By Shaun Scott, Puyallup Tribal News
Every morning, Facilities Department staff members gather in the office of Facilities Manager LeFonz Clark just a few minutes after 8 a.m. to discuss assignments and upcoming tasks for the day and week.
While it’s not formally on the calendar, it’s a crucial gathering where collaboration creates a cohesive group. Clark was hired as the facilities manager in February 2025 and was entrusted with building a team focused on supporting every department throughout the Tribe.
Clark hired three staff members over the past eight months: Ryan Conway (facilities coordinator), Kamaka Williams (facilities technician/groundskeeper) and O’Neil Taraya (facilities technician/groundskeeper).
He said the goal of the department is to take the weight and pressure off the shoulders of other departments so they can focus on their jobs. Clark said if something needs to be done, his team will take care of it.
Current projects include collaborating with Puyallup Tribal Enterprises on a sewer project, working with the Tribal Police Department on its automated gates in Fife and assisting the Events Department with its planned future expansion of the parking lot at the Tribe’s 72nd Street property.
“Our fingerprints are in a little bit of everything. It is all about building relationships to understand the needs of each department and how facilities fit into their daily routine,” Clark said.
The quartet is always on the go and each day isn’t like the last one. Clark said his crew is very busy and tasks are changing every day.
“It is the hustle and bustle and I love it. What we bring to the table is the understanding of what is needed and how to go about it,” he said. “We are a jack of all trades department. It is the understanding of our departments and what their needs are without interrupting their daily work.”
The department is also responsible for securing vendors for other departments.
Conway, who joined the Facilities Department this past April, said the majority of his role is working with those vendors for the Tribe.
“I help ensure the Tribe is getting a good deal with the vendors that we deal with and make sure the vendors are doing a good job and treating us fairly,” Conway said. “Negotiating wasn’t my strong point when I started this job, but ever since I started working under LeFonz he showed me the ropes and helped me understand vendors want to work for us and they want our business.”
The team also takes on tasks including pressure washing, maintaining parking garages, HVAC, electrical and plumbing repairs.
Williams said he enjoys the camaraderie amongst their four-person team.
“We are pretty tight-knit. If there is one thing that one of us can’t solve, there are three other heads right there with us to help us out,” Williams said.
Taraya worked in the Maintenance Department for 18 years before transferring six months ago and said he loves doing something different every day.
“It’s enjoyable because you are not just sitting in an office watching the clock go by. You constantly stay busy all day. It is one project after another around here,” Taraya said.
Clark said his employees know their role and know it well.
“It says a lot about their character, their leadership and their no-nonsense attitude about getting things done. It shows tremendously and says a lot,” he said. “I have a lot of trust and confidence in this team to get things done.”
