Deli Clerk Kristen Greene
Store #1432, Longboat Key, Florida
I’ve been with Publix, on and off, for about a decade. Currently, I’m temporarily at store #1432 on Longboat Key helping out during our season rush. This is my third time coming to the company, and this will be my final time. Publix will be my last official job. I’m a mom first.
I started with Publix at store #361 when I was 17 and a senior at Sarasota High School in 2006. I was a cashier and prided myself for my work ethic. I left in June of the next year and went off to college. I attended Troy University in Troy, Alabama. This just happened to have been where I met my husband. I returned to Publix in 2008, in Montgomery, Alabama at store #1026. I stayed there as a customer service staff associate until I transferred to help open store #1369, Dothan, Alabama, in May 2011. I left the company again in August 2011.
I got married in July 2012 and we moved to north Alabama where I finally landed a job in the field in which I had gone to school for. I worked as a security guard for Steelcase Inc. through Securitas Security. I absolutely loved my job. I got pregnant with my daughter while employed there. My daughter, Rianna Grace was born May 8, 2014. This little girl is my world.
My husband and I made the decision to move to my hometown shortly after she was born, and in July 2014, we did. I started working for an alarm company’s call center in town and while the pay was good, I wasn’t really enjoying it. I missed face-to-face interaction. So around my daughter’s first birthday, I reapplied to Publix.
I was hired at store #148, Sarasota, Florida. as a deli clerk in May 2015. My first week was interesting. I learned the ins and outs of working on the slicers and at the sub-station. I love being able to see my customers smile when I talk to them. I like talking to them. I made sure I am learning as much as I can, so that I can make my way up the ladder. I do eventually want to move into corporate and while I’m not entirely sure what I want to do in corporate yet, I know that’s the direction I want to go.
Assistant Grocery Manager Nicole DeCaprio
Store #1282, Spring Hill, Florida
There really isn’t enough room to write how and why Publix is so great to work for. What I have written below is how Publix has been so wonderful for me.
Publix, for me, means family. My family started almost 30 years ago when my parents met at Publix. Since then, I’ve grown up with a very clear understanding of what Publix means; not only in my life, but in the community, to competitors, and most importantly, other associates. Eleven years ago, when I started as a front service clerk at Publix, I never envisioned where I would be today.
Publix has taught me certain life lessons that I might not have had the opportunity to learn at such a young age. I have to say that this is the #1 reason why Publix is a great place to work. In school, many are taught certain definitions. A few of those terms are ethics, morals, accountability and dignity. Working for such a great company like Publix shows you the meaning of those terms, which has a greater impact than learning those terms out of a book.
On a daily basis, we have the pleasure of serving our customers. I thoroughly enjoy getting to know our customers and finding out when great moments happen in their lives. Not many companies have the opportunity of being involved in customers lives. I’m happy to know that customers choose us to be involved in their most memorable moments.
After working at four different stores and seeing many associates move on to other endeavors, I would say I’ve always learned a little bit from the people I have worked with. This has really helped me understand people. Although my family started over 30 years ago, my Publix family started 11 years ago. My Publix family has been my support system. This is what truly makes our Publix community stand apart from others. We learn, teach, train and grow as a team. I am so proud to work for the greatest company in the world.
Front Service Clerk David Barnie
Store #352, Lakeland, Florida
I am a Scotsman, and I’ve been living in Florida for just over a year and working at Publix for 8 months. All of the customers that I help out with their carts ask me why a Scot would move from Bonnie, Scotland to Lakeland, Florida.
Well, here’s my story. I am 34 years old and was an English teacher in France, Japan and Budapest, Hungary. In Hungary, I met my wife and she didn’t turn out to be a Hungarian, but a Floridian girl called Alexis! We met one day in a Hungarian restaurant after church, and after hanging out as friends, we began to keep in touch through Skype, email and letters. In summer 2010 I made the courageous step to come out to Florida and ask out her out. Much to my delight, she said yes. And the rest, as they say, is history! Alexis came back to Hungary to live, and we got married in Florida — spending our first 2 years of marriage in Budapest, Hungary.
After a year and a half of doing paperwork, we came to Florida in December 2014. We have now been living in Lakeland, Florida, for just over a year, and I love it! Three things I love about Lakeland are the people, the climate and the wildlife!
