Former Front Desk Receptionist for Tribal Information Services (TIS) of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Debra “Debbie” Lucero retired from the Tribe on Wednesday, June 23. Lucero has worked for the Tribe for the past 35 years in numerous capacities. Lucero began her first job as a receptionist working under Ernestine Burch in 1987 and is now ending her last job with the Tribe as a receptionist once again.
Lucero was born and raised in Ignacio, Colo. She went to school and graduated from the Ignacio School District.
After working for 13 years as a receptionist, Lucero moved onto working with the Southern Ute Indian Montessori Academy as a floater in the mornings and a supervisor of the afterschool program in the afternoons. In 2007, she worked for the Southern Ute Health Center as a home health care aide for six years. Then she moved on to work with the Construction Project Management as a temporary Administrative Assistant. Following this job, she was working under the TEAMs program and then moved onto working as a TIS receptionist for the last three years.
“Debbie has made huge contributions to the Southern Ute tribal government in various capacities over the years,” stated recently hired TIS Director, Amy Barry. “Her longevity within the government has helped educate our younger workforce on historical tribal information and respective communication with the tribal membership. She will be missed at work, but we support her journey to spend time with family and her grandchildren — we wish Debbie a wonderful retirement and appreciate her dedication to the department.”
“I am looking forward to some time off and I can’t wait to enjoy some time off,” Lucero expressed. “I think that I have worked enough to where I am able to sit back and spend as much time with family.”
Lucero has spent the early parts of her retirement planning trips and picking up new hobbies. “I have been planning little trips, the first one being with my youngest grandson to be initiated into the powwow circle, so I want to be there when that happens,” Lucero said. “Then maybe when this COVID thing eases up I will travel more, but until then no big trips.” She has also been baking more and cooking for her grandchildren, who love having her around more.