Publix Patriots: Army Medical Sergeant to Customer Service Manager

Cyndi is a customer service manager at Bay Pointe Plaza Publix, # 1541, in St. Petersburg, Florida, who formerly served as a medical sergeant in the U.S. Army. Cyndi served in the military from 2011 to 2017. During that time, she began her career as a part-time cashier at Publix while also working toward a bachelor’s degree in business management. Cyndi enjoyed working for Publix and was quickly promoted to customer service staff. Her store manager opened Cyndi’s eyes to the career opportunities available at Publix, and how she would be able to apply the leadership skills she learned in the military as a manager.

As a medical sergeant, some of Cyndi’s main responsibilities included coordinating medical training for the unit, ordering medical supplies and helping to ensure soldiers were medically able to be deployed. In addition to the leadership skills she developed, Cyndi shared that being in the military helped her to overcome adversity. “The most difficult experience I had in the military was injuring myself and having to rehabilitate in physical therapy before being able to return to full duty,” Cyndi explained. “It took a lot of hard work to get better, but I was ready to get back to serve. I apply that same level of commitment to my role as a manager every single day. To be successful at Publix, you must be willing to work hard, have a great sense of organization and know the value of teamwork.”