A/Mgr, Maintenance Operations Praises Miami BEMs' Work Ethic

(L to R)  Miami P&DC Building Equipment Mechanics Reynaldo Flemmings, Frank Schmidt, Miguel Palacio take a moment from their duties to pose for the camera.  

By David Mena, A/MMO, Miami Plant

At no time in its history has the United States Postal Service faced the challenges that it does today.  The future sustainability of an American institution is at risk of faltering if it cannot adapt to the changing market that it serves.  As we move forward in an effort to achieve this elusive sustainability, it is the employees committed to accepting these challenges and working through them who will write the next pages of our history.

South Florida District plants are gearing up for changes that will rock the infrastructure we currently use to process and move mail.  The workroom floors at the Miami Plant and the South Florida L&DC will have to be transformed in an effort to accommodate this dynamic and changing market.

Fortunately dedicated employees like Frank Schmidt with over 30 years of Postal Service and 20 years in the US Navy, whose detailed knowledge of the plants’ electrical capabilities that can only be gained by years of work, Miguel Palacio with 25 years of postal service and 4 years in the US Navy, offers an innovative approach to challenging issues that is testament to his commitment to excellence, and Reynaldo Flemmings with 18 years of postal service and nine years in the US Army, exemplifies the discipline and pride instilled in him during his time in the service by tackling all tasks head on and with a positive and can do attitude, employees like these will spearhead our efforts as we move forward.  Their years of training and experience are pivotal in executing plans to affect positive change.  Although they are no-longer titled Electricians by the Postal Service, these Building Equipment Mechanics (BEM) perform the duties of an electrician with pride and professionalism that breaths life into our organization.

In 2010 while adding SPBS and AFSM machines to the L&DC the power specifications for these would have required electrical contractors at a tremendous expense. The combined efforts of BEM’s Palacio, Flemings, and Schmidt saved the Postal Service approximately $30,000.00 by using recycled electrical components and wiring from the Miami Plant and the old 2C/3C Annex building to prepare the L&DC for the additional equipment.  Salvaging everything from transformers and electrical panels to conduit; these employees looked for every opportunity to reduce cost without sacrificing quality or jeopardizing safety while re-wiring the L&DC.

Now in 2012 we approach the next phase of additional DBCS machines to the Miami P&DC and we are again faced with the need for extensive electrical work.  Relocating TMS towers and DBCS machines requires power changes to the building’s existing layout and again these three employees have demonstrated their high level of commitment to the organization by salvaging existing equipment for additional savings that easily exceed $30,000.  All three employees have been exclusively at the Miami Plant during their entire careers and their dedication and commitment is an invaluable asset to our Maintenance Team and the U.S. Postal Service.

Employee commitment is defined as a personal agreement or pledge to do the right thing, (even when no one is looking).  Are you COMMITTED to our organization’s success?