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Proctor’s Career Comes Full Circle As Mayville Postmaster

Stacy Proctor, postmaster of the Mayville Post Office, is pictured with Michael Barnes, who previously held the position and launched Proctor’s career in the Postal Service. Submitted photo

More than 18 years after first becoming an employee of the United States Postal Service, Stacy Proctor’s career has brought her right back around to where it all began.

Proctor, who now serves as Postmaster of the Mayville Post Office, had her “homecoming” in 2015, after climbing through the ranks and holding various positions at various divisions throughout Chautauqua County before returning to the branch that hired her.

Her career with the Postal Service began in February 1999, when she was brought on board as a city carrier by then-Postmaster Michael Barnes. Although she had previously been working contentedly as a dental assistant, she was encouraged by her mother, Jane Williams, who was working as a clerk in Mayville, to take the postal exam — which she ultimately took, albeit several years prior to her official start date.

Proctor now admits that she wasn’t entirely sold on the idea of being a postal employee at the time.

“I really didn’t have much interest in working for the postal service, and only took the exam because my mother suggested it,” she said.

“Even after I was called for an interview and offered the position, I still wasn’t sure that it was something I wanted to do,” she said.

However, Proctor once again relented to her mother’s wishes and accepted the city carrier position she was offered. She served in that role until her first official promotion came in July 2005, when she moved to Portland and worked as Postmaster at the Portland Post Office — a position she held for one year.

In July 2006, she was granted another promotion as Postmaster of the Ripley Post Office, upon which she moved to her hometown of Ripley. She served in this role for seven years, during which her children had graduated from high school and she had purchased a house in Mayville — ready for a change.

That change came in June 2013, when she accepted the position as Postmaster of the Sherman Post Office — a move she described as bringing herself “halfway home” as she still desired to eventually return to the Mayville Post Office.

“I had always thought of returning to Mayville as Postmaster, but I was unable to do so until my mother finally retired from her postal career in December of 2013 after 35 years; as you are not permitted to supervise immediate family members,” she said. “When the Mayville Postmaster position became vacant, I knew that I had no reason not to apply.”

Proctor finally assumed the Mayville Postmaster position in December 2015, which had previously been held by the man who hired her: Michael Barnes. She said Barnes was the first person she called when she was awarded the position, and that Barnes congratulated her by saying “welcome home.” She said these words still ring true.

“I feel like I am home,” she said. “I enjoy working with the public and members of the community. I love seeing the kids that used to greet me at the door, when I was delivering their mail years ago, now all grown up. I’ve seen a lot change over the years, but you just have to embrace it and move forward.

“I have to say that I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to work for the postal service, and I owe it all to my mom, Jane Williams, and former Postmaster Mike Barnes,” she added. “Without the two of them, I would not be where I am today.”

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