PCC Management Insights

“Staying in the Know”

Postal Service Field Personnel Support
(May / June 2010)

Improve Your PCC Performance!

Year after year, PCCs continue to improve the overall performance of their operations.  One way this has been demonstrated is by the increase in the total number of Premier PCC awards achieved in 2009, compared to 2008.  Not only were more awards earned in 2009, but most were in the Gold Level category!

One key element that contributes to the overall success of PCCs is taking advantage of the Postal Service’s field personnel support.  In addition to the postmaster (who typically serves as the PCC postal co-chair), listed below are key roles / responsibilities for selected USPS field positions that are available to support your local PCC:

Area Vice President

•	Demonstrate overall support of the PCC Network mission.

•	Participate as keynote speaker at major PCC events (i.e., conferences, vendor shows, symposiums, National PCC Days, etc.).

•	Communicate key USPS strategies and policies that are important to the continued growth of the Postal Service and mailing industry, including those as advanced in the Strategic Plan.

•	Require local postmasters to serve as PCC Co-Chair.  (Deviations from the Postmaster Co-Chair requirement must be approved at the AVP level.)

•	Encourage District Managers to take an active role in the activities of their local PCCs.

District Manager 

•	Demonstrate overall support of the PCC Network mission.

•	Participate as keynote speaker at major PCC events.

•	Require local postmaster to serve as PCC Co-Chairs.

•	Require District Marketing Managers to participate in the planning of PCC activities and events.

•	Address concerns and issues of PCC members.
•	Identify opportunities to establish new PCCs.

•	Attend regular PCC Executive Board Meetings, as appropriate.

Plant Manager

•	Participate in local PCC events to communicate key mail processing and distribution policies and procedures, to assist local businesses in maximizing their mail operations.

•	Lead PCC sponsored plant tours.

•	Participate in meetings to address concerns and issues of PCC members.

PCES Postmaster/Postmaster

Note:  The PCES Postmaster or Postmaster must serve as postal co-chair of the PCC.  While marketing employees contribute to the PCC and are active participants, the Area and District Marketing Managers should not be postal co-chairs. 

•	Act as the postal co-chair of the PCC.

•	Ensure PCC meetings provide value by leveraging the tools available; i.e., workshops-in-a-box, certificate and certification programs, Mail Service Providers program, etc.

•	Participate in the PCC Mentoring Program, as appropriate.

•	Ensure compliance with postal regulations and policies.

•	Ensure PCC participation in National PCC Day.

•	Attend the annual NPF PCC Leadership Conference, according to the requirements stated in the NPF Attendance Policy.  Approval required by AVP. 

•	Assign a local employee to serve as administrative support for the PCC.

Area Marketing Manager

•	Proactively assist District Managers with PCC event planning and participation.

•	Assist District Marketing Managers with planning of PCC activities and events.

•	Ensure participation of mailing requirements/BMEU at PCC meetings. 

•	Advise Area Vice President of Area PCC events and concerns. 

•	Identify opportunities to establish new PCCs.

•	Participate as speaker at major PCC events.

•	Ensure PCC participation in National PCC Day.

District Marketing Manager

•	Serve as key resource for all PCCs within the district.

•	Ensure participation of mailing requirements/BMEU at PCC meetings.

•	Enlist support of district Business Service Network and assist local PCC postal co-chairs and administrators in the planning and execution of all meetings and activities at PCCs throughout the district.  

•	Facilitate quality content at PCC meetings by leveraging workshops-in-a-box, certificate programs, Mail Service Providers program, etc.

•	Work with PCCs to plan and develop promotional materials to increase PCC membership and attendance at PCC events.

•	Advise the District Manager of major PCC events and concerns.

•	Identify opportunities to establish new PCCs.

•	Ensure participation in National PCC Day.

Local PCC Administrator (Customer Relations Coordinator, Business Service Network, or designed postal employee)  

•	Serve as key contact for the National PCC Network Office.

•	Provide assistance to the PCC postal co-chair in the planning and execution of all PCC meetings and activities. 

•	Facilitate quality content at PCC meetings by leveraging workshops-in-a-box, certificate and certification programs, Mail Service Providers program, etc.

•	Demonstrate familiarity with all content on the national PCC Web site (www.usps.com/pcc) and all the guidelines in Publication 286 (03/07 Version), Postal Customer Council (PCC) Program Reference Guide.

•	Promote participation in National PCC Day.

Sales Employees 

•	Attend PCC events.

•	Sign-up new PCC members.

•	Present educational sessions at PCC meetings.
U.S. Postal Inspectors
•	Conduct seminars about mail center security practices and basic principles for maintaining a safe workplace. 

•	Teach businesses the proper detection of and response to potentially hazardous items brought in or delivered to the workplace. 

•	Help businesses, regardless of size, to asses their security needs, and design a mail center security plan tailored to meet the needs of each business.    

•	Address other security-related concerns of interest to PCC members, such as how to protect employees and businesses from identity theft and consumer fraud schemes.

Communications Programs Specialist

•	Promote PCC events, meetings, and workshops through news releases and media advisories.

•	Publicize PCC events in community calendars for local business newspapers and Web sites.

•	Provide guidance and support for media inquiries and interviews.

•	Obtain permissions for the use of Postal Service logos and symbols for Web sites and publications.

•	Assist with quarterly PCC newsletters.

AREA CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS MANAGERS

AREA		   CONTACT		TELEPHONE NO.	E-MAIL

Capital Metro	   Deborah Yackley	301-548-1465		deborah.a.yackley@usps.gov

Eastern		   Paul Smith		215-931-5054		paul.f.smith@usps.gov

Great Lakes	   Jim Mruk		630-539-6565		james.a.mruk@usps.gov

Northeast	   Maureen Marion (A)	860-539-0649		maureen.p.marion@usps.gov

Pacific		   Don Smeraldi		858-674-3149		don.a.smeraldi@usps.gov

Southeast	   Debbie Fetterly (A)	954-436-4451		debbie.j.fetterly@usps.gov

Southwest	   Earl Artis		214-819-8704		earl.c.artis@usps.gov

Western	   Teresa Rudkin	303-313-5130		teresa.rudkin@usps.gov

We encourage all PCCs to include the Postal Service field support team members in your PCC activities.  Doing so should improve your operations and enhance the value of your PCC membership.