Tom Linton, Administrator, Department of Planning, Construction Services and Facilities Maintenance

Tribal Member Thomas (Tom) Linton feels fortunate to serve as the Administrator for the Morongo’s Planning, Construction Services and Facilities Maintenance Department. He currently oversees economic ventures for the Morongo tribe’s 34,000-acre reservation and has managed the design and construction of such projects as the $250 million Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa, a $ 7 million dollar,  750,000 gallon per day waste water treatment plant, a $30 million dollar administrative complex and millions of dollars in infrastructural improvements.

Linton credits his father (Roger “Tommy” Linton) and paternal grandfather (Theodore “Chooky” Linton), both members of the Morongo Tribe, for teaching him the importance of his heritage.  Because of this deep respect, he sought a position working for a tribal government early on.  He graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz with a degree in Native American Studies.  Following graduation in 1993, he soon began working for the Morongo Tribe. Linton was promoted to director of planning in 1997 and went on to complete his Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from California Baptist University in Riverside, California in 1999.  He currently serves as the Administrator for the Tribe’s Planning, Construction Services and Facilities Maintenance Department.

During his tenure, Linton was a driver of the development and opening of Morongo’s Shell Gas Station.  He served as a liaison between the Morongo Tribal Council and local, state and federal governments and utility companies.  Linton has worked with the development of the Morongo Indian reservation’s Domestic Water System throughout his tenure with the Tribe and has worked with Tribal Council,  consultants and legal counsel on local, regional and state water issues including infrastructural planning and water rights.  He has been involved with the negotiation of major transmission line rights-of-ways over tribal lands for more a decade.   Linton was also instrumental in creating the Tribal Government Gaming Revenue Analysis that examined the distribution of tribal gaming revenues, which was presented to the United States Congress.  In 1997, Linton was chosen by the U.S. Department of Education to sit on a grant review panel in Washington, D.C.

On behalf of the tribe, he managed the $17 million expansion of  Casino Morongo in 1999. He negotiated with the Perrier Group of America on a contract to open a water bottling facility on the Morongo reservation and oversaw the construction of the initial plant as well as two more recent expansions of the 500,000+ square foot bottling facility .  Linton also was responsible for managing the selection of and contract negotiations with the architects, contractors and construction managers involved with the tribe’s resort project, the waste water treatment plant project, the administrative complex and various other infrastructure projects on the reservation.  He maintains ongoing communication with local, state and federal organizations regarding the Morongo tribe’s planning and development projects.

In addition to his work with the Morongo tribe, he serves on the Western Desert Municipal Advisory Council and is involved with the Morongo Cattlemen’s Association.  He enjoys horseback riding, off-roading, fishing, hunting, traveling and, most importantly, being with his children in his leisure time.


Franklin A. Dancy, Director of Planning, of the Morongo Planning Department

In this capacity he is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the Planning Department, completion of the Tribe’s first General Plan along with its associated Master Environmental Impact Statement, serving as staff to the Tribal Planning Commission,  reviewing proposals for economic development and business investment opportunities, and representing the Department’s Administrator at regional transportation planning forums. Mr. Dancy has been employed in the land use and environmental design profession for over 30 years.  Prior to his position with Morongo, Franklin was a Planning Manager for Verizon Wireless responsible for the entitlement of telecommunications facilities and the Community Development Director in the City of Hercules, CA. Franklin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies and Master of Administration degree in Public Administration from the University of California, Riverside.  He has been a guest lecturer in planning courses at Cal Poly, Pomona and U.C. Santa Barbara and is a member of the American Planning Association.


