BERKELEY, CA — On Friday, February 10, 2017 at 10:00 AM, Candace Champion-Forbes will follow a proud tradition that dates back to 1907 when Clarence S. Merrill became the first Berkeley Postmaster. Champion-Forbes will raise her right hand as she is sworn in as the first African-American female Postmaster in the city of Berkeley at the Main Post Office, 2000 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94704-9998.

Champion-Forbes started her postal career as a clerk at the Oakland Processing and Distribution Center in 1994, and soon after became a supervisor in 1999 after graduating from the Associated Supervisor Program. In 2000, she transferred to Houston, TX where she worked in customer services. She was promoted to Manager Customer Services in 2014 at the Greenbriar Station in Houston and continued in other higher management positions until her selection as the Berkeley Postmaster,

“Since the beginning of my career with the Postal Service, I have aspired to be an agent of change and improvement,” said Champion-Forbes. “My goal as Postmaster is to improve customer relations and the overall image of the Postal Brand with timely and efficient delivery and a courteous retail experience with every customer transaction.”

Champion-Forbes is a native of California and attended San Francisco State as a broadcast/communications major. She resides in Hercules, CA, with her husband, Brian. They have a son, Brian, 31, and daughters Briana, 28, Zenovia, 26, and a grandson, Christopher Sauls, 6. She enjoys reading, motorcycle rides and spending time with family.

As Postmaster, Champion-Forbes is responsible for all delivery and retail operations for the city of Berkeley with 128 city routes, 4,001 PO Boxes, and 69,679 delivery stops (business and residential addresses).  Champion-Forbes manages 240 employees who process and deliver a mail volume of more than 248,000 pieces daily.

Cedric Brown, Manager of Post Office Operations, will administer the official oath of office.

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