|
|
|
La Grange Postmaster Benjamin Cozzone began his relationship with the U.S. Postal Service by mailing a letter for his mother at the Berwyn Post Office when he was 23.
“They were handing out applications so I applied,” Cozzone said.
His first assignment was at the Oak Park Post Office as a clerk. He then became a supervisor, followed by manager.
In 2004, he was made postmaster of the Oak Park office. He then served in that capacity in River Grove, then Elmhurst and finally his latest assignment, La Grange.
In the 24 years since he started, there have been many changes in the business.
“There is the Internet, people pay bills online or over the phone,” Cozzone said. “The younger kids are texting — they might not even know what mail is. That is our big challenge now.”
Changes have also been made in delivery methods. In La Grange, there is the park and loop method, where carriers drive to a location, park, load up and deliver the mail to each address in the loop.
There are also mounted routes, where carriers drive to each post box to make deliveries.
Today’s trend is the centralized method, where a subdivision may have one large central box that includes several smaller post boxes, one for each address on the street. Cozzone said it is the most efficient method from the office’s perspective.
But the changes do not stop there.
“The amount of time a carrier spends in the office has decreased because of a drop in mail volume and automation,” he said.
Notable
Cozzone coaches baseball and basketball for Berwyn recreation leagues and ice hockey for a recreation league in Oak Park.
& quotable
“I started with the Postal Service and I will retire from the Postal Service. I believe this great organization will be here forever,” Cozzone said.
Philosophy
“Live every day to the fullest, forgive and forget,” Cozzone said.
Interests
n Playing basketball and ice hockey
n Spending time with family
La Grange Postmaster Benjamin Cozzone began his relationship with the U.S. Postal Service by mailing a letter for his mother at the Berwyn Post Office when he was 23.
“They were handing out applications so I applied,” Cozzone said.
His first assignment was at the Oak Park Post Office as a clerk. He then became a supervisor, followed by manager.
In 2004, he was made postmaster of the Oak Park office. He then served in that capacity in River Grove, then Elmhurst and finally his latest assignment, La Grange.
In the 24 years since he started, there have been many changes in the business.
“There is the Internet, people pay bills online or over the phone,” Cozzone said. “The younger kids are texting — they might not even know what mail is. That is our big challenge now.”
Changes have also been made in delivery methods. In La Grange, there is the park and loop method, where carriers drive to a location, park, load up and deliver the mail to each address in the loop.
There are also mounted routes, where carriers drive to each post box to make deliveries.
Today’s trend is the centralized method, where a subdivision may have one large central box that includes several smaller post boxes, one for each address on the street. Cozzone said it is the most efficient method from the office’s perspective.
But the changes do not stop there.
“The amount of time a carrier spends in the office has decreased because of a drop in mail volume and automation,” he said.
Notable
Cozzone coaches baseball and basketball for Berwyn recreation leagues and ice hockey for a recreation league in Oak Park.
& quotable
“I started with the Postal Service and I will retire from the Postal Service. I believe this great organization will be here forever,” Cozzone said.
Philosophy
“Live every day to the fullest, forgive and forget,” Cozzone said.
Interests
n Playing basketball and ice hockey
n Spending time with family
