John began his Publix career in 1989 as a front service clerk at #190, Venice, Florida. After a break in service, he rejoined Publix in 1995 as a produce clerk at #361, Sarasota, Florida. After working in a variety of roles in produce, he became a produce RIS in 2003, assistant store manager in 2007, store manager in 2009 and district manager in 2016. He was promoted to his current role in 2023.

Why did you want to work at Publix?
My dad worked at Publix. I wanted to follow in his footsteps, so I started working at the company when I was 14. During college, I decided to pursue a career with Publix.

What do you enjoy the most about your job?
I work with about 13,000 associates. I like getting to work with so many people and hearing their stories. I enjoy building connections with them.

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Be vulnerable with others. It’s important to open up and show your struggles and willingness to learn. This will help you be a better communicator as you continue to grow in your career.

What’s your favorite Publix product?
Our King O’ The West Honeydew melon. It’s exclusive to Publix.

Describe your dream vacation spot.
Italy. I love to see the food and history of different cultures. Italy has both food and history I would love to experience.

Name your best leadership quality.
I excel at building relationships with people. I lead a lot of associates, but it’s important to get people to care about the job. Making those connections is what helps a manager be successful. Building relationships between managers and associates is imperative, which allows the company to excel.

Who motivates you?
Doug Hill, a store manager in Orlando, Florida. He was one of my previous managers. He set an example for me. Whenever I felt overworked, I watched how Doug worked, and he inspired me. He motivated me to advance in my Publix career.

Any favorite hobbies?
I enjoy spending time with my family. My wife is my biggest supporter, and we have 3 beautiful children. I also enjoy traveling, fishing and golfing.

Do you have any pets?
We have 2 dogs, a Labrador retriever and an Australian shepherd.

Are you a sports fan?
I enjoy watching football. I’m a big Gators fan.

If you could spend a day with a celebrity, who would it be?
I would spend the day with actor Jack Nicholson. He seems like a cool dude.

If you had to watch one show for the rest of your life, which would it be?
It would be “The West Wing” or “Game of Thrones.”