USPS Delivers a New Postmaster to Swarthmore

Swarthmore postal worker Brandi Benjamin and Postmaster Joel Siwik in the lobby of the Swarthmore P.O.

Last month, Joel Siwik took over as Swarthmore’s Postmaster, replacing acting Postmaster Michael Keller (who took Siwik’s place as Postmaster in Chester). Appropriately for a town where most mail is delivered by letter carriers on foot, Siwik comes from a background as a postman.

“I actually started off as a letter carrier in West Chester, and I did that off and on for 10 years there, though I was also working as acting supervisor. We had a baby on the way when I took the supervisor job there, so I transferred to Chester, which is much closer to home in Prospect Park.

Siwik, a native of the Pottstown area, had begun college but didn’t finish before becoming a letter carrier. When he did decide to continue his studies, he said, going to classes didn’t jibe with his work schedule, so he completed his four year degree online through the University of Phoenix.

Siwik was new in Swarthmore when three postal carriers were recognized as million milers in June. He was impressed: “With my background, I have an appreciation for what these  guys have done — even more so because it was all on walking routes, with all the challenges that can involve.

“I always liked being a carrier, being outdoors and getting to know customers. It also invokes a sense of community — it’s not just a job, and you’re not just a mail carrier. You’re the person who brings people important things.

In addition to supervising the Swarthmore Post Office’s employees, Siwik is interested in outreach and making sure the residents are aware of the services and competitive advantages the Postal Service offers. “We’re here to serve the community in which we work.”