Real Estate Accounting Specialist Zoila Alza is a native of Peru who moved to Miami in 2008 to help her family back home and pursue better educational opportunities.

In Peru, she read about big-box retailers. But when she came to the U.S., she discovered Publix.

“As soon as I stepped in, I could see the cleanliness of the store and people trying to help you,” she said. “You could tell Publix really cares for its customers, and I decided I wanted to work here.”

In 2010, Zoila was hired to work in the produce department at #669, North Miami Beach, Florida.

Her favorite memory from her time working in that store was when a man asked her for red roses, a teddy bear, a chocolate heart and balloons to buy for his sweetheart. When he came back later to pick them up, he had 1 more thing: “A box with an engagement ring,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to know the next chapter of that story.”

While working at Publix, Zoila attended college and got her bachelor’s degree in finance. She’s grateful that our tuition reimbursement program helped pay for some of her classes. This enabled Zoila to transfer to our accounting department, where she supports real estate.

With Publix, Zoila feels as if she’s found a home. She plans to get a master’s degree in accounting and continue to grow her career with Publix.

Publix is a family — a big, 240,000-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.