Coleen Hart
Associate Resources Support 2
Payroll
My wall outside my work area — showing support from my Publix payroll family as I go through chemo. My team has been a second family to me. I even get encouragement from those who have moved to other departments and some I’ve met here. I’ve been blessed to be able to continue working and happy to come to work. Thanks to my other family watching out for me!
Produce Clerk Sharon Eggert
Store #1356, Cleveland, Tennessee
When I worked in the warehouse and in accounting, I enjoyed the privilege of meeting Mr. George Jenkins. He always greeted you with a big smile and hand shake. Mr. Jenkins was very nice and it was a joy every time he visited.
Now, I love my Publix store! I enjoy working with great managers, associates, the produce team and all of the wonderful customers. Publix was exciting back [in 1980] and is very exciting today as we are growing and learning. We are seeing and being a part of Mr. George Jenkins’ vision, becoming the premier quality food retailer in the world.
I feel very proud and blessed to be a part of a great company that cares about family, our health, future and community. Publix is a great place to work! Also a great place to shop.
Deli Clerk Pat Christenson
#798, Bradenton, FL
I was a short-term re-hire since the year 2000, living outside the USA, and working twice a year for a few weeks each time until I moved back to Florida about a year ago. When Store Manager Darrell Jackson learned I was moving here for good, the first thing he said to me was: “You’ve got a job!” I am grateful for the opportunity to work at Publix. I am also enclosing this picture and the article I recently wrote, honoring my mother’s 100th birthday and showing how three generations of my family have worked at Publix since 1961!
Bakery Clerk Audrey Geraci
Store #397, Boynton Beach, Florida
I know there is always a friendly face when I go to work at the Publix Bakery.my co-worker, Fran is so nice. She is ready to help others with a smile she makes me feel happy as we do our work. Whether it’s slicing bread, stocking merchandise, making labels or serving customers Fran makes it a pleasure. I have learned many skills from her and appreciate her willingness to share her knowledge with me. It means a lot to have such a kind and considerate co-worker. We have become a great team. She has made a difference in my work at Publix. I wish her cookies and cupcakes!
Customer Service Manager Megan Matodobra and team
Store 415, Palm Harbor, Florida
As you walk through the doors at Publix 415, the atmosphere is inviting and clean.
The floors are shiny and they gleam. Taking care of customers is the only theme.
Register 9 has a familiar face, Rafaela saying “come in my line, I’ll check you out at a fast pace”
Larry carrying out groceries to cars, waving to regular customers from afar.
Since 92 Coral Landings Publix has been raising the bar.
What makes this store a great place to work is our team; ever changing- but always living out Mr. George’s dream.
With Tom and Kevin in the lead, our store will continue to grow and succeed.
Cashier Harley Marie Siena
Store #504, Holiday, Florida
This holiday season I thought a lot about what I’m thankful for. At first it was the usual family, friends and health. But then I really started thinking about the people that have touched my life over the past couple years, and how thankful I am for them. Most of these people are my coworkers. I currently work at Publix, and I couldn’t be any happier. I started working there when I was 16 and continued working here throughout my college career. When it came time to decide what to do after graduation, I decided to stay exactly where I was.
The people you meet at Publix are your family. Over the six years that I’ve worked at Publix I’ve met so many people that genuinely care about each other’s welfare. If you need advice, help, or even just a ride, there will be someone there who has your back.
When it was time to apply for college, I had to start thinking about what I wanted to major in. I was 17 and didn’t have any idea what I wanted to do with my life. I went through the lists of majors each school offered and decided to do more research with the ones I was interested in. I sent an email to Publix corporate and asked if there was any way I could speak to someone in the marketing department and ask them some questions about their job. Within one week, the head of the marketing department called and spoke to me for over half an hour. He explained the different jobs in the marketing department, what each one did, the classes I would have to take and why he loved working for Publix. It amazes me to this day that the head of the department took time out of his day to talk to a teenage girl about her college major. Because of him I knew that marketing was not what I wanted to end up doing in my life, but he did make my love for this company grow.
During my freshman year of college, I transferred to a Publix in Tallahassee so I could continue working. It was very hard to get to work because I didn’t have a car. The bus system in Tallahassee is unreliable and the hot, rainy, summer weather made walking unbearable. I started going to work by taxi to make sure I wasn’t late. After a week of working at my new store I was always able to find rides from co-workers. The employees at Publix not only go above and beyond for customers, but also for their co-workers.
Unfortunately, I became very homesick that year because I was working on the weekends and was not able to make it home very often. When I transferred back home for the summer, I expressed to my store manager at the time, Veronica Hedgecock, my hesitation of going back to school. She gave me another option. Instead of transferring, I could come home once a month and work at the store by my house. This allowed me to keep my job for the summers and during the holidays, while also giving me the opportunity to see my family every month.
During the summer before my senior year, I met our new assistant store manager, Patty Brown. Everyone at the store, employees and customers, love and respect her. She worked 50 hours a week as a manager, while taking classes at USF to further her education. She bags, cashiers, cleans up messes and gets carts, just as any other normal employee would do (the only difference is that she does it all in heels). Patty is a manager that always wants to help her employees grow. She wrote me recommendation letters and also has taken time to give me advice, even on her days off. I hope one day she accomplishes her dream of becoming CFO.
