Sponsored By

Publix names Bridgid O’Connor as real estate strategy VP

Bob Balcerak to retire after nearly 30 years at Southeastern supermarket chain

Russell Redman

February 23, 2022

2 Min Read
Publix_store-Delray_Beach_FL-from_Sleiman_Enterprises.png
Publix said Bob Balcerak is slated to retire at the end of next month, at which time Bridgid O'Connor will start in her new role.Sleiman Enterprises

Bridgid O’Connor has been promoted to vice president of real estate strategy at Publix Super Markets, succeeding Bob Balcerak, who is retiring.

Plans call for Balcerak to retire as real estate strategy vice president on March 31, at which time O’Connor will start in the role, Publix said yesterday. She currently serves as director of real estate strategy.

Bridgid OConnor-Publix.jpgO’Connor (pictured left) started at Publix in 1998 as a part-time cashier in Dunedin, Fla. After serving in customer service roles at various stores, she shifted to Publix’s real estate department in an administrative support function in 2005. Within nine months, she was promoted to property specialist, and then from 2007 to 2009 she worked as a real estate specialist before being promoted to real estate manager in 2011. She was appointed as director of real estate strategy 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,” Publix President Kevin Murphy said in a statement. “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.”

Related:Publix promotes Malinda Renfroe to VP of marketing

Overall, Lakeland, Fla.-based Publix operates 1,296 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.

Bob Balcerak-Publix.jpgBalcerak (pictured left) has been with Publix for almost 30 years. He joined Publix as a meat cutter in Orlando, Fla., in 1993 and, after working in several positions in the meat department, was promoted to meat manager in 1996.

Three years later, he was elevated to assistant store manager and then in 2000 was promoted to real estate manager. In 2011, he was named as director of real estate strategy, followed by a promotion to his current role as vice president of real estate strategy in 2017.

“We are grateful for Bob’s leadership in new store growth, new market and site acquisition strategies,” Murphy commented. “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.”

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

Stay up-to-date on the latest food retail news and trends
Subscribe to free eNewsletters from Supermarket News

You May Also Like