'Hats' Off to Rebecca Balzan

                            Rebecca Balzan's artwork

Recently, U.S. Representative Frederica Wilson invited local student artists to enter their artwork for recognition in the 2014 Congressional Art Competition Awards Ceremony and Reception. Wilson sent an invitation to Rebecca Balzan, daughter of Bob Balzan, Lead Manager, Maintenance, Miami P&DC.  Balzan accompanied Rebecca, who was recognized for her creativity and artistic abilities, at the event at the Adrienne Arsht Center of the Performing Arts in downtown Miami.  In addition to this recognition, a Miami Herald reporter interviewed father and daughter.

Bob Balzan, Lead Manager, Maintenance, Miami P&DC (not pictured), is proud of daughter, Rebecca (seated second from left), whose creativity and artistic talents were recognized at an event hosted by U.S. Representative Frederica Wilson (pictured with hat). 

Spider-Man (a.k.a. Barry Artiz) made an appearance at a recent district performance recognition meeting in Fort Lauderdale.  "Spidey" was in town to praise Mirtha Uriarte for her "amazing" work as Miami's Customer Relations Coordinator.  Photo:  Amy McCall

Spider-Man: Postal Duo is 'Amazing'

Operations Industrial Engineer Sheldon Dixon (left) was recognized for LSS Green and Black Belt Certifications at a recent quarterly meeting.  Also pictured is Senior Plant Manager Susan Aronson.  Photo:  Amy McCall

Recently at a quarterly meeting,  District Manager Jeffery A. Taylor recognized Operations Industrial Engineers Sheldon Dixon and Akilah Griffin who earned Lean Six Sigma Green Belts.  Dixon also earned a Black Belt.

Dixon simultaneously coordinated six major lean initiatives in the Lean Mail Processing effort at the Miami Processing and Distribution Center.  Under his leadership, his team removed waste, reduced redundant operations, improved machine utilization, and improved overall efficiency. Griffin’s contribution to the LSS process resulted in better utilization of floor space and in-house recycling of mail processing trays. 

For Black Belt Certification, Dixon was credited with the successful implementation of Network Optimization --- the consolidation of the Fort Lauderdale and South Florida plants into the Miami Processing and Distribution Center --- without any employees losing postal employment.

Congratulations, Sheldon and Akilah ... you make us proud!  And just like Spider-Man, you ARE amazing!

Operations Industrial Engineer Akilah Griffin (left) is all smiles, having earned her Green Belt Certification.  Also pictured is Senior Plant Manager Susan Aronson.  Photo:  Amy McCall

2014 Letter Carrier Food Drive

Hialeah's Promenade Station employees pose with donated food items.  Photo:  Javier  V. Rodriguez

Palms West Letter Carrier Errol Coppola gives two thumbs up to the food drive.  Photo:  Gale G. Jackson

Letter Carrier Dale Conrad collected canned goods on his Riviera Beach route.  Photo:  Gale G. Jackson

Plantation Letter Carrier Lynnette Jackson shows her enthusiasm for the food drive.  Photo:  Amy J. McCall

Olympia Heights Letter Carrier Fannia SantaMaria is happy to have her hands full with bags of canned goods donated by her customers.  Photo:  Mirtha D. Uriarte

Under a tent at the Delray Main Office, volunteers sort through food items collected by letter carriers.  Photo:  Ann Marie Tighe 

Snapper Creek Letter Carrier Marshal Hurst returns to the Post Office with a truck loaded with non-perishable goods to help feed the hungry in southern Miami-Dade County.  Photo:  Mirtha D. Uriarte

Plantation Letter Carrier Derrick Silensky shows his support for the food drive.  Photo:  Amy J. McCall

Tavernier employees always are proud to support the annual food drive.  Photo:  Cindy Smith

Girl Scouts volunteer to sort food donations at the Plantation Branch.  Photo:  Amy J. McCall

Olympia Heights Letter Carrier Fredis Gonzalez has a spring in his step.  Photo:  Mirtha D. Uriarte

Haverhill Letter Carrier Jose Melendez whistles while he works.  Photo:  Gale G. Jackson

Members of the Bridge of Hope non-profit organization worked at a feverish pace as Snapper Creek carriers brought canned goods collected from Miami residents.  Photo:  Mirtha D. Uriarte

Loxahatchee employees are proud of their collective effort for this year's food drive.  Photo: Randy Bushmaster

Boca Rio Manager, Customer Services Yvonee Arrizzi poses in front of hampers of donated food items.  Photo:  Ann Marie Tighe

Letter Carrier Herb Griffin is amazed at the amount of non-perishable items collected when he unloaded his truck at the Snapper Creek Branch.  Photo:  Mirtha D. Uriarte

Davie Letter Carrier Robin Naber smiles for the camera after picking up a bag of donated canned goods.  Photo:  Amy J. McCall

Key Largo employees and community volunteers proudly support the annual NALC Food Drive.  Photo:  Cindy Smith

