Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

April 30, 2008, Front Page    

Transcribed by Dolores Mohr Kenyon.

Neillsville officer in charge already enjoying job and community

By Peter Spicer

Officer-in-charge Lisa Schilling poses next to a safe at the U. S. Post Office at Neillsville.

Since arriving at the Neillsville post office in January, Schilling made a change to the post office window -

it remains open during noon hours.  (Photo by Peter Spicer/Clark County Press)

Since taking on her new role as Neillsville officer in charge at the United States Post Office at Neillsville this past January, Lisa Schilling is already enjoying the community and making positive changes at the post office.

Schilling took the postal exam as an 18-year-old after a friend encouraged her to do so.  Schilling forgot about the exam and pursued a nursing degree at UW-Marshfield/Wood County.

Schilling decided she didn’t want to be a nurse.  Three years after taking the postal exam, Schilling accepted a position as a part-time clerk at the Auburndale Post Office.

In 1995, Schilling transferred to Marshfield and took on more responsibility as a fill-in supervisor.

Schilling got her first experience as an officer in charge in 2000 at Ringo’s post office.  The following year, she received her first postmaster position at Chili, where she worked until 2006. 

As a Marshfield resident, Schilling is used to commuting to her job; she traveled to a Milwaukee post office, while working at Chili, to install a delivery computer program.  She stayed at a Milwaukee motel during the week.

Schilling is now the Auburndale postmaster and office-in-charge at Neillsville.  She supervises, fills out reports, orders supplies and conducts other behind-the-scenes work at Neillsville’s post office.

Although Schilling’s duties are not without stress and pressure, she never misses an opportunity to joke with fellow employees.

Schilling has a sense of humor about the perception postal employees often become unstable because of the large amounts of mail they must deal with.  She clarified that the postal employees do not rank in the top 100 jobs where employees "lose it," although Schilling admits to using the phrase "going postal" on someone.

Schilling’s friendly co-workers and community members are the reason she has no intention of switching careers.

"I love this position," said Schilling.  "I would not work anywhere else."

Since taking the job at Neillsville, Schilling already made the post office more user-friendly by keeping the post office window open during the noon hour.

Schilling said not to worry - no postal employees lost their lunch break because of the change.