Postmaster takes top spot in New Richmond

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Roger Kunz (left), supervisor at the River Falls Post Office, conducts the swearing in ceremony for new Postmaster Chris Kottke at the New Richmond Post Office May 10.

Talk about it

Surrounded by co-workers, mentors and friends, Chris Kottke was sworn in as New Richmond’s new postmaster on Thursday, May 10.

Kottke replaces previous postmaster Joe Bolder, who left due to health issues.

“Wow,” Kottke said once he was officially sworn in.

Kottke admitted that it has been a long road to achieving his goal of being a postmaster in western Wisconsin.

“I finally made it,” he told the crowd. “I’m glad about that.”

Roger Kunz, supervisor at the River Falls Post Office, was on hand last Thursday to conduct Kottke’s swearing in ceremony. Kunz had served as Kottke’s management trainer some time ago and wanted to share in the exciting day.

“He’s a quick learner,” Kunz said of Kottke. “He had a vision. He knew what he wanted.”

An Eagan, Minn. native, Kottke began his postal career as a letter carrier in St. Paul. He worked in the Hudson Post Office for three years, and served in the capacity of officer-in-charge there for a couple years.

He became officer-in-charge in New Richmond about a year ago. He was promoted to postmaster since then.

“This is a great community,” he said. “I’ve met a lot of great people, and I’m excited to get out and meet even more people.”

The father of two daughters (11 and 8 years old), Kottke said he plans to relocate to New Richmond sometime in the next couple years.

Kottke noted that he took in his first St. Patrick’s Day parade this past March and loved it. He said he wants to get more involved in the community in the future as New Richmond’s newest postmaster.

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