Mr. George once said, “Publix is like a smorgasbord, with opportunity spread out for you. Prepare yourself. The opportunities are up for grabs.”
Those words are still true today as we continuously develop the next generation of Publix leaders. But what makes a great leader? And where do they start on their journey to leadership? We talked to current role models to find out.
Monica Allman
Director of Stock Programs, Lakeland, Florida
Monica’s 1st role with Publix was as a project manager in our benefits department. She was later promoted to manager of stock programs in 2003 and has served in her current role since 2012.
What is something you wish you knew earlier in your career?
I wish I would have known that asking for help and not taking everything on yourself is not a weakness, it’s a strength. There are so many people willing to help you, especially at Publix. All you have to do is ask.
What is a memorable lesson you learned either through your work or from a mentor?
I was given a piece of paper from my mom’s desk after she passed that reads: “That’s not my job! This is a story about 4 people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.”
As company owners, you can’t say, “It’s not my job.” It’s all our responsibility to help whenever and wherever necessary to make Publix successful!
What makes a great team?
Team members who openly communicate and share ideas, treat each other with mutual respect and are willing to help each other accomplish their goals
What is a decision you made early on that influenced the path of your career?
I really wanted to understand benefits and why things had to be done a certain way. I was always encouraged to continue to educate myself to ensure I agreed with the decisions and to question when I had a different opinion.
What qualities make a great Publix associate?
A willingness to work hard, continually learn, think outside the box, adapt to change and be open and honest.
What’s the best part of your job?
Besides the associates I get to work with every day? I was given the opportunity to be responsible for Publix’s secret sauce! Who doesn’t love Publix stock?
Adrian Bennett
Jacksonville Division Vice President
Adrian began his Publix career at #412, Savannah, Georgia, as a part-time stock clerk in 1991. He worked his way up through manager roles at the store level before becoming a district manager and regional director. He was promoted to his current role last year.
What is a decision you made early on that influenced the path of your career?
I never envisioned myself being a manager. But after taking on the role of second assistant manager, I quickly realized the impact you can have on others by mentoring them and helping them achieve their goals. With each promotion came additional opportunities to do just that.
What is something you wish you knew earlier in your career?
I wish I knew just how prophetic Mr. George’s words were when he said, “Begin. The rest is easy.” I always held back wanting to know more before I would take on new roles or challenges.
What makes a great team?
Trust and commitment. It’s imperative for everyone to trust each other knowing we are committed to the task at hand, and it’s even more important to ensure we succeed as a team!
What is a memorable lesson you learned either through your work or from a mentor?
Everything I have been privileged to do with Publix has a lot to do with the people who supported me along the way, from store associates to managers. I have truly come to understand everything I have done to this point and will accomplish in the future is largely due to the folks around me.
What qualities make a great Publix associate?
Commitment and willingness to learn and grow, along with having a passion for people. I tell associates all the time, the best ability is availability. Make yourselves available to take on new roles, work in new market areas and more.
What’s the best part of your job?
Being part of associate growth and development is by far the most rewarding part of my job!
Janella Long
Atlanta District Manager
Janella was hired in 2002 as a part-time deli clerk at #841, Birmingham, Alabama. In the 2 years that followed, she became full time, then was promoted to assistant deli manager and then deli manager. In 2007, she became an assistant store manager, followed by store manager in 2010. Janella was promoted to her current role last year and was also a recipient of the George W. Jenkins Award in 2021.
What qualities make a great Publix associate?
Dedication, having a servant’s heart, being open to change, willingness to keep learning and continuously upholding our standards
What is a memorable lesson you learned either through your work or from a mentor?
Never underestimate your influence
What is a decision you made early on that influenced the path of your career?
To never give up and always do my best in everything I did
What makes a great team?
A great team is made of a group of people with the same goal in mind, who share differing ideas on how to reach that goal. It consists of people who put the team ahead of themselves for the greater good.
What is something you wish you knew earlier in your career?
How to make a positive, long-lasting impact on others
What’s the best part of your job?
Being able to influence and impact those I serve, both professionally and personally
Florentino Lopez
Manager of Warehousing Operations, Miami
Florentino was hired as a warehouse produce selector in 2002. After 2 years, he moved to boxed meat and dairy as a dock coordinator. His 1st leadership role came in 2006, when he was given the opportunity to work as a front-line supervisor in the Deerfield return center. In the 7 years he was there, he was promoted to department head. In 2013, he returned to boxed meat and dairy to assist with team development before becoming the superintendent in 2017 at the Miami high velocity warehouse. He was promoted to his current role in 2020.
What is a decision you made early on that influenced the path of your career?
I like the saying, “I am not a product of my environment; I am a product of my decisions.” And I made the decision to be flexible and agile with my personal life so I would be able to take advantage of any professional opportunities. This included transitioning to different shifts, departments and locations.
What makes a great team?
In my opinion, a great team is comprised of a diverse group of associates who are committed to achieving the same goals. A great team is made of members who are trustworthy, dedicated, organized and supportive of each other. They communicate effectively by listening to everyone and hold each other accountable.
What is a memorable lesson you learned either through your work or from a mentor?
There’s something positive in every situation. Even during the worst moment, we have something to be grateful for, even if it’s just a lesson to be learned. I also learned to listen without the intent to reply, but rather to understand.
What is something you wish you knew earlier in your career?
I wish I learned not to focus on results, but to focus on the process. Early in my career, I took part in the notification of interest (NOI) process 7 times before I was chosen to become a leader. At the time, it was discouraging because I wasn’t being selected. Then, I began to focus on the process and what I needed to personally improve on. I asked for feedback and constructive criticism, which I used to improve my overall daily performance, communication and interviewing skills.
What makes a great Publix associate?
A great Publix associate must possess the qualities of a great person: integrity, dedication, enthusiasm and patience, to name a few. They must also possess the qualities established in our culture by Mr. George, including teamwork, self-awareness, selflessness, the ability and willingness to go above and beyond, and a sense of ownership.
What’s the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is assisting with and watching the growth of our associates, both personally and professionally. And I value “progress over perfection,” or to simply be better than you were yesterday.
Annabelle Wolf
Manager of Procurement Strategy and Planning, Lakeland, Florida
Annabelle’s Publix career began in 2009 as a front service clerk at #356, Lakeland, Florida. She worked in retail until 2014, when she became an intern in our manufacturing and supply purchasing department. Since then, she has worked in roles ranging from a supplies planner to a sourcing and contracts manager. She was promoted to her current role in 2017, where she supports our deli kitchen and Fresh Kitchen operations, and manages commodity purchasing and the centralized maintenance purchasing team.
What makes a great team?
In general, I think a great team is made up of a group of people with mutual respect and aligned goals. Further, what makes a Publix team unique is the shared passion for the success of our organization through the framework of Mr. George’s servant- and customer-focused mindset.
What is a decision you made early on that influenced the path of your career?
After my internship, I realized I had a real passion for procurement. This caused me to continue to seek out opportunities within the department. Now more than ever, the unique challenges in all our categories make me excited to go to work every day.
What is a memorable lesson you learned either through your work or from a mentor?
Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle. Instead, use the experiences and advice of everyone around you to positively influence your personal and professional life.
What is something you wish you knew earlier in your career?
Welcome and own the uncomfortable tasks. The most challenging tasks I have faced over my career are the ones I gained the most from.
What qualities make a great Publix associate?
Bleeding green! Which to me means having a customer service mindset, owning every challenge and always being prepared for the next opportunity.
What’s the best part of your job?
Having the opportunity to work with many different business areas to collaborate and bring new and innovative products to fruition
