Illustrator Barry Artiz Nominated for 'Federal Employee of the Year' Award

Barry Artiz has been nominated in the South Florida Federal Executive Board's "Federal Employee of the Year" Awards Program.  He is competing among other federal employees nominated in the Technical category. Best wishes, Barry!

Barry Artiz tells people where to go and what to do withoututtering a word.  As USPS Illustrator/GraphicsArtist, this 22-year veteran created 3,000 informational and directional signsin 2011.  Whether it’s “Next, Please”directing customers to the retail counter, “Employee of the Month” recognizinga worker for a job well done, or “Stall 42” instructing employees where todispatch the mail, his artistic talents are displayed at 190 Post Offices andprocessing plants from Fort Pierce to Key West. In addition to creating signage, overall graphic arts assignmentstotaled 30,857 pieces in Fiscal Year 2011. 

Visit any South Florida Post Office andyou’ll find yourself singing the popular 1970s tune from the Five ManElectrical Band.  “Signs, signs,everywhere a sign, blocking up the scenery, breaking my mind.  Do this, don’t do that.  Can’t you read the sign?”  Three feet by four feet.  Vinyl, magnetic, reflective.  Single and double sided.  With and without grommets.  Black and white or multi-colored.  Artiz has a message for every occasion, everyreason, every season … and he delivers it all with sensitivity, creativity, andimagination that is second to none. 

Graphic design is the art andprocess of combining text and graphics that communicate an effective andefficient message with the design of text, logos, graphics, newsletters,brochures, posters, photos, images, signs, or any other kind of visualcommunication.  Artiz does all this andmore.  Booklets, brochures, businesscards, flyers.  Catalogs, clip artdesigns, decals.  Directional signage, maps,floor plans.  Artiz is a one-man printshop. 

Thanks to Artiz you’ll know the person sitting next to youat the executive leadership meeting.  Hecreates the tent cards and the name tags. And while you’re reviewing those statistics and mulling over operatingplans, you’ll thank him as your eyes drift to a colorful stamp enlargement onthe wall.  Or you’ll focus your eyes onthe framed artwork of the latest stamp issues courtesy of Artiz.

If you’re an employee learning the streets in a newterritory, you’ll thank him for the matrix that helps you sort the mail toaddresses within the ZIP Code.  Andyou’ll remember him when you receive the district newsletter at your home.  Artiz creates all graphics and layout designs,and photographs employees highlighted in each monthly issue.   

In addition to his regular workload, Artiz willingly acceptsspecial assignments.  In May 2011, theU.S. Postal Inspection Service, the law enforcement arm of the U.S. PostalService, contacted Artiz to create reward posters in English, Spanish andCreole in hopes of capturing suspects in a letter carrier murder. 

On his own initiative, Artiz learnedto maintain and repair equipment, saving thousands of dollars for his employer in2011.  Disassembling print head units anddaily cleaning of equipment to factory standards has extended the lifeexpectancy beyond the average two years. 

Artiz is a very caring person whoreserves his “volunteer time” to help his family, friends, and neighbors ---whether it’s installing hurricane shutters, landscaping gardens, painting houses,running errands, or modernizing interior designs.