Front Service Clerk Jacob Dodd, #1651, Lakeland, Florida, loves building connections in his community, including serving as a Special Olympics athlete and volunteer. Jacob, who is autistic, has a personal connection to Special Olympics. It’s a platform for him to showcase his athletic abilities while raising awareness about autism.

After graduating from high school, Jacob participated in a program at a local college that helps students with disabilities prepare for life after school. By partnering with Publix, the program allows students to work in a store for a couple of hours each week and gain valuable real-world experience. It also resulted in Jacob being hired as a front service clerk at #1171, Lakeland, in February 2022.

“It was an easy decision to start a career with Publix after completing my college program,” said Jacob. “I love working for a company that makes a difference in the community.”

In April 2023, Jacob transferred to his current store. “At first, I could sense some nervousness from Jacob about adapting to a new store,” Store Manager John Wentworth said.

However, Jacob adapted very quickly. “His attitude was great, and he showed how excited he was to learn new ways to serve customers,” John added.

Jacob hopes to shed light on how everyone deserves grace for their differences, including those on the autism spectrum. He loves that Publix is a proud supporter of Special Olympics. “Publix helps get people involved in the community and keeps me connected to the organization that has helped shape my life,” Jacob said.

Basketball and baseball are Jacob’s favorite sports as a Special Olympics athlete. He also volunteers as a unified partner at Special Olympics, which means he partners with another athlete for training and competition, increasing inclusion in the community.

Jacob’s next Publix career goal is to transfer to grocery. Then, he wants to work his way up to become a store manager.

Publix is a family — a big, 255,000-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.