We Are DES: Meet John Miller
This is a part of our featured story series “We Are DES.” These stories will introduce you to an individual at DES and the work they do to help fulfill the DES mission — you’ll also learn some fun details about how they spend time outside of work.
Name: John Miller
Division: Business Resources Division (BRD)
Job title: Mail Operations Manager
What year did you start at DES? 1999
What year did you begin working for Washington state? 1999
In two sentences or less, describe what you do at DES.
I support the hard-working folks at Consolidated Mail Services (CMS) so they can do the real work.
How do you believe your role supports the DES mission of strengthening the business of government?
At CMS, we run like a small business. We do everything we can to keep our expenses down while providing fast reliable service to our customers. While we do many things — including improving processes, dealing with customer issues, purchasing equipment, maintaining our facility, executing contracts, and managing budgets — people are the most important factor in our success. I work with other CMS leaders to find the right people to join our ranks and do everything I can to support staff in whatever way I need to.
In what ways do you experience DES values in your everyday work? (respect; integrity; excellence; diversity, equity & inclusion)
We have a great team at CMS, and it makes me proud to be able to work with such hard-working people that who take pride in their work. I’ve worked at an entry level in sortation, distribution and administration, and have had leadership roles in the presort and insert sections. This experience helps me understand how difficult each job can be and the importance of treating everyone with respect and integrity.
While recognizing our differences is import, I don’t believe in focusing on them. I believe in building empathy towards each other by focusing on all the things that unite us, which are far more numerous than the things that set us apart.
What did you do before working at DES?
I worked numerous construction jobs, including building rock bulkheads on the Puget Sound.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I like to hang out with family and friends, exercise at the gym and landscaping. I really like spending time with my teenage kids, Jack and Addy. I also dabble in film making and recently produced and directed a feature that won Best Action Film at the Seattle Film Festival .
What is a fun fact about you?
I have a huge collection of action figures.
