Front Service Clerk John J. Perry
Store #1297, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
I retired several years ago from my full time job as a software developer. I decided to indulge my lifelong appetite for foreign travel, but with a twist. I wanted to combine the travel with learning, especially of a new language. I developed a plan to start in Central America visiting countries where I could enroll in Spanish language schools and live with local families. I spent nearly two years in Guatemala and Costa Rica — living, studying and, of course, grocery shopping.
Grocery shopping in foreign countries can be challenging from the standpoint not only of language but also food choices, varieties and availability. For example, it was nearly impossible to find pretzel snacks and my preferred breakfast cereal where I lived in La Antigua, Guatemala. I was always grateful whenever I found a friendly clerk who would take the time to help me navigate the aisles as I hunted for personal care items.
I continued my foreign travel and living experiences into Argentina, then Spain, France and other European countries over the next years. The challenges continued including dealing with various currencies at the checkout counter. What a relief when a patient clerk would help me sort out my Euro coins.
I’m now back in the USA living in Fort Lauderdale and working at the Galleria Publix. Since we are located near the beach and close by foreign tourist destination points we have customers from all over the world. Many speak English and many do not. Our customers experience much of the same difficulty I did during my travels. I know how important it is to show a friendly, patient and helpful attitude to foreign customers, because I’ve been there.
As a member of the front end service team at Publix, I feel encouraged to make all of our customers feel welcome and comfortable in our store by providing premier customer service. For me, that makes Publix a great place to work.
Front Service Clerk Dean Light
Store #659, Orlando, Florida
I started working for Publix in February 2014. When I started working, I was shy, and I didn’t know any associates or customers at the store. My customer service manager, Dionne, taught me how to talk to people and to overcome my shyness.
I know people who went to my special needs school who now also work here, and I have made new friends who work in different areas of the store. I have now been there two years and know a lot of associates and customers and enjoy talking with them.
This is my first Publix that I ever worked at and I want to continue working at Publix until I retire. I love the people who work at the College Park Publix — they are like a family to me. This is why I think Publix is a great place to work!
Front Service Clerk Shaun Saulsberry
Store #1066, Jacksonville, Florida
An Ideal Place to Work
When I was offered the golden opportunity for an interview at Publix, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had been in search of new employment for a time, and wasn’t sure if I could find it in the frame in which I’d desired, or in fact, needed. I had numerous financial obligations to fulfill and was really hoping for the chance to work for a great, new organization. When I was contacted for an interview, I recalled that I had completed an application at one of the local grocery stores. I always put my all into filling out an application because it is always in my best interest to market myself as the best employee for the task I’m applying for, believing wholeheartedly that I am. I remember how excited I was during the interview process. The store supervisors did their best to ensure that I was comfortable, and that I didn’t feel intimidated by the selection process. In fact, I felt particularly at ease with one of them, as she made constant eye contact, and smiled almost constantly as to ensure that this particular Publix was a great place to work for.
When I was hired, I instantly discovered that she was right.
Let me establish foremost that I have only been with the company for several months. I am still considered a new face by shoppers, as they often ask ‘’Are you new?’’. This rather frequently occurs when I am helping carry their groceries out to their car for them, and they realize that they don’t recognize me. This being said, it indicates that the following perspective is one that is fresh, one of the most critical periods in evaluating a new environment.
The moment I began to work here at my store, I found that the warmth and congeniality that was first expressed, and at first hinted at by those who had hired me, was prevalent throughout my entire team, from those of the most entry level positions, to any of the given higher ups. Every department holds a friendly face that is team oriented and that has been willing to help me in my journey to integrate myself amongst the company.
Though it’s not merely my co-workers that I find a joy to work with, but the customers themselves who we serve every day. Since day one I have found most of the people that I have served in my mission to be a model Publix employee, to be generous and reasonable in helping me to assist them. Now granted, part of our entire ideology as students of the late and great Mr. George Jenkins, is to act as complete and humble servants to those who shop at Publix. That in mind, I never find any complaint too great to fulfill, and part of this strength comes from the backing of team coordinators, as well as those I work closely alongside in entry level.
Here at Publix I feel that I am a part of something great, just as I had aspired to be in the time that I spent searching for that something great. At Publix I don’t feel that I am merely working within the ranks of a grocery store — this is something I have felt at previous places I’ve worked for, and I believe that much of this is attributed to poor social environments of such places. When a team shows positive spirits, it is the result of good management — something that I was never sure of at other places I have been, but that I have identified as marquee here at Publix.
The ability to be all that you can be is present, I think, within the walls of any company. But everyone has to do their part to ensure not only their own success, but the success of the entire regime. A team has to be viewed from the perspective of being cogs in a machine, albeit a human machine, one that carries the responsibilities to an extent, as well as provides overall support for the other part. One aspect cannot operate with any less efficiency than the other. For this to be possible, there must be appointed a terrific head, or series of leaders who do more than merely encourage success, but instill it.
