March 13, 2023 — Publix Senior Retail Accounting Analyst Brianna Phillips is passionate about sustainability and animals. She volunteers at Owl’s Nest Sanctuary for Wildlife in Odessa, Florida. The nonprofit organization rescues, rehabilitates and releases sick, orphaned or injured wildlife native to Florida. This includes: 

• Birds — owls, eagles, hawks, herons, cranes and songbirds.  
• Mammals — opossums, raccoons, squirrels, foxes and armadillos.  
• Amphibians and reptiles — gopher tortoises, slider turtles, snapping turtles, box turtles, snakes and alligators. 

“Essentially, if it is a native Florida species, we can help, or help you find someone who will,” Brianna said. 

How it started
In 2020, one of her friends posted on Facebook that Owl’s Nest Sanctuary was looking for volunteers, and Brianna immediately jumped on the opportunity. Through the organization, she completed rigorous training to learn how to feed, rescue and care for wild animals.  

“During my childhood, I was always watching ‘Animal Planet,’” she said. “I knew I wanted to help animals but didn’t know how.” 

Educating the public
Brianna has also educated locals about the importance of wildlife preservation.

“It’s important to inform people about how they can help us preserve our beautiful Florida wildlife,” she said. “We try to tell them about the negative impact of rodent poisons and what to do when they find injured animals.” 

Her most memorable volunteer experience was helping rescue a female bald eagle and return it to its natural habitat.  

“I never had the chance to help an eagle before. It’s very special,” she said. “It’s a mighty animal, and it was very nice to be a part of that rescue.” 

Her plan for the future
Brianna has worked at Publix for 13 years. She held multiple positions before taking her current role at the Publix corporate office in Lakeland, Florida. 

Although she loves working with numbers, her passion for nature and sustainability inspired Brianna to go back to college. She is working on a sustainability degree. Brianna wants to combine her career at Publix with her love for the environment.

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