Lou Leading Lady Alisa Zanetti

Alisa Zanetti, Marketing Manager at the United States Postal Service (USPS), “wears several hats” at work but we love that she always looks super fab while presents the new stamps to the city and oversees 700 plus programs that include bulk mail / detached mail units for Zappos, Amazon.com, United Mail, L&D Mail Masters, etc. Looking your best can sometimes be a hassle but Alisa makes it seem so simple.

This fashionista was truly a Maxxinista as her first job was at TJ Maxx and still loves to shop there; who can blame her?! LBV can’t get enough of TJ Maxx! Alissa is a Lou Leading Lady as she leads our city with USPS and a Hero in Heels throughout her dedication to various nonprofit organizations based in Lou.

 

- Who inspires you professionally?

~~ Louisville– Sally Brown (Louisville’s own mover and shaker – a women before her time)

~~ As an Organization that inspires me professional – hands down- “Sister of Charity of Nazareth” from right here in Kentucky.  This catholic women’s organization is powerful and amazing. This campus has products leaders, authors, CEO, Philanthropists for 200 years. Many sisters hold voting positions on several boards, hospitals, founder of the women’s program at theUniversityofLouisville, founders ofPresentationHigh School, etc….   They are selfless.

~~ And the Postmaster General -  Pat Donahue. He is a trailblazing compassionate leader in the most challenging times the Postal Service has ever seen.

 

- If you had to describe yourself professionally in five words what would they be?

Disciplined, Process Driven, Organized, Change Agent, and Cheerleader.

 

- Finish the sentence about your career: I really LOVE…

Promoting the Philatelic side of our business with Stamp Unveilings. Many of our stamps support Philanthropies such as the Breast Cancer and Wild Life Conservation or reducing our foot print such as the Go Green Stamp series and history (Civil War, Black, Poets, Music, etc..).  It’ amazing how stamps can raise awareness for a cause.

 

- Finish the sentence: My mentors have been…

~~ My father Randy Thompson who was entrepreneur and owned a business. He who taught me to believe in my self and that if I wanted to be successful in life doesn’t expect  it to come free or easy.  I use to be embarrassed that I worked long hours and  paid every penny of my college. Looking back it’s molded me to be disciplined and determined.

~~ The first African American Female Executive that I worked for taught me to pick one indicator and excel in it to demonstrate leadership. I chose safety, volunteered to learn OSHA Industrial Training , served as a Safety Facility Coordinator and put processes in place that rated post office I was managing at the time with the  highest safety score in the state of Kentucky; 3 out of 5 years and the office had 135 employees.

 

- If you could pick an entrepreneur you best identify with who would it be?

Coco Chanel – Be Bold and Distinctive but keeping it classic so it never goes out of style.

 

- What are you philanthropic ties in Lou?

I am on the ACS committee for the Taste of the Grapevine. Chair of Zanetti Girls Annual Cookie Exchange for Blessings in a Backpack (2 years). Serving as a liaison between Metro United Wayand the Postal Service (2 years).  As the Marketing Mgr for US Postal Service coordinated  stamp “Unveiling’s” here in Louisville to raise awareness Breast Cancer and all proceeds of stamp sell went to the National Susan G. Komen Fund  (Did this with JGBCC),  and coordinated the Vanishing Species Stamp Unveiling with the Louisville Zoo; all proceeds of stamp sells went to the National Wildlife Foundation.

 

- Professional organizations:

GLOW (Greater Louisville Outstanding Women) and Co-Chair for Postal Customer Council (PCC) an organization for larger mailers/vendor/periodical/newspaper outlets. As well as a Sigma Kappa Alumni and University of Louisville Alumni.

 

- What is the best business advice you’ve ever heard or given?

A former manger told me your career is like a meal ticket and you need to get punched in every operation.  A background in Operations is your meat/potatoes,  the sides:  finance, retail, diversity programs, Human Resource, Project Management, Labor Relations and Media/Public Speaking,  a little dessert Event Planning, and don’t forget to develop a bench that can replace you.  That’s exactly what I did. In 2006 I was awarded a National Diversity Individual Leadership Award from Washington, DC.

 

- When you have spare time, which sounds like never, what do you like to do?

Train in the Gym to stay physical strong, and cook homemade Italian meals. (Growing up 1^st generation Italian I’ve learn to cook by taste so I don’t use receipts – Extra Virgin Olive Oil,  Fresh Garlic, & Onions (I call it the Trinity of Italian Cooking)

 

- Define your power outfit:

My Dark Gray Pin Stripped Fitted Suite with pencil skirt; I LOVE ANN TAYLOR! With a Red or Purple Silk Shirt and one strain of pearls. I also love wearing heels, but power is black paten heels.

 

- Advice to share with women:

“Diversify your skill set even if it places you outside of your comfort zone which may mean  lower level position in a different department , travel, or a different city. Trust me, it works! When the wave of opportunity comes your way your surf board is scratched, waxed, experienced with a few crashes along the way but you will be READY to CATCH THE WAVE of a life time.  Enjoy the ride.”

 

- Best recognition Alissa has ever received: 

“Priceless” a US FLAG that was flow over the US Capital by Congressman John Yarmuth.

 

 

Photographs sent to LBV by Alisa Zanetti.