This is what I believe to have discovered at my Publix store. And it is precisely why I go to work every day.
Assistant Customer Service Manager Tori Wansley
Store #1267, Sarasota, Florida
A quilt… pieces of fabric that represent family, friends, history and comfort. Small town values that are cherished and passed down from generation to generation. When sewn together each piece is given strength.
I felt a quilt was the perfect way to symbolize what Publix stands for and how our associates come together to build a sturdy foundation. I also wanted to include all the associates in the project, so I spoke with them about why they love to work for Publix. I then wrote the words on the quilt pieces.
If someone wanted to know why they should work for Publix, I feel our quilt would give them a great representation of our company.
- Good reputation
- Premier service
- Community
- Diversity
- Great customers
- Benefits
- Ownership
- Opportunities
- Training
- Small town values
- Eco-friendly
- Volunteering
- Fun work place
- Friendships
- Free sub vouchers
- Respect
- Pride
- Family
Event Planner Brenda Boyd
Store #409, Sarasota, Florida
Long ago, in a galaxy far, far away there was a young girl … Ok not so long ago, right here in Sarasota, a not so young woman (but really young at heart) took a chance on a company that seemed like a temporary fix to unemployment. She thought she was destined for one of those really high paying sales jobs, you know the kind — six digit salaries, bonus trips to exotic locations. She thought that would be her dream job. After all, she had just been laid off from one of those positions that was a stepping stone to the destined dream.
Funny how life works out. The new temporary job had a way of changing her view of destiny. After all, it had always been a great place to shop. Who knew that it was also a great place to work?
Yes, that is how I looked at things when Tony Ganster took a chance on hiring a recently laid-off sales rep to work at store #409 as a customer service staff member. Like so many before me, I thought of my position with Publix as a temporary fix to my unemployment problem. Then, I started to work here. Every day I felt more and more like I had come home to my dream job. My co-workers were welcoming and helpful. They seemed to really like what they were doing. The management staff was supportive and helpful. The customers were great!
When Tony moved to another store, there was sadness because he had been here for so long. There was uncertainty about the new manager — that was until Willie McLaughlin walked in the door and showed us that things at 409 were going to be just fine. Any you know what? They were. The associates were happy. The customers were happy. Life was great! I was challenged every day to make “Where Shopping Is a Pleasure” more than just a marketing tagline for my fellow associates and our customers.
As we have learned in all the stories we have read, in every happy tale there is something that makes the story more interesting, a conflict of one kind or another that builds character, or shows character. For my story, the conflict came as a medical issue, a diagnosis of cancer. UGH! Never thought that word would be applied to me, let me tell you! The scary surgery went without any complications and I went back to work as soon as I could, I missed my co-workers and customers. All was great until the second week of chemo made me so sick I couldn’t work a full shift for a few weeks.
Everyone I worked with helped me, by making me feel welcome when I was in the store, by taking an extra shift if I had to leave early and by joining me in making jokes about my lack of hair (you guessed it, I sported the best bald head in the store!). The customers were just as amazing and supportive.
As I began to feel better I was able to take on extra tasks like store support (loved the March of Dimes campaign in 2013), writing the store newsletter gave me an opportunity to share my enthusiasm for the company with my co-workers, thanking all associates for a successful United Way campaign; hosting our Bring Your Child To Work day. When the opportunity for culture ambassador came open and my management team suggested I try out for it, I was thrilled! It meant so much to me that they believed in me. Then, when I was chosen to be one of the ambassadors, I was so excited to be able to help new associates find their way into this great family we call Publix.
I had the pleasure of assisting our customers as a customer service staff member, but when an opportunity opened in our store for the grocery scan/price clerk, I asked to give that a try. My management team was extremely supportive during my transition to another department. Whew! Talk about an adventure! I learned so much about my store and how it works. What an eye opener and a great new challenge! Then one day, my department manager tells me I would be great in a new prospect coming to the store. Curiosity peeked, I took the bait and asked what was coming. You are now reading the story of a not so young woman using her extensive sales and customer service skills as one of the new all occasion event planners at store #409.
Not everyone finds their niche at Publix, which is kind of sad when you give any thought to the sheer number of career options that are available here. One of the things I love to tell our new hires is that no matter what you want to do for a living, Publix probably has an opportunity for you, whether it is in a store, warehouse, manufacturing facility or corporate office. How do I know this? Because, long ago in a galaxy far far away…
Deli Clerk Carolyn Josephine Rybacki Suer
Store #78, Sebring, Florida
Publix is a great place to work because of the friendships you make and the fun you can have while working. These pics are of our last day together at store #78 in Sebring, Florida. Our store closed for renovations and we all ended up somewhere else and separated. I still check in with my old manager, Marcy. I miss hearing about Alyssa’s and Haley’s weekend adventures. Josh’s tongue in cheek comments always got me to laugh. One of these days I’ll pop into Danny’s new store to say hi.
Friends are the reason Publix is a great place to work.
