Produce warehouse associate Dennis Worrell did things a little differently. First, he retired. Then, he started his Publix career. Eleven years later, his “retirement job” is one of the best decisions he’s ever made.
“I’m new to the neighborhood,” Dennis joked. “I owned a trucking business before I retired. My daughter was a manager with Publix, and she told me to come here 10 years before I finally did.”
At 74, Dennis shows no signs of slowing down. His daily responsibilities at the Deerfield Beach, Florida, warehouse are focused on sanitation, including cleaning the 55-degree cooler and repairing product packaging that was previously damaged. Doing this helps save Publix money by making sure we aren’t throwing away cases of product unnecessarily.
Once these jobs are complete, he is quick to jump on other tasks.
“If I have the time, I’m going to make sure I help where I can,” Dennis said.
“What sets Dennis apart is that everything matters to him,” Warehouse Superintendent Richard Heverly said. “He approaches every day with the goal of reducing shrink for our store associates so they in turn provide the premier service our customers expect from us. He has a likable personality accompanied with a huge smile.”
When working with his team, Dennis likes to share his “less on the floor and more to the store” motto. His dedication to minimizing shrink and providing premier service to his co-workers and produce store associates are why he’s recognized as a My Publix, My Part difference maker.
“When I was praised for picking up something I saw on the floor right away, I knew I was on the right track,” Dennis said. “That was my first proud moment at Publix.”
During the daily pride walks at the warehouse to make sure everything meets Publix’s standards, Dennis’ area is always clean. And, he provides valuable feedback and solutions that are instrumental in perpetuating the Publix culture at the warehouse.
“He shows tremendous passion and pride in the work he does,” Richard said.
“I’m trying to be a leader for these younger associates,” Dennis said. “I enjoy where I am right now. This is one of the best companies on the planet.”
