When Hurricane Irma ripped through the Florida Keys in 2017, most people were trying to get out. Shaneka Small was just arriving to start a new job.
“I was a mail carrier when I first got here,” she said. “I got hired like four days prior to the huge hurricane and then walked into the chaos. Things like street signs were destroyed, so I had to actually learn where everything was. It was pretty crazy.”
What began as a temporary position as a city carrier assistant evolved into a lifelong career. After several years as a regular carrier, Small’s reliability led her into leadership as a “free supervisor,” which was a role she described as being the person the USPS depends on to step in the moment a gap appears. As of April 2025, she serves as the postmaster for the Marathon area, overseeing four critical locations: Marathon, Marathon Shores, Key Colony Beach and Long Key.
A postmaster functions as the CEO of a local post office. While part of a federal system, they operate as on-site general managers. Small is responsible for the daily processing of thousands of items, managing the operational budget and ensuring that her facility meets strict safety and financial standards.
For Small, the job begins long before she reaches the island. Living in Homestead, she leads with a perspective shaped by her own daily commute, making her acutely aware of the toll the drive takes on her team’s work-life balance.
“I drive this route every day,” she said, “and I don’t want to see my people struggle. They have families to get back to, just like I do.”
Staffing remains her primary hurdle. The high cost of living in the Keys means many employees must commute from Miami or Homestead.
“A lot of people don’t live around here, so it’s hard to get people to come to work,” Small explained. “It becomes a challenge after a while, and then they have to quit.”
Beyond personnel, Small must navigate the literal growth of the city. As Marathon expands, she must meticulously update federal systems to ensure new construction is recognized for delivery.
“Marathon is a building city, so I am constantly getting things updated so they can start to build delivery,” she said. “Sometimes the paperwork is not right, so I can’t do it, which is challenging.”
Then there is the sheer volume of mail. In the isolated Keys, online shopping isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. Small views the mountain of Amazon boxes not as a burden, but as a vital service.
“People need what they need, I get it, and we can’t get everything from here,” she said. “Sometimes we just have to put boxes on the office floor and sort through them. It is what it is, but we get everything out in a timely manner and I’m proud of that.”
Inside the Marathon branch, the operation is a carefully choreographed race against the clock. Trucks arrive at 5 a.m., and Small ensures everything is processed and sent out the same day. She isn’t the kind of postmaster who stays behind a desk, either. If the floor is overwhelmed, she’s out there moving mail.
“I’ll get out there and I’ll help my people out with anything, because that’s just my job,” she said.
The position does have its lighter moments, particularly with the unique items that pass through the island mail. From live chickens and fish to “souvenirs” like decorated coconuts and dried leaves sent by tourists, Small has seen the full spectrum of the Keys’ eccentricity.
Reflecting on her promotion, Small believes she found the role at exactly the right time. From a brand-new carrier arriving in the wake of a hurricane to the executive responsible for four island communities, she’s become an essential part of Marathon’s daily life, ensuring that, no matter the volume, the mail always goes out.
