Customer service vital to new postmaster

    Stephanie Stolz is no stranger to customers of the Imperial Post Office, having been a clerk here since May 2015.
    But, for the past two and a half weeks, she’s had a new title—postmaster.
    Stolz replaces Postmaster Barb Prottsman, who retired earlier this year. Prottsman’s last day at the post office was April 28.
    Stolz was officially named Imperial postmaster June 18, after she applied for the position that was advertised internally throughout the country.
    Stolz said customers won’t see a lot of changes in the post office operation, but customer service will be her focus.
    “I look forward to serving Imperial in a new capacity,” she said Friday.
    However, with more administrative duties now, she said she’ll miss seeing the post office customers each day.
    She won’t be totally away from the window, though, as she covers during lunch hours and vacations.
    In her new role, she wants people to realize all the post office offers.
    “I’ll do what I can to benefit the community and lead by example,” she said.
    She wants to make sure customers are aware of all the services provided by the post office, and will make the post office “brand” known, she said.
    Customers will notice some changes outside this summer, however, when the entire exterior gets painted.
    Moving into the postmaster role hasn’t been a new thing for Stolz since she served as officer-in-charge many times when Prottsman was gone.
    Overall, she’s been with the U.S. Postal Service nearly eight years, starting in September 2014 as a substitute rural carrier associate for Jon Welch’s route.
    In April 2015, she started as a clerk at the Champion Post Office, then in May transferred to Imperial as a clerk.
    One of the postmaster’s primary duties is supervising the carriers and clerk staff at the Imperial, Champion and Enders Post Offices.
    As postmaster, she’s in charge of hiring, financials, timekeeping and accounting.
    The staff she oversees includes Imperial rural carriers Tammy Helser and Janie Mullanix; Champion rural carrier Marcia Pump; and rural substitute carriers Shawn Paul and Kelsey Owens.
    The clerks include Adrienne Prosser and another soon to be hired in Imperial, Leah Widger in Champion and Betty Krausnick and Tina Grosbach, who split time for the clerk duties at Enders.
    Stolz and husband Richard live in Champion with children, Slade, a 7th grader, and Eris, in 5th grade.