Interim Deputy Executive Directors Named at CTUIR

MISSION – Interim Executive Director J.D. Tovey on Friday, May 31 appointed Kathryn Burke and Paul Rabb as the Confederated Tribe of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s (CTUIR) interim deputy executive directors, effectively immediately.

Burke is the current Human Resources director, and Rabb is the Finance director. They will help Tovey administer the CTUIR’s governmental departments and Board of Trustees (Board) priorities.

Tovey said he chose Burke and Rabb as interim deputy executive directors because of their extensive experience in senior leadership at the CTUIR.

“In our time of transition in leadership, I looked for individuals with a deep understanding of our organizational policies and procedures to quickly jump into these critical roles to effectively and efficiently carry out the Board priorities and directives,” Tovey said. “I look forward to working with them through this transition.”

Tovey took over as interim executive director on May 10 after former Executive Director Donald Sampson resigned for personal reasons.

Pursuant to the CTUIR Executive Management Policy, in the coming weeks the Board will appoint a committee to facilitate the advertising for the executive director and to collect and screen applications for consideration by the Board.

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation is comprised of the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla Tribes, and formed under the Treaty of 1855 at the Walla Walla Valley, 12 Stat. 945. In 1949, the Tribes adopted a constitutional form of government to protect, preserve and enhance the reserved treaty rights guaranteed under federal law.