John Easton Jr., Director, Construction Services and Facilities Maintenance Departments

Responsibilities:

Oversight of the construction services department:

- Oversight and project management of all tribal construction projects from inception to completion.
- Inspection of individual tribal member projects as requested
- Inspection of FHA/HUD loan projects for tribal members
- Inspection of tribal utilities (Gas and electric) prior to utility company connection
- Archive and maintain plans and specifications for all tribal buildings

Oversight of the Facilities Maintenance Department:
- Custodial maintenance for tribal buildings
- Engineering maintenance for  tribal buildings
- Landscape maintenance for tribal properties

Qualifications:
Bachelor of Business Administration:

- Management Emphasis Loma Linda University, School of Business and Management, Riverside, Ca

California State Contractors Licenses:
- B-General Building Contractor
- C10-Electrical Contractor
- License number 710881

International Code Council Inspector Licenses:
- Building Inspector UBC
- Plumbing Inspector UPC
- Mechanical Inspector UMC

Experience:
Thirty years of construction experience in all facets of construction:
- Property selection
- Plan review and revisions
- Building and safety plan check
- Permits
- Inspections


Ross A. Kriso, Construction Manager

Schedule and manage all construction related projects for the tribe

20 Years in the Construction Industry

Attended San Bernardino Valley College and Cal Poly Pomona

Field of study was construction management and political science

Has been awarded two Laurel awards (Home Model Design)


Carlos H. Segura, CAD Drafter and Cost Estimator

CAD Drafting-preparation of both conceptual and construction documents for Tribal projects, analyzed data, compile data, compute quantities, determined materials needed and prepare cost estimates.

Oversee the organization and cataloguing of all internal Tribal plans for both current and completed construction projects.

Complete project design for Tribal Construction Projects and verify accuracy and completeness of drawings. Teach and assist other staffmembers with basic CAD function and uses.

Controls architectural library and code information. Updates construction plans of existing buildings, roads, and utilities plans.

Assist with bid proposals, analysis materials, supply, labor pricing.

Prepare detailed project construction timelines for the Tribal projects.

Qualifications:

Technical Training AA. (Drafting/Architectural), Mt. San Antonio J.C., CA.
& Education Construction Drafting Certification, US Army Mapping School
Auto Cad (level I Production) Certificate, Robert McNeel & Assoc., and WA.
Certificate from the University of Washington in Computer Aided Design

Experience: Over 12 years as an Architectural Designer, Expediter for residential and commercial projects
and spent the last five years as a freelance architectural designer.

Construction Services and Facilities Maintenance

The Construction Services Department is responsible for the coordination, implementation and oversight of various types of construction projects.  These projects range from infrastructure to vertical construction throughout the Reservation and Tribal Enterprises.  The department consists of a Director, Construction Manger and an Estimator.  All projects are initiated from the Planning Department or directly from Tribal Council.

Our Facilities Maintenance Department focuses on improving the performance and longevity of buildings and building systems through consistent, effective, and proper facility maintenance and operation.  The Director who manages a staff of 12 employees, oversees all Tribal buildings on the Reservation as well as Tribal Enterprise buildings.


Neldo (Ronald) Lyons, Facilities Manager

As a Morongo Tribal Member, Neldo Lyons proudly serves his community as the Facilities Maintenance Manager.  In 1992, Mr. Lyons transitioned from his career in construction and into the building maintenance arena.  Now, backed by over 15 years of experience in the janitorial and grounds maintenance disciplines, Mr. Lyons joins the administration of the Morongo Reservation to direct and oversee the operation of 7 custodians, 3 Ground Maintenance workers, 2 Laborers and an administrative staff member, who provide services to twelve sites within the Reservation, including the new Administration complex; a state-of-the-art facility which houses the administrative offices for the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, in Banning, Ca.  Mr. Lyons is also an avid vintage car collector.


Janice Conklin, Administrative Assistant, Facilities Maintenance Department

A graduate from the Universidad del Sagrado Corazón (University of the Sacred Heart) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Janice Conklin holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, with a major in Advertising and a Minor in Marketing, the latest being the discipline she practiced for nearly 15 years.  Upon her move to California, she joined the Human Resources department of a major hotel chain in Southern California, where she worked as Administrative Assistant and a liaison for Human Resources.  She is currently the Administrative Assistant for the Facilities Maintenance department, where she handles clerical and organizational duties including supplies, scheduling, business writing and translation/interpretation among others, as she is proficient in English and Spanish.  Ms. Conklin resides in the Coachella Valley with her husband and both enjoy fitness training, bike riding, and traveling.