A recent USPS career conference in Minneapolis took a page from the matchmaking practice known as speed dating.
In “speed networking,” attendees and Postal Service leaders from across several departments asked each other questions and found out more about their respective roles in three-minute round-robin exchanges.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I walked away feeling more confident and inspired,” said Tiffany Decker, a retail associate in Excelsior, MN. “I got to speak directly with managers and learn about career paths I never even knew existed.”
Gregory Tate, the St. Paul, MN, Processing and Distribution Center’s plant manager, is a fan.
“Speed networking breaks down barriers,” he said. “It’s about connection, encouragement and opening doors for these employees. It’s powerful.”
USPS has scheduled more than 50 career conferences this year on the theme “Delivering a Brighter Future.” The conferences run through August.
Ties that bind
When Darby Keels was an ironworker, she spent her days welding steel bars together. Now, as the new postmaster for Eugene, OR, Keels focuses on uniting people and places.
“The Postal Service plays a vital role in every community, and being part of that mission provides a sense of purpose,” she said.
Keels began her postal career as a retail associate in Royal City, WA, in 2015 after leaving her career as a journeyman ironworker in Seattle. She steadily climbed the ranks in USPS, including serving as postmaster in several communities in Washington and Oregon.
In Eugene, Oregon’s second most populous city, Keels oversees 295 employees in four stations.
“I take pride in ensuring that every piece of mail — whether it’s a package, a letter, or a prescription — reaches its destination safely and on time,” she said.
On our Owney
The Danbury Railway Museum in Danbury, CT, will hold Owney RPO Day on Saturday, July 12, to honor Owney, the mascot of the Railway Post Office.
Children in attendance will receive a postcard that they can address so USPS can deliver it to their home. All postcards will be stamped with a special Owney postmark.
The museum’s website has more information.
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