Publix Patriots: Nuclear Chemist to Training Developer

We appreciate the sacrifice members of our military have made for our country and are honored to employ veterans. Last year, Publix was recognized as one of the best workplaces for veterans by Indeed. We want to show why! Each month, as part of our Publix Patriots blog series, we share stories from some of our military veteran associates and tell you how their military backgrounds helped them find success at Publix.

Follow our Publix Patriots showcase page on LinkedIn to read more stories from the series and help us share these stories within your community.

Meet James, Training Developer

James has worked as a training developer in our Education and Training Development (ETD) department for more than 18 years! Prior to his career at Publix, he served in the U.S. Navy for eight years as a nuclear chemist on submarines. His last three years in the Navy were spent as an instructor at the Nuclear Power Training Unit, where he created lesson plans and workbooks for training purposes. He later came across a classified ad in the newspaper in which Publix was advertising a graphic designer position in ETD. He was later asked to join the team to help develop a new system of computer-based trainings. Thanks to this career leap in 2001, James has since played a major role in creating over 900 computer-based training programs that have trained more than 200,000 Publix associates.

While transitioning from being a nuclear chemist to educating employees of a retail grocery chain was no easy feat, James took advantage of the helpful management team and educational resources Publix provided him with to be successful. “Not much of what I did in the Navy translated well into the grocery industry,” James shared. “But one thing I always worked on was how to learn at a very fast pace. This has helped me immensely in all aspects of life.” His appreciation for learning made him that much more successful as a training developer, the same way it made him a successful member of the Navy.

How James’ Military Background Helped Him at Publix

James was a great fit for Publix because he has a servant heart. At Publix, we focus our efforts on giving back to the community, a value James embodies by helping other veterans get through tough times. He serves as a friend and mentor to fellow veterans within his community and has provided emotional as well as financial support when needed. “Everyone needs a pivot point to change their behavior,” James explained. “My hope is that the help I lend makes enough of an impact to help people get back on their feet, so they can improve their lives and help others in the process.”

James advises veterans interested in joining the Publix family to find resources that can assist in the transition to a civilian lifestyle. He recommends the Military to Civilian Skills translator that is available online. It helps translate military words and phrases to verbiage that will help an employer best understand the skills listed on your resume.

We’re proud of the example James sets every day as a representative of the Publix culture. If you have a passion for serving others and value helping your community, you might be a great fit for a career at Publix. We are always accepting applications for our retail locations, and you can apply online. If you are interested in opportunities at our corporate offices, distribution or manufacturing facilities, feel free to check out our current openings at www.publix.jobs/currentopenings.

We appreciate our service members and everything they have sacrificed. If you know a veteran looking for a new career opportunity, share our Publix Patriots LinkedIn showcase page, where we post other testimonials from our military veteran associates that illustrate how military experience can add value to a career at Publix.

Interested in learning more about careers with Publix? Follow our Publix Careers pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn to take a look inside what makes Publix a great place to work.