From Mail Carrier to Membership Leader: Earl Husbands on Growing UPMA

A membership organization grows when people feel seen, supported, and invited to contribute.
In this episode of ScaleCraft, The Joe Jaap Podcast, Joe Jaap talks with Earl Husbands, National Membership Director for the United Postmasters and Managers of America (UPMA). Earl spent 20 years as a mail carrier before a mentor helped him see a path into leadership. Now he is working to help other postal employees find that same opportunity.
Earl shares how he traveled across Illinois to meet members face to face, built teams to support them locally, and carried those lessons into a national role. He also reflects on what his years in consumer affairs taught him about listening to customers, taking responsibility, and improving service.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
Why admitting you don’t know an answer can make you a stronger leader
How one mentor changed the direction of Earl’s career
Why face-to-face conversations remain central to membership growth
How UPMA helps aspiring postal leaders develop their skills
Why representation works best with honesty and accountability
What Earl hopes stronger postal leadership will mean for members and the public
Growth matters to Earl because of what it makes possible: more people helping one another, more capable leaders, and better service.
Subscribe to The Joe Jaap Podcast for more conversations about building and scaling organizations.
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