Inverness FL Post Office appreciates Rural Carrier

The Inverness, Florida Post Office recently held a surprise Rural Carrier Associate (RCA) Appreciation Day.  Postmaster Kim Chandler suggested to the regular carriers that she wanted to recognize the RCAs in our office because of their hard work and dedication to do whatever it takes to get the routes covered every day.

When emergencies arise, this often times means that RCAs are moved to routes that they are totally unfamiliar with and yet, they willingly work together to get all the routes cased and delivered. 

In our office of 18 rural routes, we have 11 RCAs who cover all the routes.  The regular carriers all pitched in to provide red and blue goody bags for each RCA filled with cookies, crackers, juice, candy, a blueberry muffin and a little gift - all tied up with red, white and blue ribbon.  Each RCA received their own personalized "Thank You - We Appreciate You" card signed by all the regular carriers.

At a short meeting on Saturday April 12th, the regulars were able to express to the subs how thankful we are for them covering us on our usual days off, our vacation and sick days - and even those early morning wakeup calls at the last minute.  We told them we appreciate their willingness to cover a route that they’re not familiar with, even if they do so begrudgingly - we remember,  cause we were subs once too.  The regulars also appreciate their subs for putting up with the our little “quirks” and the way we like our cases — how we keep our calendars - how we like our boxholders cased (or not) — we know we’re quirky and we appreciate them for putting up with us too.

A group picture was taken and we have it hanging on our wall as a reminder… THE INVERNESS POST OFFICE LOVES AND APPRECIATES OUR RCAs and all they do!

Yulee FL and Marianna Post Offices have perfect RCE scores

The Retail Customer Experience (RCE) process gives the Postal Service an objective view of how well we are serving our customers.

Take a look at top performers in the Gulf Atlantic District from Yulee FL with 20 perfect scores and Marianna FL with 10 perfect scores.

"RCE is used as a real-time snapshot of customer interaction.  It is not just about the score," said GFA Marketing Manager Lucious Sumlar.  "However, we have some outstanding achievement throughout our district."

The attributes measure in the Mystery Shopper program should become so commonplace to every day performance that if the program were to end tomorrow, it would not changed the customer's retail experience in any way.

Mystery shoppers record how long they spent in line, how the retail unit looked, how courteous the retail associates were ,and other details about their visit.
 

Jacksonville Postmaster Debra Gornik honored these Yulee FL employees: Contract Cleaner Karen Jenkins, Sales & Service Associates Bridgett Wagers, Joyce Powell, and Brenda Bradley, and  Postmaster Charles Prince, and Marketing Manager Lucious Sumlar.

Celebrating Marianna FL's 10 straight perfect RCE scores are (left to right); Marketing Manager Lucious Sumlar, Retail Specialist Lauren Leach, Clerk Debbie Calloway, Marianna Postmaster Randy Merritt, Clerk Amanda Hasty, Clerk Cerita Land (holding plaque), Supervisor Customer Service Sherry Raper, Manager Post Office Operations Todd Smith and Clerk Milinda Harrelson.

Tallahassee SSA publishes children's book

During a recent visit to the Lake Jackson Station in Tallahassee, Florida, Consumer and Industry Contact Manager Tony Joy was made aware of a new author on staff.

Sales and Service Associate Carrietta Spraggins wrote a children’s book recently published called “The Food Ate My Shirt.” Many of her co-workers have purchased it.  

Manager of Customer Services Tammy Hearn said, “We are all very proud of her and wish her much success.” 

The book is available at Amazon.com.

Jacksonville employees honored for service

Jacksonville - Pottsburg

Manager Customer Services Terry Atkinson (left) is congratulated for 40 years of service by Jacksonville Postmaster Debra Gornik.

 
Jacksonville

Clerk Gail Mills is honored for 30 years of service by Jacksonville APWU President Doris Orr-Richardson (left) and Jacksonville Postmaster Debra Gornik.

Sales and Service Associate Brenda Bradley is honored for 25 years of service by Jacksonville Postmaster Debra Gornik (left) and Yulee FL Postmaster Charles Prince.

Gainesville FL, Hinesville GA new Postmasters named

Matt Connelly has been named Postmaster of the Gainesville FL Post Office.
           
In his new position, Matt will oversee all operations for the Gainesville Post Office which includes four stations, 130 routes, 240 employees and 91,664 deliveries. 

Matt is leaving the position of Operations Specialist, HQ Field Performance Group East in Pittsburgh, PA which he has held for more than three years. 

He has more than 11 years of postal experience and has worked in the Western Pennsylvania District and  Postal Headquarters in Washington DC .

Throughout his postal career, he’s held various positions with increasing levels of responsibility, including City Carrier; Supervisor, Customer Service; Manager, Customer Service; and Operations Specialist, Headquarters. 

 Additionally, Matt has worked on several key assignments while at Headquarters.  Matt has  a degree in Marketing from the University of Pittsburgh.

Vanessa Bush (right), a 26-year Postal veteran, was recently promoted to  Postmaster of Hinesville Ga  by Acting Manager of Postal Operations Damita Gaskins.  Bush previous held assignments as Postmaster of Kingsland GA and Townsend GA, Officer In Charge Ludowici GA, and supervisor,  Brunswick Post Office.

Florida Butterflies travel by Priority Mail

Postmasters Deborah Adkins from Melrose FL and Steven Marcus from Keystone Heights FL partnered to represent the USPS at the 2nd Annual Greathouse Butterfly Farm Festival recently held in Earleton, FL.

"We thought this was a great opportunity to showcase the Postal Service's awesome products and special services to the public while also projecting a positive image of community participation," stated Adkins.

