Ted Banks came on at the Lake Orion Post Office as the interim postmaster after Gary Richardson retired a year ago, and liked it so much that he has become a permanent replacement.
‘I started with the post office as a letter carrier in Pontiac in 1981,? said Banks. ‘I needed a job while I was going to college.?
Banks earned a Bachelor’s Degree in business and a Master’s Degree in public administration at Central Michigan University.
He said some ‘exciting management opportunities,? became available, so he took a job as Postmaster at the Southfield office.
‘I thought it would be a good opportunity to apply the skills I was learning in school,? Banks said. ‘I felt the way I managed was right for the post office.?
Banks stayed at Southfield for three years, and was Rochester’s Postmaster for two years before coming to Lake Orion.
Banks grew up in Waterford, and now lives in Sterling Heights with his wife, Vicky, and their son Pierce, 7. Banks has three grown children who no longer live at home: Son Matt, 22; son Drew, 21, who is in the 82nd Airborne; and daughter Marissa, 20, a senior at Grand Valley State University.
Banks said he enjoys working in Lake Orion, and said he believes his staff there is of the highest quality.
‘It’s a great group,? he said. ‘I think it’s a wonderful office.?
Banks said his goal has always been to improve service for the customer, and remove any negative perceptions they might have of the post office.
‘I’d really like to know if they’ve had a bad experience. I’d like to fix that,? he said. ‘I want people to really respect the job we do for them…It’s all about service to the customer.?
Banks has been getting to know the community, and recently spoke to third-graders at Stadium Elementary School.
‘I was invited by a student, and it was a wonderful experience,? he said. ‘I like doing those types of things.?
Banks also gave a tour to first-graders from Webber Elementary, and had them create their own ‘stamps,? which he has displayed in Lake Orion Post Office.
‘It gives them and their parents and teachers a better impression,? he said. ‘I think every business should be a good citizen to the community.?
Banks said he has found customers from Lake Orion to be very ‘nice and personable.?
‘I talk to a lot of small business owners,? he said. ‘I try to be in the lobby the last 15 minutes of the day.?
When Banks isn’t at the Lake Orion office, he spends his free time in the spring and summer playing vintage baseball with the Sterling Uptons, who play baseball as it was played in 1860.
‘I’ve been doing that for four years,? he said. ‘I’m a big baseball fan. I like to attend the Tiger games.?
Banks also coaches his son’s baseball teams.
‘It’s a lot of fun to work with the kids,? he said.