Jerry joined Publix in 2006 as a senior manager in the business analysis and reporting department. He was promoted to his current position in 2013, where he oversees long-term financial planning, and internal and external financial reporting.
Where were you born?
Iron River, Michigan
What brought you to Publix?
Divine intervention! I decided to leave my former job and reached out to a friend at KPMG, the accounting firm that audits our financial reports. He knew there was an opening at Publix and recommended I apply. The rest is history.
What do you enjoy most about working at Publix?
I’ve enjoyed sports my entire life as a player, coach and fan, and I like being on winning teams. Publix is definitely the No. 1 team!
What’s your favorite Publix product?
A slice of our bakery Midnight Fudge Fantasy cake with a scoop of Publix Premium Chocolate Trinity ice cream. It’s also my guilty pleasure — I’m a chocoholic!
What’s your favorite Publix memory?
My favorite memory was the result of a near-sudden death event I experienced six years ago — I’m the poster child for AEDs. I was out of work for two months; the outpouring of support from the Publix family was amazing!
What’s your work or life philosophy?
Life is short, so enjoy every day.
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What did you want to be when you were little?
A pro football player or an architect
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy seeing where we’re heading as a company and reporting our results.
What hasn’t changed about Publix since you started?
Our culture — the lessons of Mr. George are as important today as they were in 1930.
What’s your favorite movie?
Remember the Titans. I took my son’s football team to see it in the theater.
What’s your favorite sports team?
Green Bay Packers and Florida State Seminoles — one of my daughters played on the Seminoles’ softball team
What music are you listening to right now?
Country, Christian and some jazz
What are your hobbies?
Coaching youth sports, working out, reading, skiing and spending time with my family
What’s your favorite Publix memory?
It came out of a near-sudden death event I experienced six years ago — I’m the poster child for our AED initiative.
I was at my daughters’ high school softball game, and I went from sitting upright to slumped over in my seat. The high school athletic director ran to the football stadium to get the AED, while my wife — who had taken a CPR class at work a few weeks prior — started compressions. EMS arrived and took me to the closest hospital, where doctors gave me a 5 percent chance of surviving. They found one of my heart valves had been malformed since birth, and it couldn’t keep up with me anymore. I had open-heart surgery to implant an AED and repair the valve. I was out of work for two months; the outpouring of support from the Publix family was amazing. Even [former CEO] Charlie Jenkins Jr. called me.
Today, I haven’t had any more episodes, and I haven’t even had a headache because of the corrected blood flow.
What are your proudest moments?
Any of the many moments I’ve experienced as a dad to my three children
