NAPS Chat

NAPS President Ivan Butts, joins Bob to discuss the late-breaking postal news that includes the USPS' hiring of a restructuring and "turnaround" consultant and the nomination of three new individuals to the Postal Board of Governors. In addition, Ivan and Bob talk about the upcoming NAPS legislative conference in Washington and the recent Congressional Postal Caucus round table, at which Ivan participated. Ivan also recounts his legacy as NAPS President, highlighting his success in securing a 20% increase in the median pay for EAS level postal employees and the soon-to-be operational NAPS Training Academy.  

Snailworks President Dave Lewis, joins Bob to discuss postal performance, mail tracking and the effectiveness of direct mail. Snailworks is a Maryland-based company that assists corporations, charitable organizations and political entities monitor mail performance, calibrate mailing campaigns and plan direct marketing to effectively use the mail. Among the issues David and Bob discuss are the differences, if any, between the USPS' intelligent mail program and Snailworks' mail tracking, the effectiveness of direct mail, and the recently introduced committee-passed legislation to track vote by mail election ballots (H.R.7265). Bob also talks about some issues discussed at the February 5, 2026, USPS Board of Governors meeting. 

Government Accountability Office (GAO) Director of Physical Infrastructure David Marroni, joins Bob to discuss key policy decisions that Congress must make if the U.S. Postal Service is to be sustainable and continue to provide the essential services to which Americans are entitled and expect. Director Marroni, a 22-year veteran of the GAO, lays out key choices that Congressneeds to make and reviews recent GAO evaluations of the USPS. Among the issues David and Bob discuss are the USPS' universal service obligation and postal finances. Bob also summarizes a few congressional, administrative, and judicial actions relating to the Postal Service. 

NAPS Executive Vice President Chuck Mulidore, joins Bob to discuss preparations underway for the 2026 NAPS legislative conference in our nation's capital (March 15 - 18) and the anticipated agenda. In addition, Chuck and Bob talk about recent changes relating to the meaning of the USPS "postmark" and the growing vacancies on the USPS Board of Governors. 

Former postal employee Steve Grant, author of the best-selling book, Mailman: My Wild Ride Delivering Mail in Appalachia and Finally Finding Home, joins Bob to discuss his book and share his views about the U.S. Postal Service. The book, published during this past summer by Simon & Schuster, recounts Steve’s personal experiences and reflections on working for the Postal Service and the customers he served. Steve and Bob also talk about the extraordinary outpouring of interest in the publication and how Steve’s narrative should inform America’s views about the Postal Service.

Angelo Cueto, Office of Personnel Management Program Manager of Operations and Program Services, joins Bob to discuss the Postal Service Health Benefits Program (PSHBP) Open Season (November 10- December 8). Angelo and Bob talk about navigating the complexity of the open season and how participants should make the best use of the open season resources.

Kevin Moss, editor of the Consumers' Checkbook Guide to PSHBP Plans, joins Bob to discuss strategies to choosing a health insurance plan during the Postal Service Health Benefits Program Open Season (November 10 - December 8). Kevin and Bob talk about how to maximize health coverage, premium increases and benefit changes. In addition, they explore how Medicare participants may exercise their health plan options. Also, Bob talks about 2026 Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) cost-of-living-adjustments.

Joy Sanzone and David Neu of the US Postal Service Office Of Inspector General (OIG) join Bob to discuss their new "White Paper" that explores the evolution of the USPS' retail network and how the network is adapting, or not adapting, to the the dynamic postal environment.  Joy, David and Bob talk about how the Postal Service's "universal service obligation" informs the postal retail footprint, whether the obligation needs to be more clearly defined and if there is something to learn from the experience of foreign postal authorities. In addition, Bob  references the upcoming Postal Service Health Benefits Program Open Season and the departure of Postal Regulatory Commission Chairman Michael Kubayanda from the agency. 

NAPS Secretary-Treasurer James (Jimmy) Warden joins Bob to discuss a variety of issues that impact supervisory and managerial level postal employees, as well as matters of interest to the broad USPS  community. In part, Jim and Bob talk about NAPS' aggressive lobbying to ensure a smooth 2025 Postal Service Health Benefits Program Open Season, and NAPS' continued congressional outreach to protect employee benefits and promote USPS success. In addition, Jim provides a brief update on postal supervisor, manager and postmaster "pay talks" and outlines how NAPS helps protect the due process rights of EAS-level postal employees.  

Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-IL) joins Bob to discuss the newly established bipartisan Congressional Postal Caucus. Reps. Budzinski and Jack Bergman (R-MI) co-chair the caucus. The congresswoman and Bob talk about why members of Congress felt it necessary to create the caucus. In addition, Rep. Budzinski and Bob explore the coalition's important mission, its advocacy on behalf of the Postal Service, universal service and postal stakeholders.