Publix Promotes Bridgid O’Connor to Vice President of Retail Strategy as Bob Balcerak Prepares to Retire; Kevin Murphy Comments
LAKELAND, FL - A new season of leadership is starting at Publix Super Markets as Bridgid O’Connor has been appointed Vice President of Real Estate Strategy after Bob Balcerak announced his retirement. Balcerak has served the retailer for 29 years and will officially depart March 31, 2022.
O’Connor began her career at Publix in 1998 as a part-time cashier in Dunedin, Florida, a release noted. After working in customer service roles across various locations, she transferred to the retailer’s real estate department as administrative support in 2005. Within nine months, she was promoted to Property Specialist, and then in 2011, was again promoted to Real Estate Manager.
Currently, she is Director of Real Estate Strategy, a position she entered in 2017.
“For the past 18 years, Bridgid has pursued her passion of strategic planning and real estate development by honing her skills and achieving her goal to learn every aspect of the business,” said President Kevin Murphy. “Her ability to be a strong, strategic leader—along with her commitment to developing her team—has allowed her to excel. We are excited to see the contributions she’ll continue to make in her new role.”
She will be taking over her new role of Vice President of Real Estate Strategy from Balcerak, who began his career with Publix in 1993 as a meat cutter. Working his way through the meat department, he was promoted to Meat Manager in 1996 and Assistant Store Manager in 1999. In 2000, Balcerak was appointed Real Estate Manager, and in 2011 was selected as Director of Real Estate Strategy. In 2017, he was promoted to his current role of Vice President of Real Estate Strategy.
“We are grateful for Bob’s leadership in new store growth, new market, and site acquisition strategies,” continued Murphy. “He has perpetuated our Publix culture of promotion from within and preparing for opportunity each time his team has secured a new store site. He’s been our brand ambassador as we have charted our way into new communities, passing on the Publix spirit, and developing his team to further our company’s real estate development strategy. We are grateful for his years of dedicated service.”
Cheers to Balcerak and O’Connor as they enter these new seasons of their careers!
