Erik began his Publix career in 1995 as an industrial engineer in manufacturing. In 1997, he moved to strategy support as a strategy team leader. Erik transferred to information systems in 1999 where he worked as a business IT manager and held several other positions before he was promoted to his current role in 2017.

What are you responsible for in your current role?

Our delivery and curbside businesses as well as our website and mobile app

What’s your advice to someone just starting their Publix career?

My advice is two-fold: Continuously increase your value by learning everything about your job and Publix, and focus on things that deliver true value to Publix and to our customers.

What did you want to be when you were younger?

An NFL football player

What do you think makes Publix a great place to work?

There are many reasons why Publix is such a great company. We do so many things incredibly well that most companies only talk about. I love all the opportunities at Publix. There is never a shortage of interesting work or challenging problems to solve.

What’s something about you that people may be surprised to learn?

I love helping my kids with their homework.

What’s your personal or professional motto?

You can’t improve what you don’t measure. I certainly didn’t come up with this one.

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What’s your favorite Publix product?

Publix Bakery Mango Key Lime Pie

What’s your proudest moment?

I don’t know of one specific moment. I feel proud when I am part of something that makes Publix better or when I see my kids succeed.

What’s one thing on your bucket list?

I haven’t made my bucket list yet.

What toppings do you like on your pizza?

Almost anything

What are you listening to right now?

I am taking a course on economic history

Where were you born?

Cincinnati, Ohio

What’s your favorite movie?

“A Few Good Men”

What’s your favorite sports team?

Notre Dame Fighting Irish football

What do you like to do in your free time?

I like to read and listen to college lectures.

What’s your work philosophy?

I don’t know if it is a philosophy, but I learned early in my career there is always more to be done than there is available time. Figuring out how to prioritize the use of time for myself and my team is one of the most valuable things I can do.

What is your favorite book?

“Winning,” by Jack Welch

What is your favorite place to vacation?

Paris

What is your favorite Publix memory?

I don’t have a single memory to call out. Seeing our supply chain solution come to life was definitely a highlight.

What’s your favorite place you’ve ever lived?

Cincinnati, Ohio

What’s the farthest you’ve traveled?

Western Europe

What skills do you think have advanced your Publix career the most?

The 2 skills that have helped me advance the most are statistics and optimization. The field of statistics is all about understanding causation, and optimization is about getting the best outcome under constraints. No matter what I have been involved with at Publix, we are almost always trying to do one or both things.

What do you want to learn next?

How to best serve our customers through our website and mobile app. This is a continuous learning process.

If you could spend the day in someone else’s shoes, whose would they be?

I think it would be fascinating to see the world as the president of the United States.

What is the best career advice you received?

I have received so many great nuggets along the way. The one that stands out was on my first day at Publix. The general manager of the bakery plant said, “Just do great at everything you do.” It sounds trite, but it was a good nudge to remind me that doing really good work leads to good outcomes.