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Daily printout: Nov. 6


Friday, November 6, 2026

Professional portrait of a smiling woman wearing a black jacket against a dark background
Fiona Machado, the Postal Service’s regulatory pricing and costing vice president

Regulatory Pricing and Costing VP named

Fiona Machado has filled the role on an acting basis since May

The Postal Service has named Fiona Machado vice president of Regulatory Pricing and Costing, a position she has held on an acting basis since May.

In this role, Machado is responsible for developing strategies for market-dominant pricing and works closely with the Chief Commercial Office to maintain competitiveness. Her team supports pricing, product and operational changes that increase profitable revenue and meet regulatory requirements.

Machado joined USPS in 2013 as a data analyst in statistical programs as part of the Postal Service’s Management Intern Program. She has held several analytical roles, including mathematical statistician, operations research analyst, program manager for Carrier Cost Systems and manager of revenue compliance and planning.

In 2021, she was promoted to director of revenue and volume reporting. She oversaw implementation of the price changes in January and July of 2024 that helped the organization meet the revenue goals of its 10-year strategic plan.

She also oversees the collection, analysis, and annual reporting of product revenue and costing data submitted to the Postal Regulatory Commission.

Older man wearing a yellow shirt standing next to a smiling male doctor wearing a white coat
A variety of health, vision and dental insurance coverage options are available to Postal Service employees during open season

Open season starts Monday

This is the time USPS employees can make changes to their benefits or choose a new plan

Open season, the once-a-year opportunity for Postal Service employees to make changes to their healthcare coverage or choose a new plan, begins Monday, Nov. 9, and ends Monday, Dec. 14.

Because health plan networks, premium rates and options continue to evolve, it is critical for employees to review their coverage.

Here’s what employees will need to do:

• Review their Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) plan: Do not assume your current coverage remains identical. Review your existing plan to ensure it still meets your healthcare and financial needs for the upcoming year.

• Adjust their coverage: If you want to switch carriers or adjust your coverage tier (self only, self plus one, or self and family), you can make these changes directly during open season.

• Verify dependents: Beginning this year, the PSHB Program requires mandatory documentation for adding dependents. Failure to provide proof results in denial or disenrollment, according to U.S. Office of Personnel Management rules. Employees must submit the required official documentation for family member verification during open season to ensure coverage takes effect.

• Compare options side-by-side: Employees can compare multiple plans using Consumers’ Checkbook Guide to PSHB Plans. This free online tool is accessible through the Open Season Enrollment page on MyHR.

A variety of health, vision and dental options are available. These include the main PSHB Program, the USPS Health Benefits Plan for eligible precareer and casual employees, and the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program. Flexible spending accounts are also available and managed by Inspira Financial.

The Postal Service Health Benefits page on MyHR has more information about plans and other resources.

The Postal Service will provide additional updates and reminders throughout open season.

Additional coverage can be found on Link’s Open Season 2026 page.

Three people standing next to one another; a female uniformed USPS employee on the right is being handed an object by a man in a beige suit on the left.
Ed Ruiz, WestPac Area retail and delivery vice president, and Clifton, AZ, Police Officer Shari Aguilar present Retail Associate Mary Schwarz with a challenge coin and a commendation letter for helping to save the life of an infant.
People

Lifesaving measures

A retail associate is recognized, a town shows off its pride and a postmaster makes history

Clifton, AZ, Retail Associate Mary Schwarz — who saved the life of an infant last summer — was recently honored by Ed Ruiz, WestPac Area retail and delivery operations vice president, at a ceremony celebrating her actions.

In July, Kylie Vega walked into the Clifton Post Office with her infant daughter, Nova, when the child suddenly became unresponsive. Schwarz, who was a trained nurse for 13 years before joining the Postal Service, began CPR.

Clifton Police Officer Shari Aguilar responded to a 911 call and took the employee and infant to a nearby medical clinic. Nova began to breathe on her own while on the way to the clinic where medical professionals took over her care.

“The ability to not injure that baby’s heart further but still giving her a firm enough pump to circulate blood throughout her body … I am very blessed to have been trained to do that,” Schwarz said.

Nova — now 11 months old — and her parents, Kylie and Rudy, were at the ceremony to show their appreciation, along with Aguilar.

