A Tamaqua native has been promoted to a top business position in Europe and credits her roots in Tamaqua for helping her to achieve success.

United Parcel Service, Inc. announced Thursday that Tamaqua native Cindy Miller will step into the position of president of UPS Europe.Miller will assume her new duties on April 30, according to the Atlanta-based package shipping company.Miller grew up on East Broad Street and is daughter of the late Howard "Howie" and Donna Miller."Growing up in Tamaqua was a great beginning for me and I'm still very excited when I get to go back to see my Gram who is 91-years old," says Miller, "and my brother and his family, as well as other family members and dear friends."Miller is currently president of UPS United Kingdom, Ireland and Nordics and has been with UPS for 24 years.She has held a variety of senior leadership positions in the U.S. and Europe and recently she led UPS efforts to manage the logistics and delivery of more than 30 million items during the 2012 London Olympic Games.She joined UPS as a package delivery driver in Allentown in 1988 and went on to hold a variety of operational and managerial positions in Philadelphia and New York.In October 2000, Miller joined the corporate compliance department at the UPS corporate headquarters in Atlanta at a time when UPS moved into the freight forwarding sector. She quickly moved up the ladder. In December 2001, Miller was promoted to vice president of operations for the Northern Plains District in Omaha. A few years later, she accepted the role of vice president for the Metro Chicago territory.In April 2008, Miller was elevated to president of the South Europe and Africa district, responsible for small package operations throughout Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, the Balkans, the Middle East and Africa.In September 2010, Miller accepted the position as president of the UPS district serving the U.K., Ireland and Nordics. In this role she is responsible for overseeing all operations, strategy and business development in her district.She told TIMES NEWS reporter Andy Leibenguth that she feels well suited to her career."One of the most enjoyable parts of my days is going home with a sense of satisfaction. I've put in a hard day of work and taken care of my customers. We handle very important products that are crucial to people, such as medicine they need, to the most anticipated deliveries for consumers, such as holiday presents," said Miller. "Each one is a customer we can't let down and getting that taken care of is very satisfying."What I also enjoy is that UPS is so community driven. We spend a lot of time volunteering as a team and it helps us get to know our communities, whether in U.S. or in Europe."Miller is remembered locally as a basketball stand-out at Tamaqua Area High School.In 1978, she played a key role when the Tamaqua Area High School girls basketball team captured a state title. Coached by Karen Sheets and featuring three 1,000-point scorers, the Tamaqua girls beat Brentwood 70-49 for the PIAA Class AA State Championship.Before graduating from Tamaqua High in 1980, Miller was named First Team All-State and finished her high school career with 2,155 points, a school record for both boys and girls basketball and one that stood for 27 years.It wasn't until 2007 that Miller's point total was eclipsed when Tamaqua scoring sensation Erika Barron tallied 2,317 points in her high school career.Miller credits her Tamaqua upbringing for molding her into the person she's become."So many people have been a part of my success," she explained. "My mother and father have both passed, but I'm sure they've passed the word in heaven about my success. They have always been huge supporters of me and my whole family. And I'm still very proud of being a Tamaqua Blue Raider."In fact, Miller's soulmate also hails from Tamaqua."I met my partner of 22 years, Karen Deininger, in Tamaqua. She had two kids when we got together and they are now 26 and 22 years old. They have played a huge part in this success with their steadfast love and support through all the joys and challenges we have faced over the years," said Miller.She holds a degree in business/humanities from Penn State University.