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Cool and collected

Los Angeles District Operations Programs Specialist Javier Gonzalez

My name is Javier Gonzalez and I’m an operations programs specialist for Los Angeles District.

I’m a subject matter expert on the Collection Point Management System, an application that helps USPS install, serve and repair collection boxes, including mail chutes and wall units. This is important because we don’t want to miss collection boxes. That mail must be collected so it can get to the plant for processing, distribution and delivery.

In my job, I like to be out and about. If I stay in the office, I get claustrophobic. There’s only so much you can read in a report.

I started working for the Postal Service on Dec. 13, 1980. It wasn’t my first choice. I wanted to be a teacher. I come from a family of teachers. But I applied for the postal job, then didn’t hear anything for months. Finally, I got the call. When I was sworn in, I thought, “This is never going to work.” But I ended up loving it.

I worked for about 20 years in a processing and distribution plant before switching to delivery. One of the biggest moments in my career was meeting Postmaster General Marvin Runyon when he came to Los Angeles for a town hall meeting. I asked him to autograph my notebook and discussed theories of management with him.

When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my family. My wife and I have two children and two grandchildren. Our daughter recently endured surgery for spinal cancer. She was in the hospital recovering for more than five weeks. For me, it feels like falling off a cliff. It’s challenging, but we’re hanging in there.

One of the things that I learned during my postal career is it’s important to adapt. USPS has survived because it’s been able to adapt. People said the internet would kill the Postal Service. Back then, our business was letters and flats. Today, it’s parcels. The mail changed, so we changed. Now look at how much we’ve changed. It’s awesome.

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