CATAWBA, NC — Melissa Russell was recently appointed new Postmaster of Catawba. Russell, a Morganton native and postal employee for 21 years, replaces Tim Kelly, who retired.

Russell began her career as a part-time city letter carrier in Lenoir in February 1989 before transferring to Hickory in 1993 as a full-time carrier. She soon began holding temporary supervisor and postmaster positions at various Post Offices, including Hickory, Morganton, Taylorsville and Valdese. She was a customer services supervisor at Conover for 10 years and also served as acting postmaster in Conover and Catawba prior to her official appointment as Postmaster this year.

“We have an excellent staff of workers here in Catawba that truly wants to focus on its customers and provide them with exceptional service,” says Russell. “My number one expectation from the employees as well as myself is to be friendly, helpful and professional to our customers and get to know them on a personal basis, so they will put trust in us and the Postal Service.”

At the Catawba Post Office, located at 100 E. Central Avenue, Russell is responsible for seven employees and four routes that deliver to over 2100 delivery points and 460 Post Office Boxes. The Post Office is open Monday-Friday 8:30 am – 5 pm, and Saturday 8:30 am – 12 noon.

Russell has an Associate’s Degree from Western Piedmont Community College and Wingate University. She now lives in Conover and is engaged to Conover Police Chief Steve Brewer.

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