Getting a job at Publix is one of the best things to happen to me in Florida! It’s a privilege to work for such a great company. Publix does everything it can to make sure its customers are treated with legendary service. It also treats its employees very well. The fact that employees can take part in a stock ownership plan and receive stock after their first year is wonderful. This provides me with a real sense of responsibility and ownership for the fantastic Floridian establishment I work for. Since being here, I have received four free subs [My Publix, My Part recognition letters] for customer compliments and several coupons to sample Publix’s outstanding products. I love getting to know the customers, making them smile and laugh, and anticipating all their needs so they keep coming back to their local Publix.
Come rain or shine at Publix, whether I’m in the parking lot pushing carts in the rain, supervised by a cattle egret in the sun, bagging at the register or helping a customer in the store, I know that I will always take on board Mr. George Jenkins advice: “Never let making a profit stand in the way of doing the right thing.” Doing the right thing is a philosophy I can live my life by and what makes Publix the successful grocery store it is.
Front Service Clerk John Stortz
Store #1320, Seminole, Florida
My Publix experience began about 30 years ago, when we started shopping at Publix — after two experiences with a competitor, selling us bad meat for Thanksgiving and Christmas. That was when we became regular Publix shoppers.
And now, for almost two years, I bag groceries for customers, just as I would want these purchases to be treated if they were my own.
About 14 years ago, my son Brian was in high school and began working for Publix. It was his first job. He had no car or driver’s license, so I had to drive him. He would come home, telling me about his adventure of the day. In the four years Brian worked at Publix, he moved up to dairy and then to frozen foods. He tracked the frozen product inventory to determine how much to re-order. [It was all manual, in those days.] He wondered where the products came from and asked to see the other end of the operation. The manager arranged for him to see the Lakeland operations. I went along, as Brian’s driver. We were given a royal welcome in Lakeland!
Based on the wonderful way Publix treated my son, I decided I wanted to work for Publix when I retired. Brian graduated from the University of South Florida and moved on to become an electrical engineer with the local power company. But the thought of working at Publix never left me.
Continuing to shop at Publix was a regular reminder of what the future could hold. Previously, I was a radio engineer, keeping broadcast stations on the air 24/7 for about 35 years. I have experience in radio, television, industrial control systems, security systems, telephone, fax, microwave, satellite, audio/video, computers, gasoline & diesel engines, stand-by power generators, air conditioning & climate control, copy machines, irrigation systems, lawn mowers, battery maintenance, grounding & lightning prevention, and low-level management. Most of this experience was as a radio engineer, where I did everything from toilets to towers; from lawns to lamps. It was a great privilege to be able to keep Christian radio stations on the air and it is a great privilege to be here at Publix to help encourage associates, as well as customers — and to even be an owner of this great company is a bonus beyond all expectation. No wonder Publix is so highly rated as one of the best companies to work for in America.
I used to hear good things about Publix from my son — now I see it for myself.
Christina McQueary
Training Specialist, Atlanta Division
Publix is a great place to work because of the career opportunities it provides. In 2008, I moved to Atlanta with my husband and three children. I was looking for a job to provide extra income for the family, but the housing market was beginning to crash and people were losing their houses and jobs. I figured that no matter how bad the economy was, people still had to eat; and since I had previous grocery experience years earlier, I would apply at a grocery store. My plan was to be at Publix only a few months; but seven years later, I’m still here and have decided to make Publix my career.
I started as a part-time cashier, and six months later was promoted to full-time scan price clerk — where I worked for the next five years. During that time, the store manager appointed me to the AVS team and I was able to lead the team for three years.
In September 2014, I transferred to the bakery to pursue management. Around the same time, my store manager and district manager submitted my name to be a culture ambassador to teach the Welcome to Publix class for new associates. I have a background in education, however, until that time I was unaware of the teaching opportunities available through Publix. One year later, I was promoted to the training delivery department as a training specialist in the Atlanta Division.
The training delivery department travels throughout the six states where Publix operates to provide training to company leadership in retail, office, manufacturing and distribution. My current assignment is to train retail mangers-in-charge the new CPR/AED program. I always knew Publix was a great place to work, but the more Publix associates I meet and see how the different areas of our company function, I understand that Publix is actually an incredible place to work.
Bakery Clerk Dominique Brooks
Store #1330, Deltona, Florida
I really enjoy riding my bike to work! Associates always honk or wave as I head to the store. So, I guess it was obvious that I was really upset the day my bike was stolen. The next morning, to my complete surprise, I found a brand new shiny bike waiting for me by the time clock. I just couldn’t believe it!
The people I work with are so kind and generous. That’s why I love working at Publix #1330 in Deltona. It’s like family!
Bakery Clerk Kathryn Hammerle-Titsworth
Store 1062, Miami, Florida
