Over 600 employees attended the Suncoast District “Cultivate Your
Potential…Your future is unwritten!” Career Conference August 11-13 in Kissimmee,
FL. District Manager Eric Chavez hosted
the conference to empower employees and provide them with the tools to be
successful in their chosen careers. Chavez joined Subject Matter Experts from the
District Leadership Team to share knowledge and experience at the Career
Conference. Employees enjoyed a great
weekend of activities that included networking opportunities, educational
workshops, golfing, contest activities, dining and dancing. Southern Area Manager Operations Support Mike
Barber was a special guest speaker and shared his career experiences with attendees.
Suncoast District Manager Eric Chavez (standing) spoke with enthusiastic
employees gathered for the career conference.
Chavez captured the attention of over 600 attendees by sharing key
points about his postal career. Chavez
began his carrier as a Jacksonville, FL, Letter Carrier and shared a photo of
himself at his case in his Letter Carrier uniform. He also shared the handwritten notes he took
during his Postal Service Orientation and encouraged employees to set career
goals and take the steps to achieve them.
Southern Area Acting Manager Human Resources Charisse Newberry (standing)
spoke about her postal career and motivated career conference attendees to
continue to pursue their career goals.
Following a delicious luncheon, Keynote Speaker Lieutenant General Robert
“Van” VanAntwerp (standing right); retired 3-star U. S. Army General;
graduate of United States Military Academy at West Point; former chief of engineers
and commanding general of 37,000 employees in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE) captured the crowd’s attention with his message.
Manager Human Resources Nefty Pluguez (standing) answered an employee’s
question during the question and answer session.
Employees attended
workshops (above and below) to learn about a variety of topics to advance their
careers. Workshops ranged from interview
techniques to business writing for career advancement to building team success,
plus opportunities to learn more about the many functional areas within the
U.S. Postal Service.
Leadership Team Members (above) critiqued eCareers and offered one on one career advice to
attendees throughout the conference.
The winners of the Career Conference Golf Tournament (left to right)
Southern Area Labor Relations Specialist Joe Homolash; Clearwater Postmaster
Doug Fiedler; Englewood Postmaster Sherry Jude and Retired Punta Gorda
Postmaster Steven Bernier (who shot a -13 for a score of 59) posed for a photo.
Attendees participated in several contest activities, including matching the young photos (above) with the correct Leadership Team members. One of the most coveted drawings was for Lunch with an Executive, which provided the lucky winners a one on one career session while dining with a District Executive.
During Saturday evening’s social event, employees enjoyed hors d'oeuvres, networking and dancing (above).
Mid Florida Vehicle Maintenance Facility (VMF) Supervisor Bobby Bock
Supervisor (left) and Space Coast VMF Manager Mike Quijano (right) were on hand
at the conference providing information about available VMF positions available in the Southern Area
1, encompassing the Central and Northern Area of Florida. Other exhibitors included APLUS, EAP, NAPS,
UPMA, FEHB Health Plans, Tampa Postal Credit Union, USPS Suncoast Inclusiveness
and Diversity Committee and USPS Suncoast District Sales Department.
Special thanks to Human Resources Generalist Principal Davina Best, the
Career Conference Committee Members and Support Staff for planning and hosting
this year’s Career Conference. Feedback
and response from attendees has been extremely positive and plans are already
underway for next year’s conference.
Photography: Desai Abdul-Razzahu and Juan Rosa.
