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Postal worker lands award |
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Tuesday, 01 April 2008 |
By KAY LOUTH
Staff Writer
NEW KNOXVILLE — New Knoxville Postmaster Michele Whetstone brought home a national award for reaching out to the community and increasing consumer’s knowledge of postal services.
Whetstone won the 2007 Chief Marketing Officer’s Growth Award, from Marketing Department of the National Association of Postmasters of the United States (NAPUS). The award is the marketing department’s highest honor and goes to postmasters, managers and supervisors who bring in new customers and help them get the most from the postal service. It also recognizes those who generate new revenue.
“I go out and do a lot of home shows and fairs,” Whetstone said. “(I had to) actually go out and help businesses set up online postage (accounts). Anything they need help with I go out and show them the different (options) on our Web site.”
While Whetstone works in New Knoxville, she said one of her goals is to generate interest in the post office as a whole. Whetstone said she also wants to make customers aware of the entire postal service.
“We’re just telling them about the services,” Whetstone said. “We all work for the same company and there’s usually several postmasters that go out. We’re not just promoting New Knoxville, but promoting the actual postal service.”
The nationwide competition generated 28,000 competitors, but only 43 postmasters, managers and supervisors received the honor. Award winners received a pewter eagle commemorating the honor at a NAPUS Leadership Conference and Legislative Forum in Washington, D.C. March 17.
Whetstone has only been at New Knoxville since September. Previously, she served as postmaster at Payne and Miller City and as a clerk at Wapakoneta for seven years. During her career, Whetstone said she has seen a lot of changes within the post office.
“The main one here is everything is more computerized,” Whetstone said.
The application process is a long one and requires competitors to submit news articles, their contacts with businesses and end of year reports. Applicants also earn points for certain types of revenue increases.
During early March, Whetstone received a phone call from officials in Washington, D.C. telling her she was one of the winners.
“I was shocked, very shocked,” Whetstone said. “I was already going to D.C. because of legislative conference. I was already planning on going so it made that much more worthwhile. It was exciting to get recognized.”
Whetstone’s award is on display at the New Knoxville Post Office. She said she plans on competing for the honor again this year.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 04 April 2008 )
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