“Each year, we have many, many postal employees who do heroic acts, and the Postal Service always likes to recognize them because they go over and beyond,” Ruiz said while presenting Schwarz with a challenge coin and a commendation letter from the postmaster general. “Mary is no different. She is our hero here in the state of Arizona, and we are very proud of her. She saved such a beautiful little baby.”

According to Postmaster Joanna Simmons, the retail associate’s actions have a had an impact on the community. “It has really brought people together,” she said.

Postmarking a community’s pride

Ortonville, MI, Post Office recently celebrated the town’s annual fall festivities with a special pictorial postmark to commemorating the event.

Male USPS employee in a dark blue sweater wearing blue gloves and applying a postmark to an envelope
Jerry Rollinson, a retail associate in Ortonville, MI, applies a Septemberfest postmark to an envelope.

The postmark unveiling was part of Septemberfest, a community celebration that included local vendors, family activities, live entertainment and the presentation of citizen of the year awards.

“This is a family-friendly community that takes pride in the old town history of this area,” Postmaster Kristi Cetrone said. “The postmark will become part of history as it will be featured by the Historical Society and Old Mill Museum.”

This kind of community participation helps bring more attention to the Postal Service, Retail Associate Jerry Rollinson said.

“The customers are good people who welcome everyone to celebrate the history of this quiet, peaceful town,” he said.

The postmark image displays “Septemberfest,” bordered by fireworks, stars and the American flag. It also features “1776” and “2026” in a nod to the nation’s 250th anniversary.

A small-town Post Office celebrates a first

Wrightsville, GA, recently made history with the installation of Marisha Lanier as its first Black postmaster.

“As a second-generation postmaster, it is an honor to serve as the postmaster of my hometown,” Lanier said. “Our team works hard every day to ensure secure, timely, and dependable service for every customer.”

Georgia District Manager Falonda Woods reflected on the significance of the day and the responsibility of the role.

“Today, we gather to celebrate leadership, service, perseverance and the start of a new chapter in the story of the Wrightsville Post Office,” she said.

“People” appears regularly in Link. Got news to share? Email us.

A poster titled “How to Reuse a Box for Shipping” displaying boxes with various states of labels either removed or covered
News Quiz

Don’t put the mailstream at risk

How much do you know about USPS Hazmat Awareness Month?

“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end.

A poster titled “How to Reuse a Box for Shipping” displaying boxes with various states of labels either removed or covered
Poster 81, How to Reuse a Box for Shipping, displays the correct way to remove hazmat markings that no longer apply before reusing a box for a new mailing.

1. Which of the following is not an official reminder from the Postal Service for mailing hazardous materials?

a) Check all six sides of a package for hazmat markings.

b) Only mail one hazardous material per box.

c) Place the “H” icon on the postage label.

d) Remove hazmat markings if reusing a box to mail nonhazardous items.

2. Approximately how many delivery points across the country does USPS service?

a) 125 million

b) 150 million

c) 170 million

d) 1.2 billion

3. To avoid possible delays when making health coverage and benefits changes during open season, which of the following are not necessary for USPS employees?

a) Confirming their pertinent passwords

b) Purchasing the latest security firewall

c) Resetting forgotten login information

d) Verifying their Login.gov account

4. Where was the injured customer when Heavener, OK, Letter Carrier Kelsie Davis noticed her and came to her rescue?

a) Next to her car at a gas station

b) Outside of her apartment building

c) Sitting on her front porch

d) Walking out of the Post Office

5. How many scrapbooking ribbons has St. Paul, MN, Letter Carrier Craig Barrett won at the Minnesota State Fair since 2002?

a) 11

b) 24

c) 39

d) 54

Answers: 1) b. 2) c. 3) b. 4) b. 5) d.

Brief

Have unused Informed Facility devices? Return them

The USPS Chief Information Office is asking employees who manage the Postal Service’s Informed Facility content platform to return any Informed Facility devices they are not using or that are no longer working.

These devices, also known as Azulle Access4 Mini-PC and Intel Compute sticks, are typically found plugged into the USB port of a monitor and are used to display Informed Facility content such as reports and announcements for employees or customers.

Unused Azulle sticks should be sent to 186K11, USPS IFDS returns, 7215 SW Topeka Blvd. Building 7, Topeka, KS 66630-1111.

Unused Intel sticks should be sent to USPS IFDS CTS Refresh, 7215 SW Topeka Blvd. Building 7, Dock Door 1, Topeka KS 66630-1111.

The USPS ServiceNow website has more information.

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