Sheila Ludwikowski has gained experience at several different post offices in the state but hopes to have found a home in Marshalltown.
The new postmaster comes from Perry where she held the same position and before that she worked in Ankeny, Newton and GIlbert since 2003.
Her postal career began as a part-time clerk in Jewell in 1996. The 43-year-old said the size of the Marshalltown office seemed like a nice fit.
"This level of office is the same level as Ankeny so it was kind of an easy fit for me," Ludwikowski said.
She takes over for the retired Larry Doepp and is in charge of a staff of about 40 people.
One of the big issues facing the United States Postal Service is funding and whether the decrease in mail volume will shift delivery to five days, eliminating Saturday delivery.
"That is something we don't dwell a whole lot on," Ludwikowski said. "That is going to be decided by Congress and the Postmaster General."
It is unclear if and when Saturday delivery will be eliminated but she said it could be decided as early as October.
Another budget-saving measure on the mind of the postmasters throughout the country is having to move employees around to where they will best be utilized, since hiring new career employees is not allowed.
"Sometimes mail is late because we are short-staffed," she said.
Ludwikowski started in Marshalltown May 22 and is in charge of 18 city and six rural delivery routes, 774 post office boxes and the office operations on Linn Street. She said the key to her management style is open communication.
"That's the key to being successful as a manager," she said.
Her main goal is to provide efficient service to keep and attract customers as she admitted there are more options than just the postal service these days.
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Contact Andrew Potter at 641-753-6611 or apotter@timesrepublican.com
