Dain began his Publix career in 2018 as the vice president of pharmacy. He oversees the pharmacy retail operations and the pharmacy retail business unit, including pharmacy central fill, specialty pharmacy, managed care programs, and collaborative efforts with hospitals and health care centers. Before joining Publix, Dain was group vice president of pharmacy operations at Albertsons and vice president of pharmacy operations at Giant Food.
What’s your proudest Publix moment?
When Publix began administering the COVID-19 vaccine in January 2021, we were one of the first in the industry to do so. It was an unprecedented time when the country was locked down, and we were able to help people travel and have peace of mind.
Overall, I am very proud of how Publix handled that time and our impact on getting the country back to some sense of normalcy. I’d describe Publix as a trailblazer. For many months, Publix was the only place you could get a COVID-19 vaccine, and our approach was a role model for others.
What do you think makes Publix a great place to work?
Company ownership. It truly makes Publix stand out.
What’s something about you that people may be surprised to learn?
I am a kid at heart. I am a huge fan of LEGO building, and I have more than 30 Star Wars LEGO sets in my office at home. I have also made LEGO flowers for my wife, who loves to decorate the house with them.
What’s your favorite sports team?
The Philadelphia Eagles. I have been an NFL season ticket holder for 28 years. I went to the big game last year, which was an amazing memory with my family.
What’s your favorite Publix product?
Publix Heath Bar Cookies
What did you want to be when you were younger?
I wanted to be a doctor. I have always liked the idea of taking care of people.
What’s one thing on your bucket list?
Vacation in the French Polynesian islands in the South Pacific Ocean and stay in one of those overwater bungalows.
What’s your favorite movie?
I have 3:
- “Armageddon”
- “Gladiator” and
- “Invincible.”
What toppings do you like on your pizza?
I only like 1 topping, banana peppers, on my pizza.
What’s your personal or professional motto?
My personal motto and professional motto are the same. I am a huge fan of U.S. Army General Norman Schwarzkopf. He said, “The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war.” You can apply that to any area of your life because he’s ultimately saying that the more we prepare, the better off we will be.
What brings you the most energy and joy?
I love playing golf.
If you could spend a day in someone else’s shoes, whose shoes would they be? Why?
Steve Jobs, the former CEO of Apple. I think he was fascinating. He thought very differently from the average person, and he was not afraid to take risks.
What is your favorite lunch?
A Turkey Special. It’s a sandwich you can get in a Jewish deli, and it’s very popular up north. It has turkey, cheese, coleslaw and Russian dressing on rye bread.
What toppings do you like on your ice cream sundae?
My ice cream sundae would be chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream with walnuts and hot fudge, topped with whipped cream.
Who would you like to meet from the past or present? Why?
I mentioned him earlier, U.S. Army General Norman Schwarzkopf. I am a huge American history fan. I especially love reading and studying about war generals. We can learn so much about discipline from them and apply that to our professional lives. He was able to end an entire war in 100 hours because of how well he planned Operation Desert Storm. To me, that’s amazing.
He also left many sayings and one-liners to live by. One of my favorites is, “What is your pain point and how can I help relieve it?” Norman would ask this when talking to his troops. I ask this question to my team and always try to seek to understand.
What was your favorite board game or game as a kid?
Chess. And it still is. I play it online a lot. One of my favorite memories as a kid was getting an electronic version of chess because I could practice and play against more people.
If you had a superpower, what would it be? Why?
Being able to fly at the speed of light (up to 186,000 miles per second) like Superman. It’d be awesome to get to places that fast.