Snapper Creek Letter Carrier Gino Armand was all smiles as he unloaded his truck full of food donations.  Photo:  Mirtha D. Uriarte

West Palm Beach Postmaster Richie Fermo enjoys a light moment as he unloads a truck.  Photo:  Gale G. Jackson

Snapper Creek Letter Carrier Helmuth Martinez is grateful for Bridge of Hope volunteers who helped unload his truck.  Photo:  Mirtha D. Uriarte

Palm Beach Gardens Letter Carrier Dixie Shaus was happy to pick up non-perishable food donations from residents at this apartment complex.  Photo:  Gale G. Jackson

Volunteer Emilio Rose (L) and Supervisor, Customer Services Pete Gonzalez (R) of the Deerfield Beach Main Office unloaded this truck of canned goods.  Photo:  Ann Marie Tighe

West Palm Beach television reporter interviews Palms Central Letter Carrier Starr Hunter for advance publicity of the food drive.  Photo:  Gale G. Jackson

Volunteers sort through non-perishable items on the dock of the Plantation Branch.  Photo:  Amy J. McCall

Palms West Letter Carrier Myriam Riviera gives a thumbs up to the food drive collection.  Photo:  Gale G. Jackson

Our Federal Employee of the Year Nominees Make Us Proud!

 Senior Plant Manager Sue Aronson (far left) and District Manager Jeffery Taylor (far right) pose with Federal Employee of the Year nominees (L to R) David Pearl, Valarie Rother, Virginia Rhodes, Ismary Veiga, Angel Baez, and Jennifer Thonus.

The 49th Annual Federal Employee of the Year Awards Program/Luncheon praised outstanding employees in the South Florida federal community during “Public Service Recognition Week.”    
Postal nominees included Angel Baez, Service to the Community category; David Pearl, Management category; Virginia Rhodes, Valor category; Valarie Rother; Management category; Jennifer Thonus, Service to the Community category; and Ismary Veiga, Clerical/Administrative Support category.

The Amazing Fort Lauderdale Team --- and Spider-Man!

Representing the Amazing Fort Lauderdale Team

Front Row L to R: Bridget Williams, Manager, Customer Services, Everglades Branch; Joe Marrone, Manager, Customer Services, Oakland Park Branch; Jason Beach, Manager, Customer Services, Tamarac Branch; Dorothy Gilzene, Manager, Customer Services, Inverrary Branch; John Pinto, Manager, Customer Services, Southside Station; and Esteban Martinez, A/Manager, Customer Services, Alridge Station.  Back Row L to R: Scott Bower, Postmaster, Fort Lauderdale; Rosena Bivins, A/Manager, Customer Services, Melrose Vista Branch; Duane Hunt, Manager, Customer Services, Weston Branch; Virginia Rhodes, Manager, Customer Services, Plantation Branch; Johnson D’Souza, Manager, Customer Services, Davie Branch; Victor Maldonado, A/Manager, Customer Services, Main Office Carrier Annex; and Alex Sepulveda, Manager, Customer Service Operations, Fort Lauderdale. 

Photo:  Amy J McCall 

At a recent district quarterly meeting, Fort Lauderdale Customer Service was recognized in several categories, earning a total of 32 awards representing the outstanding performance of EAS and craft employees.

“Fort Lauderdale Customer Service continues to improve. We are very enthusiastic about the new members we have added to our team and look forward to even more success in the future,” said Ft Lauderdale Postmaster Scott Bower. 

• Attendance Control:  Davie Branch
• Best CDPOM Performance:  Melrose Vista Branch, Plantation Branch and Tamarac Branch
• Best CSSOM Performance:  North Ridge Annex
• EDDM:  Oakland Park Branch
• Employee Engagement Business Connect:  Plantation Branch
• Function 2B Work Hours % to Plan:  Tamarac Branch 
• Function 4 Overtime % Improvement:  Plantation Branch
• Highest VOE Score:  Weston Branch
• MVA Performance:  Levels 18-20 included Everglades Branch, Lauderridge Annex and Westside Branch.  In the same category, Level 21 included Inverrary Branch, Melrose Vista Branch and Weston Branch.  Level 22 included Plantation Branch and Tamarac Branch.
• OSHA I&I:  Levels 18-20 were awarded to Everglades Branch and North Ridge Annex.  In the same category Level 21, Davie Branch and Weston Branch. Level 22 included Plantation Branch and Tamarac Branch.
• Overall Retail Customer Experience 100%:  Fort Lauderdale Main Office Window, Gateway Finance Unit, Melrose Vista Branch, Oakland Park Branch and Sable Palm Finance Unit.
• Self Service Kiosk Adoption Rate:  Weston Branch
• Street Base Performance:  Plantation Branch
• Total Work Hours % to Plan:  Tamarac Branch

Also at the meeting, District Manager Jeffery A. Taylor recognized Fort Lauderdale Postmaster Scott Bower for 25 years of dedicated service.

Port Salerno Postmaster Valarie Rother takes a "selfie" with the Amazing Spider-Man at a recent district quarterly meeting.