New postmaster arrives in Albany

ALBANY — If you’ve been out and about in the Albany business community, you may have noticed the new Albany postmaster glad-handing local merchants and postal customers.

A nearly 15-year veteran of the U.S. Postal Service, Gene Lofton arrived in Albany from Brunswick, where he was officer in charge of the Brunswick postal system. Now he says he’s eager to make and keep things running smoothly in Albany for some 115 postal employees and those who use the service, while protecting the “security and sanctity of the mail.”

“Our No. 1 goal at the post office is to provide a premier service to our customers,” Lofton said. “And we don’t want them waiting in long lines.”

But Lofton says he doesn’t just hang around the main post office on South Slappey Boulevard. Instead, he heads out among his clients, specifically business clients like Smallcakes: A Cupcakery on Dawson Road, where he spent a little time last week working with the management.

Now Smallcakes and other local businesses can implement the USPS “Every Door Direct Mail” without the high cost of bulk mailings.

“It’s fast, and the customer gets to choose their areas instead of going to bulk mail accounts,” Lofton said. “We can even help them with area selection if they like.”

Lofton, 44, envisions a secure future for the Postal Service, he said, working hand-in-hand with email and computer services to provide efficient and unique products and services.

Lofton graduated Ashford online University in Iowa with a degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.