Dave Renke has been Cincinnati’s Lettershop Manager for nine years, is an Air Force Veteran, and has been involved with everything from Mentoring Plus to water polo. United Mail employees have all sort of interesting stories, and Dave is no different. Read on for more about him.

We heard through the grapevine you are a mentor. Where and how long have you been involved in that?

I’ve been with Mentoring Plus for almost two years.

Mentoring Plus is a program in the Northern Kentucky community that consists of life skills coaching and academic counseling. It also is coupled with spiritual guidance for teens and their families who face many life challenges. These challenges can range anywhere from mental illness, severe poverty, substance abuse and even hopelessness.

How did you stumble across Mentoring Plus?

I did some research on the internet, saw this one, and knew that this was what I wanted to do.

What made you want to get involved in such an intense program?

I don’t know exactly. I’ve wanted to do something like this for quite a while but the time just wasn’t right.

There’s something very special about someone who can make a difference in someone’s life. Out of all the kids you have mentored, do you feel they have made an impact on you? If so how?

The way the program is structured you are assigned one kid that you mentor throughout. You agree as a mentor to one year commitment. Probably the biggest “impact” is simply to see firsthand how well most of us had it growing up. These kids for the most part have no support at home or adult guidance for any positive reinforcement.

What did you do before you worked here?

Flew helicopters in the Air Force for ten years, search and rescue. Then had several not-so-interesting jobs.

If you could pick one song that best describes you, what would it be?

I don’t know. Most of the songs I like don’t have names. I have more than 2,000 songs (mostly from the 70’s) in my iTunes library and I can’t think of one that “describes me.”

What is your favorite hobby or activity you do? Working at United Mail does not count.

I play chess and have been meditating regularly for more than five years. Meditating isn’t much of an activity since you sit motionless for 30 minutes so that could be classified as a hobby. I also like to read and on weekends it’s all about water polo!

Big Mac or Big Boy?

Whopper Jr. w cheese.

Favorite time of the day?

3:15pm to 4pm.

Favorite all time movie and why.

Duck Soup because it’s hilarious.

Your favorite place to vacation to?

New York City