After a memorable encounter with the store manager at his local Publix, Julian used his prior experience in the grocery business to join the company as an assistant customer service manager at #453, Naples, Florida, in 2004. He went on to work as a customer service manager, assistant store manager, store manager and district manager for several stores before being promoted to his current role in 2025.
What do you think makes Publix a great place to work?
One of the most unique things about Publix is company ownership and the collective care we all have for the company we own. One of the very 1st Mr. George quotes I learned was, “Publix will be a little better, or not quite as good, because of you.” I connected with that very quickly and knew that as a company owner, I could connect my daily efforts to the company’s success.
What’s your work philosophy?
We are a company built on great values, and everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, respect, support and tolerance. No matter what role you hold in the company, every one of us is equal. The only difference is our level of responsibility.
What’s your advice to someone just starting their Publix career?
Like Mr. George said in that quote I shared earlier, what you do matters to the company. Take a level of responsibility, look inward and dream big. The only person who limits your future is you, so leverage the experience of those around you to keep learning and growing.
Where were you born?
I was born in Tirana, Albania. My wife and I immigrated to the U.S. in 1998.
What did you want to be when you were younger?
A professional race car driver
What’s your favorite Publix product?
Our Strawberry & Peach Sensation Cake. I think it’s one of the most striking and unique products we offer in our bakery.
What’s one thing on your bucket list?
I’m a big history buff — especially when it comes to ancient history — so I’d love to visit the pyramids of Giza in Egypt one day.
What are you most proud of?
Personally, my kids. Publix has been instrumental in allowing my wife and me to invest in our kids and their education, so when my daughter got accepted into her residency to become an orthopedic surgeon and my son began his Ph.D. in biochemistry, I was immensely proud. Plus, my 2 youngest children work for Publix, so I’m equally excited about their futures and the professional foundations they are building with great role models surrounding them.
Professionally, my promotion to regional director. I never thought that I could reach this level at Publix, but the leaders before me saw something in me. To be given this opportunity is a dream I continue to live out every day.
What are you listening to right now?
When it comes to leadership, I am a big fan of the “Make Your Bed” speech given by retired U.S. Navy Admiral William McCraven at the University of Texas commencement in 2014. I often find that the principles in that speech connect to my role at Publix, and I share it regularly with the managers I supervise.
On a more personal note, I love the “Short History Of…” podcast on Spotify. Each episode covers a key moment in history and condenses everything you need to know about it into 1 hour or less.
What are your favorite sports teams?
Liverpool FC and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
What do you like to do in your free time?
Traveling, fishing and spending time with my family
What are you reading right now?
“Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win,” by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
Favorite place to vacation?
Italy’s Amalfi Coast
What is your favorite Publix memory?
When I joined Publix in 2004, President Ed Crenshaw (now retired CEO) came to visit the store I worked at. From the moment I first spoke to him, I was struck by his humility, but what really struck me was that when he returned for another visit a year later, Ed remembered me and that I was from Albania. His ability to connect with and remember specific details about associates showed me how important it is for leaders to be engaged and accessible to their people, and it set the foundation for the type of leader I wanted to be.
If you were a color in a crayon box, what color would you be and why?
Ocean blue. It reminds me of clarity and transparency, as well as my travels.
What are you binge-watching right now?
“Formula 1: Drive to Survive” on Netflix
Name the best ice cream flavor.
Vanilla bean
What toppings do you like on your pizza?
Lots of meat and veggies
What’s something about you that people may be surprised to learn?
Before I came to the U.S., I attended the soccer academy through my youth and played professional soccer with various local teams in Eastern Europe.
What’s your personal or professional motto?
I always like to say, “Wrong is wrong even if everyone does it. Right is right even if no one does it. Choose to always do the right thing, even if no one is watching.”
What’s your most unusual talent?
Being a car mechanic. I love old muscle cars, and I can do a lot of repair work on them myself. My dream car is a Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Wide Body.
What skills do you think have advanced your Publix career the most?
I still remember the struggles and needs I faced in building my financial future, supporting my family and achieving my goals during my early days at Publix. As I’ve advanced in the company, I’ve continued to apply and share the principles I learned with my associates. Nothing brings me more joy than sharing opportunities with my associates that they thought weren’t available to them.
If you could meet anyone in the past or present, who would it be? Why?
I would love to sit down with Mr. George and have him elaborate more on how he thought about and envisioned his company. It would be great to pick his brain.
