Career Conference Wrap Up Part 1

From left, District Leadership Team members, include Manager, Finance Joel Ouellette; West Palm Beach Postmaster Ernest Onody; Manager, Marketing Juan Nadal; District Manager Timothy Costello; and Hollywood Postmaster Dan Carleen.

 

Attendees commemorated the conference with a group photo at the “It’s Showtime” display at the entrance to the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Coral Springs Hotel.

Whether you were at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of your postal career, the South Florida Career Conference had something for each of the 400 attendees.

The conference delivered on its theme --- “It’s Showtime!” --- as employees took an advantage of the many opportunities to be in the spotlight and to showcase their skills.

The conference kicked off with an activity similar to speed dating that allowed employees to meet and greet the South Florida Leadership, and give their “elevator speech” in hopes of being selected for a 30-day detail in their functional area.

Employees also had an opportunity to present their ideas at a fun-filled business activity before the District Leadership which included District Manager Tim Costello; Miami International Service Center Plant Manager Sheldon Dixon, Manager, U.S. Postal Inspection Service Inspector In Charge Antonio Gomez; Michelle Jarrell, Acting Manager, Human Resources; West Palm Beach Plant Manager June Martindale; Manager, Marketing Juan Nadal; and Miami Postmaster Enrique (Rick) Suarez.

Representatives from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Office of the Inspector General, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), as well as Corporate Communications, Human Resources, Maintenance, Marketing, Operations Programs Support and the United Postmasters and Managers Association (UPMA), shared a wealth of knowledge and information on career opportunities at their booths.

On Sunday, Southern Area Manager, Operations Support Mike Barber was the keynote speaker at the opening session, and South Florida District Manager Tim Costello addressed attendees at the continental breakfast.

Workshops included “Career in Customer Services,” “Career in Mail Processing,” “Change Management: Keeping Up with the Times,” “eCareer Profile Reviews,” "How to Get a Detail,” “Individual Development Plan (IDP),” “Interviewing Skills,” “Overview of Retirement Processes,” “Polishing Your Promotion Application,” “Step Up and Stand Out,” “Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) from A to Z,” “Transitioning from Craft to EAS,” and “Writing for Career Advancement.”

Let's take a pictorial tour of conference activities through the camera lens of Miami Customer Relations Coordinator Mirtha Uriarte:

 

Manager, Information Systems Jose Puig (left) and Information Systems Specialist Carlos Lorenzana (right) set up and monitored computer equipment to ensure smooth operations throughout the conference.

 

Southern Area Manager, Operations Support Mike Barber (standing) shared his career path with 400 conference attendees in the opening session. Barber is responsible for postal operations, including administrative, delivery and customer services, mail processing and distribution, maintenance, and transportation in the Southern Area. 

Operations Programs Specialists Connie Rayford (left) and Lenora Banks (right) shared information on career opportunities in their department.
  

 
Ben Jones (standing, right) is a Manager, Distribution Operations at the Miami International Service Center (ISC). Jones presented an idea to benefit the Postal Service to a panel of postal leaders (seated).

More photos to be posted in coming days.