My name is Shaunda Tanksley and I’m a business mail entry unit technician at the St. Louis Network Distribution Center. I serve customers who have large mailings.
My job varies from day to day. I help a lot of different customers — from churches that send 500-piece mailings to government agencies that send 10,000 pieces of Election Mail. My colleagues and I also go to DMUs, or detached mail units, where we work with business customers who send more than 100,000 mailpieces at a time.
Overall, I work with customers to ensure their mail is prepared according to USPS requirements. My goal every day is to effectively and efficiently safeguard Postal Service revenue.
I’ve worked for USPS for about six years. I started as a non-career postal support employee in a processing plant. After two years, I was converted to a career employee.
To become a business mail entry unit technician, you must pass a test. I didn’t pass it the first time I took it, but I didn’t get discouraged. A year later, I took the exam and passed.
I previously worked in health care for 13 years at a hospital in Jefferson City, MO. My mom worked in health care as well, and it was something that I really loved doing. But when she passed away, the thrill was gone, so I decided to try my hand with the Postal Service.
When I’m not working, I’m very family-oriented. I have a 4-year-old granddaughter, Hailey, who is the light of my life.
I love my job. The Postal Service is a great place to work. There is room for advancement, and I can see myself retiring from here.