New Postmaster sworn in for Cathlamet P.O.

Douglas Heidland, acting as interim Postmaster since October 2024, has officially been appointed as the Postmaster of the Cathlamet Post Office. Cathlamet's Post Office was established on August 9, 1851 and previously located on Main street at the corner of the Cathlamet Hotel where Jabber Shack store is today. The first Postmaster of Cathlamet was James D. Birnie and Heidland is the 20th Postmaster appointed to one of the longest continuously operating post offices in the state of Washington.

Heidland expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity, saying, "I'm honored to assume the appointment of serving as Cathlamet's new Postmaster. Acting as the interim leader of this office for the last seven months I became enamored with the local community. It is a privilege to serve the businesses and residents of Cathlamet and Skamokawa."

After a career in engineering, executive leadership and program management for organizations like General Motors, Hewlett -Packard and Oregon Health & Science University, Heidland began his career with the United States Postal Service (USPS) as a Clerk in Woodland, WA. His path in the postal service has been marked by dedication to customer service and a commitment to safety, being appointed to Safety Captain in 2018. Drawing on his previous leadership experience, he volunteered to act as interim Postmaster in offices across the 985 and 986 areas, learning to lead in small and large stations in both City and Rural delivery environments.

Now, with that experience and a strong foundation in customer service, mail delivery, leadership and safety, Heidland steps into his new role with pride and optimism.

"After years of learning the Postal Service from the ground up and having served in an interim role in several offices, the staff and community here resonated with me. When the opportunity to serve as permanent Postmaster presented itself, I was proud to step up," Heidland shared. As postmaster, Heidland's priorities include improving the customer experience and promoting the value of USPS offerings.

Community members are encouraged to stop by the Cathlamet Post Office to meet Heidland, share feedback, or inquire about career opportunities within the Postal Service.

"I appreciate the opportunity to serve Cathlamet and Skamokawa. "I'm proud to be here and look forward to working together to keep our communities connected," Heidland said.