During Publix’s annual stockholders’ meeting, six employees received the Mr. George Community Service Award for outstanding commitment to their communities.
Publix founder George Jenkins, known as Mr. George, believed that Publix and its employees should make a difference in their communities. Since the Mr. George Community Service Award was established in 1995, 147 employees have received the honor.
“Mr. George believed that for a company to be successful, it must be involved in the communities it serves,” said CEO Todd Jones. “Almost 93 years later, our associates still take these words to heart and remain committed to improving their communities and the people we serve.
Each year, one employee from each retail division and one support associate are recognized with the award. These associates are involved in their communities, display personal integrity and represent the generous spirit of Publix’s founder.
Recipients receive a personalized award, a feature in an internal company publication, dinner with Publix executives, three paid days off and $5,000 donated to the charity or charities of their choosing.
The 2023 recipients are:
- Atlanta Division: Sefik Gluhic, store manager, Atlanta;
- Charlotte Division: Tim Bismarck, store manager, Knoxville, Tennessee;
- Jacksonville Division: Nicole Miller, store manager, DeLand, Florida;
- Lakeland Division: Billy Ray Drake, store manager, Sarasota, Florida;
- Miami Division: Deborah Lolo, pharmacy manager, Miami; and
- Support: Rick Abbatiello, manager of retail security solutions.
Publix, the largest employee-owned company in the U.S. with more than 240,000 associates, operates 1,334 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. For 26 consecutive years, the company has been recognized by Fortune as a great place to work. In addition, Publix’s dedication to superior quality and customer service is recognized among the top in the grocery business.
For more information, visit the company’s newsroom at corporate.publix.com/newsroom.
