LAKEPORT, CA — On Thursday, February 8th, 2018, at 5:30 pm, Benjamin C. Lovato will follow a tradition that dates back to 1858 when the area that was then known as “Big Valley” Post Office was first opened. Lovato will raise his right hand to be sworn in as the new Postmaster of the Lakeport Post Office at the Hartley Masonic Lodge #199 located at 375 N. Main St, Lakeport CA 95453. Recently retired Honorable Superior Court Judge Richard Martin will administer the official oath of office.

This will be Lovato’s second time swearing in as a Postmaster and perhaps his most treasured as Lakeport is where his postal career began. Lovato started his postal career in 2005 as a Part Time Flexible (PTF) clerk in Lakeport, CA.  He transferred to Clearlake, CA as a PTF Clerk in 2007. He subsequently took on other assignments at other offices to broaden his postal knowledge.  

In June 2011, Lovato was assigned his first management detail as Officer-in-Charge (OIC) at the Laytonville Post Office.  The experience he gained with this detail assignment was worth the 900 miles a week he commuted for 11 months.  In April 2012, Lovato received his next OIC assignment in Hopland, CA, where he worked for six months.  Eager to learn more, he asked for an assignment at a Post Office with city delivery.  In October 2012, Lovato was detailed as Supervisor Customer Service at the Healdsburg Post Office, under the guidance of the Postmaster to learn how to manage a city delivery unit. He earned his delivery-unit wings when he was sent to go to Sebastopol Post Office as a Supervisor Customer Service.

In May 2013, he was promoted as Supervisor Customer Service in Lakeport, CA.  His success opened the door for him as the OIC at the Clearlake Oaks Post Office.  In May 2015, he was assigned as OIC in Lower Lake and later promoted to Postmaster Lower Lake on August 8, 2015.

Lovato found himself back ‘home’ again in June 2016 as he took on the role of OIC of Lakeport where he stayed, and, finally came full circle from clerk to Postmaster of his first office, Lakeport, twelve years later in May 2017.

Lovato temporarily donned the hat of Station Manager of the Santa Rosa Annex from August to November 2017. He is currently back as acting Postmaster in his Lakeport office.

“It is an honor to serve as the Postmaster of Lakeport. This is where I first started my career back in 2005,” said Lovato. “I plan to continue to provide excellent customer service to our community.”

Lovato and his seven-year-old son, Ezra, live in Lake County.  He enjoys running, shooting bows, snowboarding, disc golf, and most importantly spending time with his son.  He is an active member of the Mason’s in Lakeport and currently serves as one of the officers at the lodge.

As Lakeport Postmaster, Lovato manages twenty employees who process and deliver an average of 26,000 pieces of mail and packages daily to 5908 delivery points (business and residential addresses) and 1,541 PO Boxes.

Lovato replaces Maria Lane, the current Manager of Post Office Operations.

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