Selection & Performance Measurement Process Administrator Megan Freeland, who is Deaf, sees herself as a trailblazer, and her hearing loss propels her to pave the way for people like her.

“I was diagnosed at 2 years old after being seen by 5 doctors who told my parents there wasn’t anything wrong with my ears,” Megan said. “The last doctor figured it out and told my parents that I had nerve damage in both ears, which explained why I couldn’t hear my mom when she tried calling my name from behind.”

Megan has learned to overcome obstacles, and technology like video chats and closed captioning help her achieve her goals. Her manager also ensures she has an American Sign Language interpreter for all in-person meetings.

“When we have virtual meetings, the closed-captioning feature allows me to keep up with dialogue between my co-workers. I especially like the chat feature that allows me to share my thoughts or opinions.”

As a Deaf associate, Megan hopes to show other deaf individuals they can have a successful career with Publix.

Megan has a master’s degree in sports management and is happily married with 4 stepchildren. She previously worked in our employment office and legal department. In her current role, she makes sure job descriptions for support positions reflect their key responsibilities, requirements and intended career path.

Publix is a family — a big, 250,000-person one — with backgrounds from across the country and around the world. This article is part of a series featuring associates from a variety of backgrounds, age groups and cultures, and we love sharing their successes. We hope our articles help you learn a little more about your fellow associates who make up our Publix family.