Susan LaChance was named vice president of Employee Development and Diversity in May 2005. She reports to the chief human resources officer and executive vice president and is responsible for employee and leadership development, succession planning, equal employment opportunity and diversity initiatives.

LaChance leads a department that is committed to creating a performance-based culture that enhances the ability of all individuals to achieve their maximum potential. Her group works collaboratively across organizational boundaries to provide training initiatives and implement strategies that offer employees the opportunity to contribute creative ideas, seek challenges and assume leadership roles.

Earlier, LaChance was the manager of Selection, Evaluation and Recognition at Postal Service Headquarters. She was responsible for national policy development and the related deployment of internal systems for employee recruitment, selection, internal placement and performance evaluation programs.

LaChance began her postal career as a part-time employee in 1974 while pursuing her undergraduate degree full time. For most of her career, she has engaged in specialized human resources services that include training, labor relations, and employment and placement. She has held various managerial and operational positions with the Postal Service at both the field and headquarters levels. She has been responsible for the national implementation of several key programs, including Pay for Performance, Voice of the Employee Survey and the deployment of new entry level selection criteria.

LaChance received the Postal Service's prestigious Postmaster General Award in 2004, as well as Vice President Awards in 2001, 2002 and 2004. She earned an undergraduate degree from Emmanuel College in Boston and an MA in organizational management at George Washington University.

LaChance holds the professional certification of Senior Professional in Human Resources and is a member of the Society of Human Resource Management.

March 2008