their unique needs. To do that, we’re asking residents and businesses in all the communities to participate by taking what we have called the ‘NACOG Broadband Survey,’” she said. “It takes about 10 to 15 minutes. It should be completed by the person in your residence or organization who chooses or uses and pays for services in that location.”

Julia Sawyer, Drew’s executive assistant, emphasized that data collected during surveys will not be used for any purpose other than developing the strategic plan. “If a person feels uncomfortable with a question, that question can be skipped. All we want is to gather demographic and statistical data so that we can compare information with census data and interpret the statistical relevance of responses. Privacy is absolutely assured.”

Participating in the survey will continue until probably the end of June, Sawyer said. The survey is totally online, so only those with access to the internet can participate.

Once survey data has been compiled, NACOG hopes to apply for state and federal grants, examine current and future infrastructure needs in the region, identify unserved and underserved areas, conduct a needs assessment, look for public-private partnership opportunities and design conceptional networks.

Part of a Bigger Scheme

What is happening in NACOG and the other regions in Arizona is part of a national effort. A recent announcement from the Federal Communications Commission indicates the FCC plans to provide low-income households across the nation with assistance to help them cover internet costs.

A $3.2 billion Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) is available to households that participate in existing low income and pandemic relief programs offered by high-speed internet providers. The same is true of subscribers to the FCC Lifeline Program. That includes those who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, Medicaid and support from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

A Pew Research Center study found that 53% of Americans believe the internet has been an essential tool during the pandemic. However, as many as 42 million citizens may not have access to high-speed internet.

NACOG is one of several organizations trying to help people by getting them connected, especially in rural areas. But the NACOG territory is diverse – from the northeastern borders of the state to Central Arizona. Officials say with nearly 48,000 square miles and 561,000 people, the use of broadband has become critically important.

“We are committed to the economic recovery and resilience of Northern Arizona. Please help us, through this survey, continue to be a vital resource to community resources, elder care, childcare, mobility and transportation planning and, certainly, economic and workforce development,” said Drew. QCBN

By Ray Newton, QCBN

For more information, call 928-778-1422 or visit nacog.org.

Nation’s Winningest Soccer Coach Retires

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Mike Pantalione ends his extraordinary 32-year career at Yavapai College.

Pantalione was hired in 1988 by then YC Athletic Director Lynn Merritt. He was at the University of Montana, where he earned his degree. Prior to that, Pantalione had been coaching and directing soccer programs in England and then the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Kenyon College in Ohio, Jesuit High School in Portland, and Archbishop Wood High School in Philadelphia. In all, he has been active in soccer for 40 years.n icon in the Quad Cities and even more so in the collegiate soccer world, Mike Pantalione retired in mid-January after a 32-year career as head soccer coach at Yavapai College (YC).

No men’s soccer coach in the nation has a record that even comes close to Pantalione’s .900 winning percentage. He is the only coach in intercollegiate soccer to average more than 20 wins a season.

A Hall of Fame recipient, he coached the Roughriders to several National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) championships. His team won its first national championship in 1990 – two years after he founded the team. The Roughriders won national championships again in 1992, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2007 and 2009.

Those who know Pantalione will tell you he is a quiet, humble man, reluctant to take credit for any Roughrider accomplishment. That was apparent when Pantalione, in an exclusive interview with QCBN, said, “It’s a player’s sport. All the credit should go to the players for the program’s success.”

However, the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native’s individual honors are too numerous to be put aside. Among them:

1980—Named national coach of the year by Special Olympics, Washington, D.C.

1995—Recipient of National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) National Merit Honor because of high standards for professional and ethical behavior.

2006—First-ever national coach to be named to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Hall of Fame.

2012—Awarded the NJCAA National Service Award for significant contributions to junior college athletics.

2015—Received NSCAA Letter of Commendation for unusual achievements that exceeded performance requirements, expectations and contributions to junior college athletics and soccer in the United States.

2016—Awarded the prestigious Bill Jeffrey Award in recognition of long-term service and contributions to collegiate soccer.

2016—Only active coach in men’s sports to be selected for the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference Hall of Fame. Pantalione also is a member of the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame.

 

But, larger than Pantalione’s personal honors are those of the teams he and assistant coach Hugh Bell coached through the three decades they worked at YC. Those include seven national NJCAA championships, 78 total championships (conference, regional district and national), 21 national tournament appearances, 19 Final Four national appearances, 28 Arizona Conference titles, and 29 consecutive years of being ranked in the weekly Top 10 National Soccer Polls.

