AMERICUS — For 2 points who can tell me what makes a great team? Answer: Teamwork.  For 2 points who can tell me who is behind a great team? Answer: A great leader. For 3 points, who can tell me what makes a great leader. Answer: total commitment, caring and a desire to have the best, do the best and be the best. For 2 points, who can name such a person? Still guessing?  

Well, here’s a little help: She is the front-end manager of the local neighborhood grocery, Winn-Dixie. That’s right, Annette Stephens.

Now, for 6 points and the win, do you want to know what this tireless dedication and service to Winn Dixie’s guests has brought her? Answer: an all expenses paid trip to Superbowl XLVI for herself plus one! (Lucky hubby Elliot Stephens)

Jealous? Well, you should be. All expenses paid to see what some deem the most important game in sports? Some of you baseball and basketball fans may have a differing opinion as to the veracity of this statement, but not the lovers of the pig skin sport … No brawls please!

OK, back to the matter at hand. Annette Stephens has worked countless hours to cultivate a strong and enduring sense of purpose in the front-end team that she leads. She even makes the effort to expand her vision throughout the entire store team. Though titled as the front-end manager, she considers this to be no boundary in her efforts and desire to make the Winn-Dixie guests’ shopping visit the “total experience.”

As evidenced by her recent success; some call it luck, but it is well deserved. Stephens’ dedication to establishing and fostering the company’s three goals —  engaging with the team and guests, giving warm and personal hospitality (after all they are families and friends), and providing each day an immaculate store —  has earned her bragging rights to attend (courtesy of Winn-Dixie) this year’s Super Bowl. So while you were watching the game at home, she was up close in person viewing the game in true real time.

When presented with the ticket package and plaque of excellence in achievement, Stephens did not feel as though she had performed any duties in excess. To her, going above and beyond is simply the way it should be. Not to say that she is not proud of her accomplishment; she talked about it for days (weeks really). Seriously, she went on and on and on and on … and on ... and on. But she does not believe that her service to Winn-Dixie guests should be any other way. Had she not been chosen as the winning recipient, she would have still returned to work and continued to perform the duties many would consider extra and above and beyond the necessary call of duty.

Stephens was presented with the prize by company Regional Manager Dan Lefever, District Manager Tim Vaugh, Guest Services Specialist Brenda Denis and local Store Director John Scott. Before sending her on her way, the store team celebrated her success with a star-studded party, where she received a football signed by team members from the store, a plaque presented to her by the front end office staff, and a t-shirt decorated by Seafood Manager Jonathan Lester.

While the party is over, and the Giants have officially taken home the glory, Stephens is still undoubtedly celebrating and grinning over the win that her exceptional service has garnered her. Although many of you have already done so, stop by the store to congratulate her and welcome her home.

Now she doesn’t know about this, but there’s one more thing; when you come by, if you ask her really nicely, she just might do a victory dance for you … anything for the guests, right?