Retail Safety Specialist Tyrone James knew Publix was the answer when he needed a job in college but didn’t know it would become a career.

“My mother, who works in a Publix warehouse, would always tell me about Publix careers and moving up within the company,” Tyrone said.

He was in a dual-enrollment program at Miami Dade College and Florida International University when he was hired as a front service clerk at #629, Miami Gardens, Florida, in 2009. Tyrone held several positions until he graduated with a criminal justice degree in 2014.

“Once I graduated from college, I knew my opportunities for advancement within Publix and wanted to take advantage of them,” Tyrone said.

He became a loss prevention officer in 2014 before moving to his current position in 2021.

In his role, Tyrone assesses the safety culture in stores in the Miami Division’s north and central regions. He leads efforts to reduce the frequency and severity of general liability and workers’ compensation claims and educates stores on how to comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations.

“My main role is to educate managers and associates about the importance of safety,” he said.

Tyrone walks through every department, and if he sees a safety hazard, he addresses it and works with managers to develop an action plan to fix the issue.

Find out more about available positions on the Publix Careers website.