A great many things happen in March. We celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, spend a lot of time with our March Madness favorites and welcome in Spring. We also recognize March as Women’s History Month. In celebration of Women’s History Month, I’d like to introduce you to some women who are members of the Dallas District leadership team who play vital roles in each of their functional areas. I’ve asked each of them to share with you some of their background, what their current positions entail and provide some leadership advice.
Dallas Postmaster—Yulonda Love
In my role as Dallas Postmaster, I along with my team of 1,877 employees provide service at 27 stations and branches in one of the largest cities in Texas. I began my postal career in 1988, as a Letter Carrier in Van Nuys, CA. In 1992, I became Supervisor, Mails and Delivery at the San Fernando, CA, Post Office, later serving as Supervisor, Customer Services in the same office. My managerial career continued in Dallas, TX, where I served as Supervisor, Customer Services and later as Manager, Customer Services. In 2002, I was selected Manager, Customer Service Operations for the Dallas Post Office. I have served as Postmaster of Mesquite and Arlington, TX. In addition, I gained additional experience by taking on detail assignments, including Manager, Post Office Operations for the Dallas District and Southern Area Manager, Delivery Programs Support. I also completed Officer in Charge assignments in New Orleans, LA; Fort Worth, San Antonio and Dallas, TX. I have completed several USPS leadership developmental programs and am Postal Co-chair of the award winning Greater Dallas PCC who won the National PCC of the Year Award in 2015.
I have been married to Vanek for 18 years. My hobbies include singing in my church choir, exercising and reading. I am a member of the Potter’s House with a congregation of over 20,000 and play a vital role in the church’s outreach ministry program.
In my opinion, the most important characteristic for a person in leadership to possess is integrity. If you conduct your affairs, both personal and professional with integrity, you can never go wrong.
Human Resources—Denise Cameron
Since January 21, 2017, I have been the Manager, Human Resources for the Dallas District. I am responsible for coordinating the full range of human resources support to Customer Service and Mail Processing functions. I oversee the work of Labor Relations, Safety, Learning, Development and Diversity, Health and Resource Management, Local Services, and the District Complement Coordinator, plus Equal Employment Opportunity and the Employee Assistance Program.
I began my postal career in 1979, as a MPLSM Clerk in the former North Suburban Division (previously Northern Illinois District). I served as Program Manager, Human Capital Enterprise (HQs-HRSS) and have held numerous Human Resources managerial positions throughout my career. I have completed detail assignments as the Plant Manager in the Fort Myers, FL, P&DF; Montgomery, AL, P&DC and Shreveport, LA, P&DC. During these plant manager assignments, I was able to improve the Union/Management working relationship in the plants in which I served.
My formal education includes Master’s Degrees in Business Administration from Fontbonne University, and Project Management and Human Resources Management from the Keller Graduate School of Management, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of Michigan. I have completed several USPS leadership development programs and am also a Lean Six Sigma certified Green Belt.
Keep your life balanced. I manage work/life by prioritizing/organizing my personal life and work day daily. At work, I address the hot items immediately and then I focus on projects/processes that we have currently implemented. Then I work on emails to ensure we are addressing any issues that may have arisen throughout the day. At home, I’m a volunteer coach for youth basketball and sometimes volleyball. I believe in taking time for me and enjoy watching moving and sporting events. I believe in keeping “my” house in order so that I am organized at home as well.
Manager, In Plant Support--Kristina Montet
My career started as a Flat Sorter Machine Clerk at the Fort Worth, TX, Processing and Distribution Center in February, 1995. In 1997, I completed the Associate Supervisor Program (ASP) in the Rio Grande District. I have been an Operations Support Specialist and a Postmaster. In addition, I have completed detail assignments in Human Resources, Operations, and In Plant Support. I have also held the position of Manager, In Plant Support for the Fort Worth District. I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice, have completed the Postal Service’s Managerial Leadership Program and am a Lean Six Sigma certified Green Belt.
My advice for someone getting into a senior leadership position would be commitment. Make sure you set short and long term targets and do not be satisfied until you meet or exceed those targets.
