PLEASANT GARDEN, NC — Laurie D. Hedgebeth was recently promoted as the official Postmaster of Pleasant Garden. Hedgebeth, a postal employee of more than 19 years, replaces Darin Shamberger, who is now Postmaster of Siler City, NC. A public ceremony to officially install her in the new position will be held Friday, September 26, 2014, 11 am at Town Hall, 4920 Alliance Church Road, Pleasant Garden.

Hedgebeth began her postal career in September 1995 as a data conversion operator at the Greensboro Remote Encoding Center, and the following January was hired as a mailhandler at the Bulk Mail Center. In 1999, she began supervisory and management-level assignments, and was promoted to supervisor, customer services at Greensboro Main Post Office in 2004. She continued various assignments over the years, including supervisor positions throughout Greensboro, and acting Postmaster positions in Pleasant Garden, Snow Camp and McLeansville, before being appointed as Postmaster, Prospect Hill in 2008. She was promoted to Postmaster, Pleasant Garden in August.

“As new Postmaster of Pleasant Garden, I want to re-emphasize that service is our priority,” says Hedgebeth. “The town is growing and I hope to grow with it, and to provide excellent service. A satisfied customer is a happy customer, and a happy customer will always come back. We will serve with a smile.”

In Pleasant Garden, the Post Office is located at 4621 Pleasant Garden Road, where Hedgebeth is responsible for 10 employees and 142 delivery routes, delivering nearly 920,000 pieces of mail annually to more than 2600 delivery points and 604 Post Office boxes. The office is open Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4 pm, while closing for lunch 11 am – 12 noon.

Hedgebeth, a native and resident of High Point, has one daughter, Kierra Hedgebeth, and is an avid volunteer in her community, working with programs like READ (Reading Excellence to Aspire Dreams), Helping Hands Shelter, Pastor’s Aide Ministry, Interfaith Mission, High Point Regional Hospital, and many more.

“In the next few weeks I will be hiring additional rural carrier associates to ensure we have adequate staffing at all times and especially during the holidays,” she said. “It’s important to keep in touch with the community and give them what they need. I’m looking forward to it.”

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

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