Thursday, January 30, 2025
Human resources vice president selected
Joseph Bruce builds on his 29-year USPS career
Joseph Bruce has been named human resources vice president for the Postal Service, a role he has filled on an acting basis since September.
Bruce began his USPS career in 1996 as a paralegal. He then moved into several human resources positions, including corporate personnel management manager; national diversity initiatives manager; equal employment opportunity (EEO) field operations manager; and EEO compliance and appeals manager for the former Eastern Area.
Bruce was also the Postal Service’s national human resources senior director, responsible for hiring and selection policy; the Human Resources Shared Service Center in Greensboro, NC; and human resources activities for all headquarters and headquarters-related facilities.
Off the Clock
A fighter through and through
Old football injuries could not sideline this mail handler, who now thrives in mixed martial arts
My name is Dillon Holiday and I’m a mail handler in Manasota, FL. Outside of the Postal Service, I’m a mixed martial arts fighter.
I played football in high school and college, but after my second torn ACL, I thought, “Ah, I just can’t do this anymore.” I came home from college to get surgery done, and the physical and emotional pain afterward was the worst I ever felt. I could not sleep from the pain.
I was very disciplined in my football days, lifting weights and running track to stay in shape. In between sports and working for the Postal Service, I wrote a book, “Blinders,” about how I stay consistent and disciplined to keep physically strong.
In 2020, I got into mixed martial arts, or MMA for short. I have been a fan of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and MMA for years. When I first heard about them, I felt this is something I can be great at. The more I trained, the better I got.
My first match was in November. I was not 100 percent, in terms of health, and I had to rely on every ounce of training I put in.
It was quite an experience. No matter how nervous I felt, I kept my head down, stayed patient, and won the match in one minute in the first round.
Patience is the biggest lesson I have learned in MMA. When a fighter is impatient, they tend to panic, which gives his opponent the advantage. It is a game of endurance rather than a sprint to the finish.
Going to MMA matches such as the one I fought in, and the gyms where I train, they all cost a lot of money. My Postal Service job allows me to cover gym membership, travel costs and registering for matches.
I am grateful to all my friends and family who continue to support me in my endeavors.
“Off the Clock,” a column on Postal Service employees and their after-hours pursuits, appears regularly in Link.
This year’s Black Heritage stamp honors a New Orleans icon
Allen Toussaint is being celebrated for his contributions to music
The Postal Service will release its latest Black Heritage stamp, honoring musician Allen Toussaint, on Thursday, Jan. 30.
The 48th honoree in the series, Toussaint (1938-2015) was a virtuoso pianist, singer, songwriter, composer, arranger and producer. He helped shape the unique sound of New Orleans music and played a pivotal role in sharing it with a global audience.
Toussaint collaborated with a diverse range of artists and produced countless hits in a career that spanned nearly six decades. His songs — including “Fortune Teller,” “All These Things” and “Southern Nights” — have become timeless classics, covered by numerous artists and featured in films and television shows.
The stamp features a photograph of Toussaint at the piano, dressed in black, with a black background set off by purplish lighting and his name in red lettering at the lower edge.
Ethel Kessler, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp using a 2007 photograph by Bill Tompkins.
The Allen Toussaint Forever stamp will be available in panes of 20 at Post Offices and usps.com.
WestPac Area, MN-ND District on top in scanning
A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 96.65 percent during the week ending Jan. 24, down 0.82 percent from one week earlier.
The data was collected Jan. 29.
WestPac led the four areas with a rating of 97.47 percent, while Southern ranked last with a 96.21 percent rating.
Among the 50 districts, Minnesota-North Dakota, part of Central Area, ranked first with a 98.1 percent rating, while Louisiana, part of Southern Area, ranked last with a 91.82 percent rating.
Scanning data allows customers to track their mail and packages, which helps USPS deliver excellent service, boost loyalty and drive revenue.
To see the latest data, go to the Informed Visibility website and select “Customer Experience,” followed by “DES 2 Scan Performance.” Postal Service employees must request Informed Visibility access through eAccess.
View past printouts
Printout details
What's included
-
Human resources vice president selected
Joseph Bruce builds on his 29-year USPS career
-
Off the Clock
A fighter through and through
Old football injuries could not sideline this mail handler, who now thrives in mixed martial arts
-
This year’s Black Heritage stamp honors a New Orleans icon
-
Brief
WestPac Area, MN-ND District on top in scanning