More than 80 vendors participated in this event.  The Greathouse Butterfly Farm specializes in raising and shipping worldwide 45-plus species of butterflies native to Florida.  The process includes putting the butterflies to sleep prior to shipping.

"Being a native of this area, I am a lover of butterflies and enjoyed the festival.  An additional bonus was seeing Postal representation at this event," said Wendy Fuller, EEO ADR Specialist.

From left to right: Isaiah Fuller (son of Emory & EEO ADR Specialist Wendy Fuller) visits with Melrose FL Postmaster Deborah Adkins, and  Keystone Heights FL Postmaster Steven Marcus  at the Greathouse Butterfly Festival in Earleton FL.

Orange Park FL Post Office welcomes Girl Scouts

Acting Station Manager Amy Escobar at the Ridgewood Post Office  in Orange Park, FL., was excited when the local Girl Scout (Blue Birds) called and requested a field trip to the Post Office.

The Troop Leaders and parents recently escorted a motivated and well-mannered group of young girls to the Ridgewood PO.

They were able to buy stamps, mail postcards, observe carriers casing mail, and find their own addresses on the carrier case. 

Amy commented, “ We also reserved an LLV for the group to examine . I think we have some future Postal workers among this group”.

Florida Post Offices show consistent customer service success

The Retail Customer Experience (RCE) process gives the Postal Service an objective view of how well we are serving our customers.

Taking a look at the top performers in the Gulf Atlantic District shows some very impressive results.

Callahan-Hillard FL is tied for the fourth best RCE scores in the nation with 33 straight perfect scores in a row.

Left to right: Acting District Manager Mary Sullivan, Sales and Service Associate Phyllis Silcox, Callahan Postmaster Steve Gray, Sales and Service Associate Debbie West, Jacksonville Postmaster Debra Gornik, Acting Jacksonville Area Manager Colores Seuwin and Marketing Manager Lucious Sumlar.

"RCE is used as a real-time snapshot of customer interaction.  It is not just about the score," said GFA Marketing Manager Lucious Sumlar.  "However, we have some outstanding achievement throughout our district."

The attributes measure in the Mystery Shopper program should become so commonplace to every day performance that if the program were to end tomorrow, it would not changed the customer's retail experience in any way.

Mystery shoppers record how long they spent in line, how the retail unit looked, how courteous the retail associates were ,and other details about their visit.

Here are other Florida offices Bonifay and Panama City Northside with 10 perfect scores in a row.

Bonifay FL

Left to right: Marketing Manager Lucious Sumlar, Retail Specialist Lauren Leach, Sales and Service Associates Misty Erickson and Greg Williams, Manager Post Office Operations Todd Smith, and Supervisor Customer Services.Charles Munns.

Panama City Northside

Left to right: Marketing Manager Lucious Sumlar, Retail Specialist Lauren Leach, Station Mgr-Northside Station Chris Cox , Supervisor Customer Service Vanessa Peterson, Sales and Service Associates Chantrella Knox, Randy Holt, and Steve Martin, and Panama City Officer-in-Charge Brenda Johstono

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Jacksonville Pottsburg & Arlington stations honor employees

Jacksonville Postmaster Debra Gornik recently honored three employees from Pottsburg Station.

From  left to  right: City Carrier Harry Britton  and Rural Route Carrier Jane Hoover recently retired while Custodian John E. Daniels celebrated 30 years of service.

Postmaster Gornik also honored Arlington Station Manager of Customer Service Brian Gordon for 30 years of service.

Congratulations to all.

Warner Robins GA employees recognized by Inspection Service

Warner Robins clerks Dennis Gilstrap and Corey Jones were recently recognized for outstanding performance by the United States Postal Inspection Service  (USPIS) . 

Gilstrap handled a nationally seeded HAZMAT package correctly and Jones identified and intercepted a USPIS seeded anonymous mail package.  

They were personally commended by Homeland Security Coordinator Jill Jacquin along with Acting Postmaster Greg Gordon and Acting Supervisor Lee Holt .

Pictured L to R: Acting Postmaster Greg Gordon, Clerks Dennis Gilstrap and Corey Jones, Homeland Security Coordinator Jill Jacquin, Acting Supervisor of Customer Services Lee Holt.

Macon employees celebrate 50 and 40 years of service

Macon GA Letter Carrier Arthur Howard  has celebrated 50 years of service with the Postal Service.  

Howard started with the USPS in 1965 as a carrier substitute,  and after one year became regular atthe Mulberry Station.  In 1975 he begin carrying his current route. 

Supervisor Customer Service Oletha Duffy said, "People tell him that is amazing to be on a route for so long, but it is no big deal to him. He enjoys being a mail carrier and  enjoys  being around the customer he serves. "
 "I have supervised Arthur Howard on and off since 2012, he has never called in sick. Arthur's co-workers  tease him about sleeping in his uniform and sleeping in his car at the South Macon Station because he is always willing to work on his nonscheduled days and often breaks  up his approved annual leave days to come in when requested." 

Pictured  left to right are: City Letter Carrier Arthur Howard, Acting District Manager
Mary Sullivan, Acting Manager Post Office Operations Area 4 Roberto Farias.

Rickey Bryant, who is totally deaf, has worked in Macon GA 40 years since 1973 where he began his career working on the letter sorting machine (LSM) for more than 27 years.

When the LSM was phased out, he vecame a general expeditor and five years later he switched to his most recent position as a nixie clerk position at the Rockey Creek Branch.

Bryant has helped many coworkers learn sign language and feels blessed to have work with his fellow employees.

He is married with three sons and four grandchildren.  He and his wife love to travel and will celebrate his retirement with a three-week South American cruise.

Pictured left to right are: Distribution Clerk Rickey Bryant, Acting District Manager
Mary Sullivan,  and  Acting Manager Post Office Operations Area 4 Roberto Farias.