Manager, Finance--Simi George
With over 20 years of service, I began my postal career as a Flat Sorter Clerk in Fort Worth, TX. I have been in various management roles since 1998. In 2010, I was selected as the Manager, Delivery Programs for the Dallas District and in 2014; I completed a detail assignment as Manager, Finance in the Dallas District. The following year, I was promoted to the Dallas District Manager, Finance position where I am currently serving. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and am a graduate of the U.S. Postal Service Managerial Leadership Program. I am also a certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.
Find a mentor. The person who inspired me most, is my first postal supervisor named James C. Bell. I applied to and was accepted into the Associate Supervisor Program exactly one year after joining the Postal Service, because I wanted to be a supervisor like James C. Bell. Since then, I have had various mentors in my postal career while serving in different Postal managerial roles. My current mentor is Timothy R. Costello. Under the leadership of Mr. Costello, I am working on improving my communication and team building skills.
Manager, Post Office Operations--Brandi Smith
As the Manager, Post Office Operations (5) I am responsible for the level 21 and below Associate Offices in SCF 751 & 758. I have served the Postal Service in the great state of Texas for twenty years. Currently I am detailed as the Marketing Manager in the Dallas District.
In 1997, I began my career as a part-time Clerk in Elkhart then transferred to Teague as a Letter Carrier. I was promoted to my first Postmaster position in the Streetman, TX, Post Office in 2003. I also served as Postmaster in Groesbeck, Daingerfield, Big Sandy and Marshall, TX. And I completed Officer In Charge assignments at Teague, Mexia and Carthage, TX, Post Offices. I have completed the Management Essentials for Field Leadership, Managerial Leadership Program and am currently participating in the Executive and Administrative Leadership Development Program.
I hold an Associate of Science degree in Accounting from Navarro College and, while working at the Postal Service, earned a Bachelor of Business Management degree from LeTourneau University.
My husband of twenty-three years, Wesley, and I have two sons; Cordelle and Cantrelle. In my leisure time I enjoy spending time with my family and touring the country on a motorcycle with my husband.
Manager, Post Office Operations--CJ Tabbot
My postal career began as a Letter Sorting Machine Clerk in 1986, at the Miami, FL, P&DC. Four years later, I was promoted to Supervisor, Mail Processing at the Miami P&DC. In 1992, I became a Supervisor, Transportation and a couple of years later became a Supervisor, Customer Services. Later that year I joined the Jacksonville, FL, team. While in Jacksonville, I was promoted to Manager, Customer Services in offices with increasing responsibility.
Details I have completed throughout my career include; Formal A Representative; Postmaster, Savannah, GA; Manager, Customer Service Operations Jacksonville, FL and Manager, Customer Service Operations, New Orleans, LA. I recently returned from heading the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Baton Rouge, LA. I earned an Associate of Arts degree from Miami Dade College. I am a Florida native and lived briefly in Plano, Texas. I have a wonderful family - husband James and light of my life 22-year old son Marc. My husband is awesome; we are celebrating our tenth wedding anniversary this month.
Work with passion. I wanted to be a marine biologist as a child. Well, I obviously went in a total different direction. I am a child of the ocean and spend any extra time I have in it, on it or by it. My passion is common in both my work and personal life. I believe balance is essential for success. There are similarities. Work is like the ocean, some days are calm. Some days are rough. You never know exactly what you will encounter when you dive in. You respect the vastness and consistency. The ocean may change colors but the ocean does not change. Working as the MPOO is very much the same. As with any endeavor, you take it on with passion, and respect. You navigate your career with integrity and honesty and your path will be filled with success and fulfillment. I love my life and love my job.
As you can see, every one of these women took a different path to reach their respective goal. I attribute the strength of our team, to the diverse backgrounds that each of these team members brings to their leadership role. Take note that every job held, every detail assignment completed, every class taken, helped prepare these employees for the positions of responsibility they hold today. So as you do your job, learn as much as you can, not only about the job you’re doing, but about the jobs of others in the office in which you work. Take advantage of every opportunity to learn and next March, we might be reading about you.
