Some readers may recall a letter sent in 2009 by National Association of Postal Supervisors President Ted Keating to USPS COO Patrick Donahoe requesting that Sylvester Black be removed for saying ” “Some managers ought to be taken out and executed.”

Sylvester Black, the 37-year USPS veteran who has served as VP, Area Operations for the Western Area, since 2002, will retire from the Postal Service Oct. 1.

Black began his career in 1975 as an accounting assistant at the Bulk Mail Center in Des Moines, IA, and has since held several positions of increasing responsibility. As New York, NY, Postmaster, Capital Metro Area’s Operations Manager, and then VP for the former New York Metro Area, Black’s hallmark achievement was improving service performance. As VP for the Western Area — which serves 49 million customers in all or parts of 18 states — Black demonstrated once again that even the largest, most geographically challenged area in the Postal Service can provide excellent customer service.

A key leader during the difficult period following the Sept. 11 attacks and the subsequent anthrax crisis, Black helped guide USPS through one of its most challenging periods. He earned a reputation as a consummate team player and mentor to USPS managers and executives, earning the Board of Governors Award three times and two Diversity Achievement Leadership Awards.

“Sylvester’s breadth of experience, expertise and dedication has served our organization extremely well over the years,” said PMG Pat Donahoe. “We will miss his leadership tremendously.”

An announcement about a replacement for the Western Area VP position will be made at a later date.

via USPS News Link Story – Sylvester Black to retire