Mail & Distribution manager starts job

by Daniel J. Fitzgibbons, Chronicle staff

Charles Apicella (Stan Sherer photo)

t's all in the delivery for Mail and Distribution Services, which have been united under new manager Charles Apicella.

     The recently consolidated unit is expected to work closely with other Office 2 Office departments to provide more "in time" service to the campus community, according to Apicella, who started his new post on Dec. 29.

     For the past nine years, Apicella was circulation director at The Recorder in Greenfield, where he was responsible for marketing and distribution of the daily newspaper. He previously held similar posts at newspapers in Connecticut and upstate New York.
With 22 staff, Mail and Distribution Services "is the smallest operation I've ever worked for," says Apicella, who managed 18 employees and 40 drivers at The Recorder.

     Since his arrival, he's been getting up to speed on the organization of the campus and its various protocols and operations. He's also been getting to know his staff in Goodell, where his own office is located, and the Campus Distribution Services employees based at Physical Plant.

     The pace on campus is also unlike the "deadline-based environment" of a newspaper, Apicella said. But while the rhythm of his new workplace is different, the tasks handled by his departments are surprising. "What has amazed me is the amount of work to be done," he said.

     Another surprise, he said, is the customer-oriented focus emphasized by his supervisor, Sam Welson, senior manager for Office 2 Office. That concept jives with Apicella's own commitment to his clients. "Customer service is a priority," he said. "I'm committed to improving service and making changes designed to strengthen the department with the goal of contributing to the campus community."

     According to Welson, the similar missions of Mail Services and Distribution Services made them ideal candidates for consolidation. "There are a number of overlapping managerial functions and services provided within mail and distribution, and it is sometimes difficult to determine where one service ends and the next begins," he said.

     While no major operational changes are anticipated under the merger, said Welson,

     "Combining the areas under one manager allows that person to have a wider focus, thereby providing improved services in both areas with fewer redundancies."

     For his part, Apicella said he's ready to delve into the details of his new job. "I want to give my staff the tools and resources they need to do their job and then get out of their way," he said. "I stand by my folks 110 percent. In return I expect 100 percent back from them."