While on my quest to find a job after college, I had many interviews. In one of my interviews I asked if the company did any community service. The man interviewing me laughed and said that he worked 50 hours a week and didn’t have any time for community service. After hearing that I really appreciated the time my managers took to help out my community. On top of the 50 hours a week that they work, they spend some of their free time at multiple charity 5ks, soup kitchens, benefits and events such as United Way’s Day of Caring.
One of my customer service managers, Ginny Wojchowski, is always going above and beyond for other people. She created one of our field day events that brought together two districts and raised money for United Way. One day a lady came into the store with her child, crying because she couldn’t afford food. Out of her own pocket, Ginny gave her a gift card to Publix to help her get by. There is a ten year old boy that comes into my store at least once a day. He rides his beat up scooter and carries his groceries in his backpack. Ginny gave him one of her son’s old electrical scooters to make his trips easier. These are just a couple examples of how Ginny gives back to our community.
When I worked once a month during college, my customer service manager, Lisa Robison, always made sure that I had hours. When I told her I wanted to stay with Publix after graduation, she scheduled me to train in customer service. She always believed in me.
During the summer before my senior year of college, I still didn’t know what I wanted to do when I graduated. I was able to sit down with my district manager, Dawn Carn, and talk about my future with Publix. Just like it amazed me with the marketing manager, it amazed me that someone in charge of ten stores, would sit down and talk to me about my future.
This year, my managers asked me to create an event for Halloween. I spent many hours trying to make this event perfect for the children. On the day of the event, I ran into a couple difficulties. My store manager, Don Salm, could tell that I was stressing out, so he pulled me aside to talk. He gave me the best pep talk I’ve ever heard before. In the end, the event turned out amazing and the children had a lot of fun. He also has asked me to take on the responsibility of starting a newsletter for our store. With these extra responsibilities, my managers are giving me the opportunity to show my worth to Publix, and one day hopefully, getting full time and becoming a manager.
Even my current managers, Stephanie Stritt and Matt Keyser, that I haven’t known that long, have been amazing. When a job they thought I would be perfect for became available, they both sat me down to tell me about it. They gave me their opinions on it and the ups and downs of the job. Giving me the option to apply for this job meant a lot to me. They both have been pushing me to do my best and always giving me advice.
My current co-workers have also made me feel like I am a part of a big family. We plan birthday parties for each other, have become bridesmaids, best friends, and each other’s biggest supporters. Without them I don’t think I could get through the daily hiccups of working in retail.
Throughout my years at Publix, I’ve had many managers, and I’d like to think that when I become a manager one day, that I’ll take all their best qualities with me. I am very grateful to work for a company with so many caring people. It’s these people that make working and shopping at Publix a pleasure.
Cashier Cora Verporter
Store #781, Naples, Florida
I enjoy working at Publix for many reasons. The products are the greatest. They are the type I like for my own family. These items bring in the best of customers. The customers are polite and bring the best out in all of us. They love to converse and get to know us as we do them.
The staff consists of people of all ages from all walks of life. I am older and this is good therapy for me. In fact, just yesterday, a co-worker who had an operation came to visit us. You do not find this in other places.
When I moved to Tennessee, I knew no one except for my family. I was hired as a cashier at store #1238, Smyrna, Tennessee. When I decided to return, my manager, Steve Campbell hired me back. Again I say, this would not happen with many other companies.
I have many happy memories of Publix, such as, being Mrs. Claus, giving out samples of coffee with Gifford the dog, kid fests and cooking hot dogs for MDA.
I left Publix for four years, but with my previous time working for this company and now, it is a total of 14 years. I did not leave a job and return to a job, but I returned to Publix, the greatest place to work.
Customer Service Staff Myrianette M. DeVille
Store #781, Naples, Florida
You want to know why it’s a great place to work at Publix to me? I can only think of the simplest of reasons…the people. There’s nothing more that I love than being around people. I get to meet all kinds of characters and hear their stories. Not only associates, but customers as well. I laugh more at work because I am surrounded by people who are like me, who have a positive outlook on life.
I work with people who make my day and store the best to work at. I find myself in the mentorship of not only my managers and co-workers, but also the customers that come through those doors. The mentorship I receive isn’t only to further my career within the company, but it’s the guidance to become the best person and human being I can be throughout my life.
I was taught to challenge myself, not only within the company, but outside of it as well. I consider Publix culture to be a way of life; to be that mentor to others as others were to me; to give back to the community like Mr. Jenkins did; to be an example to others on how big a change one person can make.
Growing up in a small town, the only friends I had were really my siblings. Today, I can proudly say that I am surrounded by people who I consider lifetime friends and family. We take Publix culture seriously. We believe that our smile is the best part of our uniform. We believe in giving back to our communities. And we believe in the legacy that Mr. Jenkins left.
“Publix will be a little better place to work, or not quite as good, because of you.”
He was once asked how much he’d be worth if he didn’t give back to the community as he did. His answer: “Probably nothing.”
This is what happens when Publix associates get together.
