Publix Super Markets celebrated the 2024 Atlanta Division George W. Jenkins Award recipient, District Manager Kayla Dean, Flowery Branch, at the company’s retail operations conference in Orlando, Florida, recently.
Her leadership team describes Dean as a standout leader focused on communicating, coaching her team by perpetuating the Publix culture and instilling a sense of ownership among all her associates.
“It’s important to me to encourage my team members to achieve their personal best,” said Dean. “When our associates trust and believe in themselves, they can achieve what they’ve set out to accomplish.”
She added that one of the most humbling parts of receiving the award has been hearing how much of an impact she has had on her team and knowing how much trust her leadership has in her ability to lead effectively.
“When I came to Publix, it immediately felt like home,” said Dean. “Experiencing the culture and growth opportunities firsthand has shaped me into the leader I am today. I am thankful for the opportunities Publix has given me to continue to grow.”
Named after Publix’s founder, the George W. Jenkins Award is one of the company’s most prestigious awards.
About the honoree
Dean started her Publix career in 2014 as a grocery replenishment specialist and worked her way up through the grocery department before becoming an assistant store manager. In 2020, she was promoted to store manager in Atlanta. She was selected for this award while serving as a store manager in Flowery Branch and was recently promoted to district manager.