Student-athletes under Pantalione’s leadership number 64 All-Americans, 146 All-Region players, six national Players of the Year and 22 NJCCA Hall of Fame players.

More than 350 of his players moved on to soccer scholarships at major colleges and universities, and dozens played with national teams, Major League Soccer teams and World Cup teams.

Expressing Gratitude to the Coach

Following the announcement of Pantalione’ s retirement, tributes poured in from all over the nation. Former student athletes, fellow coaches, parents and fans let him know of their affection.

Pantalione says he has been contacted by hundreds of former student athletes, many of whom have gone into professional or semi-professional soccer careers, and others into coaching and teaching.

“Coach Pantalione had a legendary career guiding the Roughriders to unparalleled success both on and off the field,” YC President Lisa Rhine said of Pantalione’s years of contributions. “We are proud and honored to celebrate all the achievements he accomplished in the coaching community. We wish him nothing but the best in retirement.”

YC Athletic Director Brad Clifford echoed Rhine. “Words cannot express what Mike has meant to Roughrider athletics. Mike is a true professional in every sense of the word. Mike is a Hall of Fame coach who is well-respected across the world for his soccer knowledge that has made Yavapai College synonymous with soccer.”

The college is sponsoring a public event at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 27, when the recently completed practice soccer field is scheduled to be dedicated as the Michael Pantalione Field. Immediately following the dedication ceremony, the celebration will continue in the YC Community Room, where the new head soccer coach and the new women’s soccer coach will be introduced. Guests need to RSVP in advance via the YC Events pages if they plan to attend.

Pantalione is reported to have recruited soccer players to Yavapai College by telling them that “Yavapai” is a Native American word that means “winning soccer.”

Plans for retirement include:

I am remaining in Prescott. This has been our family’s favorite place. It is home.

Advice I share with fans:

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy. They are the ones who make our souls blossom.

Special people in my life include:

Dedicated student athletes. They’re the ones who scored more than 3,000 goals. I didn’t.

I credit my success to:

Yavapai College. Special acknowledgement is due for allowing me to guide, direct and support every one of my student-athletes during my tenure.

The dates most special to me are:

Nov. 18, 1990, when we won our first national championship and Nov. 18, 2007 – 17 years later, when we won our sixth national championship. QCBN

By Ray Newton, QCBN

Yavapai College Partnering with Local Employers to Build Workforce

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Yavapai College and local employers are working together to help Yavapai College Engineering students put their skills to work. As a recipient of the National Science Foundation Advanced Technical Education Grant, Yavapai College is able to expand the capacity for paid internships in the engineering field.

The grant will fund a three-year project designed to expand capacity for high quality engineering technician training in central and Northern Arizona. Yavapai College is committed to the development of strong working internships in Yavapai County, as a way for employers to retain and build a quality workforce.

Yavapai College has established partnerships with three employers for the fall 2017 semester; Arizona Archery Enterprises, Merit Engineering and Printpack. Each company has committed to working with two YC engineering interns for the fall semester.

Printpack Human Resource Manger Diana Buchanan said, “Printpack Prescott Valley started working with Yavapai College about a year ago, and so far, we have hired two electronics technicians from their program. Also, we currently employ an intern who is going through the Instrumentation and Controls program.”

“Printpack is struggling nationwide to find qualified replacements for our retiring baby boomers in the Electronics field,” Buchanan continued. “By working closely with Yavapai College, we have been able to maintain our current maintenance workforce, and have begun to build a pool of qualified candidates to fill future needs when we recapitalize the Prescott Valley plant. The relationship between Printpack and Yavapai College is invaluable and the key to keeping Printpack running in Prescott Valley.”

The National Science Foundation Grant provides paid internships for seven Applied Pre-Engineering/Integrated Systems Technician students each semester. YC’s ability to combine a quality engineering education with paid practical work experience is a win-win for both students and the businesses who employ them. QCBN

By Linda Brannock

If you are a local employer interested in having an intern, or a prospective Yavapai College student hoping to update your employment skills, Yavapai College is here to help. Contact Yavapai College Career Coaches Linda Brannock at 928-776-2170, or James Voska at 928-717-7726 for additional information.