Michael Hinkle, III took the oath of office Friday, Feb. 14 to serve as the 15th Preston, WA Postmaster.

Hinkle began his postal career in June 2013 as a rural carrier associate in Washington Crossing, PA. In 2022, his postal career brought him to serve in his first postmaster role in Maple Falls, WA. Hinkle says he is excited to serve the community of Preston.

“Each step in my journey has been rewarding in its own way and I am grateful to be where I am today with the privilege of serving the Preston community,” he said.

Prior to his postal career, Hinkle worked in retail. Hinkle decided to apply to work for the Postal Service while in college.

“I liked the idea of working independently and on a team to achieve goals,” he said. “USPS pays better and offers better benefits than the retail industry so the decision was easy. After working as a carrier for about a year I realized how much I enjoyed being a postal worker and so I pursued my career full-time with the Post Office as I learned there would be opportunities for future growth.”

Hinkle says he is fully committed to serving the Preston community.

“As a Postmaster 18 I am a jack of all trades, assisting where needed during the more challenging seasons and year-round providing my retail staff with the resources, tools, and training to be successful. I like motivating my peers and craft employees to strive for better performance,” he said.

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