Last month at the annual Retail Operations Conference in Orlando, Florida, Publix gave top awards to 12 managers.

The George W. Jenkins Award

Publix’s most prestigious award, the George W. Jenkins Award, recognizes a manager from each division and a support manager who follow Mr. George’s rich tradition of leadership and perpetuate our culture. Their efforts speak to their success and inspire us to be even better leaders. They truly embody and carry on Mr. George’s legacy.

Let’s meet the 2017 George W. Jenkins Award recipients.

ATLANTA DIVISION
Store Manager Jerry Meyer
#721, Alpharetta, Georgia

With 34 years of experience at Publix, Jerry helps develop leaders every day by providing direction to his team. He thrives on building a team of future leaders. His passion for community, especially in supporting shelters for women and children, has inspired his team.

CHARLOTTE DIVISION
Store Manager Raymond Musser
#1466, Cary, North Carolina

Raymond leads by example. He is recognized for being transparent, open and honest with his team. He understands that training and promoting associates are some of the most important aspects of his role, so he serves as a mentor to everyone — whether it’s associates or managers in his store or others across his district. He volunteers with local charitable organizations, and his efforts with the hungry and those with special needs have made him a pillar within the community.

JACKSONVILLE DIVISION
Store Manager Craig Fitzpatrick
#322, Fernandina Beach, Florida

As a leader, Craig is driven by inspiring others to do their best and dream big every day. His true passion is growing leaders, and he attributes his success to his associates and managers. He believes that you are only as good as the people who work with you, so he considers this recognition a team award. He’s involved in the community, where he spends time with customers and associates while continuing to build and foster relationships by giving back.

LAKELAND DIVISION
Store Manager Mark Hightower
#361, Sarasota, Florida

Mark is known for focusing on the training and development of his team. He is always looking for their potential and providing recognition and encouragement for their efforts. He is a strong advocate for efforts that help the community and is involved in Habitat for Humanity, United Way, and speaking at local schools about a future with Publix. He is dedicated to our mission and strategy and works diligently to instill those in his team.

MIAMI DIVISION
Store Manager Gary Chin
#1397, Miami, Florida

Through compassion, empathy and support for his team, Gary has been able to foster an unbelievable commitment to Publix and our mission. He takes the time to invest in his associates, creating sustainable success. He is very involved with the Miami Burn Center, mentoring children and young adults who suffered injuries or accidents resulting in lifelong permanent scarring.

SUPPORT
Grocery Retail Coordinator Guy Bair
Jacksonville Division

Guy is focused on ensuring his team does what ultimately improves the capability of the Jacksonville Division retail operations team. He recognizes that our success as a company is determined by how we treat our associates. Guy is known for doing what’s right and striving to set the example. He has been a strong supporter of United Way as well as an advocate for the Southeast Guide Dog Association.

The President’s Award

The President’s Award honors five district managers and one support manager who embody the spirit of growth and fairness our company was founded on. Recipients of this award have proven their dedication to making Publix better every day by maintaining the dignity, value and employment security of their associates.

Let’s meet the 2017 President’s Award recipients.

ATLANTA DIVISION
District Manager Felix Allen

Felix believes in the importance of recognizing associates for their contributions, and he connects with associates by sharing personal experiences about the opportunities available at Publix. He personifies fairness, is a strong advocate for supporting change, builds solid foundations for associate growth and stays involved in his community. His can-do attitude makes him a great representative of what Publix looks for in a leader.

CHARLOTTE DIVISION
District Manager Walter Laird

Walter is a supportive leader who is willing to raise the bar in the growing Charlotte Division. He works hand-in-hand with his store teams and support staff to recruit, develop, mentor and strengthen the candidate pool in his district. He also makes conscious decisions to hire, train, promote and retain the best candidates and spends a large amount of time with high-potential associates who haven’t completed a ROI for management.

JACKSONVILLE DIVISION
District Manager Marsha Singh

Marsha’s character and integrity exemplifies the Publix culture every day. She’s generous with her time and invests in her team to build confidence and trust. She’s passionate about developing our next generation of leaders and actively shares eligible candidates with other areas to help fill management positions in difficult-to-staff markets.

LAKELAND DIVISION
District Manager Mike Kot

Mike appreciates what Publix has done for him, and he strives to pass that appreciation on by helping his teams succeed. His associates consider him approachable and engaging, and the deep care he shows for his teams has helped build a relationship of trust. His infectious passion for people is why he excels at developing associates for leadership roles and planning for future management needs.

MIAMI DIVISION
District Manager Chadi Majzoub

Chadi is a knowledgeable communicator whose engagement has earned him the deep respect of his team. He is described as humble and charismatic, inspiring his associates to achieve high levels of performance. He helps associates understand the importance of their individual roles at Publix and identifies special talents in up-and-coming leaders, sometimes even before they recognize it in themselves.

SUPPORT
Director of Non-Food Consumables Donna Toy

Donna is a sincere advocate for making Publix a great place to work, and she genuinely cares for associates. Her strength lies in making sure a diverse pool of associates are developed, considered for opportunities and receive the support and training needed to succeed in their roles. Donna is known for being a good listener, and her advice is regularly sought by both tenured and new associates.

Award Recipients at 2018 Publix Retail Conference

​Hear from the 2017 President’s and George W. Jenkins Award winners