Years as a carrier helped shape this USPS supervisor’s approach to leadership.
As a Supervisor of Customer Service at the U.S. Postal Service, my responsibility is to make sure every route is covered, every vehicle is ready and every carrier has what they need to do their job properly. On any given day, I’m overseeing 41 routes and the employees who serve them. That means reviewing data, planning schedules, assigning extra work when needed and ensuring that we deliver every piece of mail and every package safely, reliably and on time.
It’s a big job, but it’s one I truly enjoy. What motivates me most is working with people. I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about forcing results; it’s about earning buy-in. When I show respect and integrity, I get it back from my team and morale stays high. That makes the work smoother for everyone and it makes me proud to come in each day.
My journey with USPS began in 2004, thanks to my brother, who was a rural carrier. He encouraged me to give it a try, so I started as a temporary rural employee not far from where I grew up in northeastern Massachusetts. By 2006, I had secured a career position. Over the years, I had opportunities to serve as an acting supervisor, which gave me a taste of leadership, and in 2021, I made the transition to full‑time supervisor here at the Framingham Post Office.
I feel that my career path helps me as a supervisor. I understand the carrier craft inside and out, and I can relate to the challenges my team faces because I’ve been there myself.
When I started, we needed a lot less technology to do our jobs and there were a lot fewer packages. Some didn’t even have a barcode. Today, everything is data‑driven, from loading the truck to reaching the first address. In many ways, I consider myself as much a data analyst as a supervisor.
Change is part of our culture here at the Postal Service, especially for those of us who were here before the economic downturn of 2008. There have been challenges, but I find that most people accept change when they understand the reasons why that change is happening. As a supervisor, it’s up to me to help them gain that understanding.
I’m glad that I followed my brother’s lead. The past two decades at USPS have given me stability, good pay, benefits and retirement planning, but more importantly, I have a job that I enjoy coming to every day. My fellow supervisors and I laugh, joke and support each other, and together we’ve built strong relationships with our colleagues here in the Framingham Post Office. It really feels like a team working toward a shared goal, and I’m proud that together we serve our community. To those who are considering a career at USPS, I highly recommend taking that first step. I’m certainly glad I did.
Glenn Brewer
Supervisor, Customer Service, Framingham, MA Post Office
