Farris named Mail Manager of the Year
Chris Pepple |
Ronnie Farris (’79), manager for The Connection, was recently named 2008 Mail Manager of the Year by the College and University Mail Services Association (CUMSA). The award is given to an individual who contributes to CUMSA in an exemplary manner, contributes to their institution’s mail services department, and continually inspires all around them.
Farris, a political science and sociology major, began working with Lipscomb in 1979. He has seen the campus post office go through many moves and remodeling projects. The latest project moved Farris and his staff to a room in the Student Activity Center for almost eight months. They patiently awaited the opening of the newly remodeled Bennett Campus Center which houses The Connection, Lipscomb’s postal center.
The Connection offers notary services, passport photo services, and copying services as well as numerous mailing and shipping options. The Connection also has the nations’ first campus mailing kiosk which offers customers access to mailing services after normal postal hours. The campus post office currently provides service to 550 faculty and staff and around 2500 students. Farris’ staff includes Karen Tidwell, a fulltime employee, and twelve student workers. CUMSA, the organization which honored Farris with his award at their 2008 annual conference held in Rome, Ga., was created to establish standards and foster professionalism for campus mail personnel.
“I was honored to be able to congratulate Ronnie on this award. For 29 years he has represented Lipscomb University in such a positive way among his peers,” said Matt Tiller, director of human resources.
“I was honored and humbled to receive the 2008 CUMSA Mail Manager of the Year award. Needless to say, I was quite taken aback by this honor, but I am grateful. Even though my name is engraved, the greater portion of this recognition belongs to those I work with because they have made this recognition possible, plus others in our industry recognize Lipscomb University as a leader in serving our community. This award is a constant reminder to me of the quality and service our postal operation here at The Connection provides,” said Farris, who has served this past year as the treasurer of CUMSA and has been elected to serve a new two-year term in that position. Farris’ wife Susan serves as the director of health services at Lipscomb. His daughter Lauren is a 2006 Lipscomb graduate, and his son Jonathan is a junior at Lipscomb.