Ah, Publix. Where shopping is a pleasure. Smiling service, delicious Pub Subs, killer BOGO deals every week – what more could you ask for? Founded in 1930 by George W. Jenkins, the 1,098 store-chain is a private corporation that is wholly owned by past and present employees.
Turns out, working there is a pleasure too. Four alumni and a current student from the Information Technology program have found success at Publix. Some started as store associates, others joined the Information Systems sector straight out of school. Through different roles, they have grown in the company.
Groceries and technology work hand-in-hand and Publix is committed to innovative technologies and a charitable, community based culture. The Information Systems Team of over 1,100 associates most often works behind-the-scenes where the results of their tech savvy helps keep the company operating at peak capacity.
Rhonda Burke, IT Recruiter for Publix, says that IT associates play an integral part in our retail operations in that their work “serves to support the ultimate goal of delivering unparalleled, premier customer service.” For example, quick deli counter service is the result of team collaboration where the equation of Online Easy Ordering, calibrated scales, responsive store systems and happy employees come together to service and satisfy customers.
Publix is a prime example of a company that invests in their employees. With a culture that promotes from within and provides opportunity for advancement, Publix also offers a wide variety of benefits such as tuition reimbursement, free flu shots and the opportunity to purchase shares in the privately held company.
It’s impressive that for the 18th consecutive year, Publix has been honored as one of FORTUNE magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” and is one of only 12 companies to have made the list every year since its inception in 1998.
So, next time you’re picking up pasta sauce on BOGO, there’s a group of Seminole alumni and students who are working to make sure your experience is the unparalleled.
Scott Tillett works for Publix Supermarkets as an Information Systems Analyst. After his graduation from the Information Technology program in 2012, he worked in the field before joining the Publix team in July 2013. Starting as a Tier I dispatch, he was promoted to Tier II dispatch, where he oversees all POS, Store Systems, and Telecom related in-house and 3rd party equipment and related applications.
“The opportunities are out there for the taking,” said Tillett. “Whatever you put into your degree is exactly what you will get out of it, so make the best of your time while you can.You can be a Store System Engineer, a Programmer, SQA Analyst, whatever you want. You just have to be willing to put in the work.”
Jonathan Knight joined Publix as a Front Service Clerk in May 2003 and progressed to a Stock Clerk before joining the Corporate team. After his graduation from Information Technology, he joined the Order Management Systems as a Programmer in November 2009. He progressed in Publix to a Systems Analyst position on the Maintenance & Enhancements Team. He worked on a team responsible for generating replenishment plans, forecasting and handling everything order-related for all of Publix’s 1,000+ stores.
“[Publix] prioritizes candidates from the retail side if their experience is relevant to promote career growth in the company,” Knight said.
Knight left the company in 2014 to pursue the gaming industry at Trendy Entertainment, but said Publix was a great place to start his career. Since leaving, he says he “leverages the lessons I learned when I was with Publix every day.”
Jason Emmer joined the Publix team in May 2014 as a Senior Systems Engineer. The two-time graduate of the School of Information (B.S. Information Technology ’06, MLIS ’08) joined a firm in Washington D.C. where he supported contract work for the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Drawn back to the Sunshine State to be near family, Emmer joined the Publix team and has loved it ever since.
“Publix truly is a company focused to customer service, both at the store level and at the corporate level,” said Emmer.
David Belcher graduated from the IT program at FSU in Spring 2011 and joined Publix a few months later as a Systems Engineer with the Store Systems Engineering team. Soon, he was promoted to a Senior Systems Engineer.
“Publix has been a joy to work for and I couldn’t ask for more,” said Belcher. “The work at Publix is on a large scale, which is something that I was looking for and work has been challenging and keeps me engaged.”
Both David and Jason work on the Store Systems Engineering team, which oversees all the Windows-based intrastructure in the stores. Specifically, their team focuses on the POS systems in the bakery, deli and meat departments. Most recently, the team upgraded all the store desktops from Windows XP to Windows 7 and are currently rolling out an upgrade for the POS systems.
Caroline Goodrich is interning with Publix this summer in the IT Department out of their Lakeland location. The online ordering system is a developing technology within Publix and Caroline will be focusing on the web development portion of that for her internship. The Information Technology student plans to graduate in Fall 2015.
“I’ve worked at Publix since I was 16,” she shared. “I started off as a Cashier and was promoted to Customer Service Staff and now works in the produce department as a produce clerk.”
Ready to join the team?
The grocery store is a staple in many southern towns and proves to be a fantastic place for Seminoles to start and grow their careers. More on the School of Information’s IT program can be found on their website. Get in touch with Information Technology Recruiter, Rhonda Burke, through Publix’s Ask a Recruiter page.