An Open Letter to the Displaced Kroger Workers of Groveland, Florida

Kroger’s sudden closure of the Groveland Distribution Center ended routines and relationships, and foiled expectations many of you had built. If you are feeling unsettled, frustrated, or uncertain about what comes next, it means you are absolutely normal—and deeply human.

Your skills, your work ethic, and your lived experience carry tremendous value. A company’s departure from your world does not determine your worth.

I live here in Groveland and, as your neighbor, I feel the ripple you’re feeling. I connect with multiple Central Florida circles—entrepreneur groups, chambers of commerce, and women’s business networks—and I personally run local projects of my own. Within these circles, I consistently watch people land strong when they have the right support, clarity and direction. I want to be an advocate to those of you who need it.

Leverage my Experience

A common lesson I learned in both the military and in business is that when the world says “No” to you, it doesn’t always mean NO.  Rather, it often means New Opportunity—a chance to recalibrate your life, to choose a better direction, and to step into work that fits who you are today, not who you were yesterday.

Your Job Title Never Told the Whole Story

Whether you worked on the docks, picked orders, ran forklifts, drove trucks, managed a shift, handled inventory, maintained equipment, kept people safe, or supported office operations, you developed skills that transfer into countless other industries.

Truthfully, you probably have skills that Kroger never fully realized—the ones you use in your personal life, your hobbies, your families, and your communities.

It’s the “Hidden Skills” that Set You Apart

I work exceptionally well with veterans and former service members. The discipline, structure, and drive you bring align deeply with several of my projects—and with many employers across Central Florida. If you’ve served, I want to hear from you and so do many others. Your service goes a long way with many of us.

I also maintain strong connections within multiple women’s networking groups throughout Central Florida. These groups provide support, community, and opportunity—especially for women ready to redefine their careers, income, or lifestyle.

And here’s something that may surprise you: team athletics is one of the most underrated predictors of success in today’s workplace. If you’ve played on a team, competed at any level, or practiced discipline in sports—if you’ve learned how to collaborate, adapt, or strategize under pressure—those traits are pure gold in the modern job market. Employers are becoming increasingly selective, and “soft” skills like teamwork, coachability, discipline, and resilience carry more value than ever.

Whatever your background, you’ve developed abilities that translate across industries. Sometimes it just takes the right conversation to connect those skills to new opportunities.

How Can I Help?

Honestly, it might be that I cannot help you directly. I currently oversee 17 active projects across different industries—everything from agricultural ventures to veteran programs to women’s business initiatives.

Let me be clear: I am NOT hiring employees. I’m not adding anyone to a payroll or offering traditional employment. But I am open to working with people in other ways—co-ventures, project-based gigs, partnerships, profit-sharing arrangements. I even have farmland where people can grow crops and we split the profits. The point is flexibility based on what works for your life.

While it’s possible that my current projects may not be a fit for you, I do know how to connect people. I know where talent belongs. I’ve helped countless people over the years write their next chapters. I don’t need anything from you, but if you want to talk through your possibilities and work out some potential plans, let’s have that chat.

Your Next Step: A Free, Private Personal Inventory

I encourage you to use the free self-assessment tool that I have linked at www.TiaJolie.com/inventory to help you identify your strongest skills, what you enjoy doing, what you want to avoid going forward, the type of work or schedule that fits your lifestyle, whether you want full-time, part-time, home-based, or entrepreneurial work, and the passions or interests you may have put on hold. This inventory is completely confidential and will serve as a ‘self-assessment’ and compass as you write your next chapter.

And here is my promise to you: I will personally contact every single person who requests contact—by phone or email, your choice.  You will not receive an automated script, a generic roadmap, or a template response. You will hear from me, directly. Simply complete the inventory and indicate you’d like to connect—I’ll reach out directly.

Career transitions can be scary, but you are not alone. Together, we can talk through your goals, your skill sets, and your life circumstances to determine the next steps that truly fit you—whether those steps involve my projects or opportunities elsewhere in Central Florida.

You are NOT defined by what happens to you, but by how you respond to it.

Regardless of your job title or how long you served in a role at Kroger, you bring something real and valuable to the table. Let’s find opportunities that match your skills and your personality, but more importantly ones that fulfill your family’s needs and your dreams.

It would be my privilege to support you through that transition.

We’ve got this!

Dr. Tia Jolie Phillips
Groveland, Florida