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GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — For Julie Martin, Dollar General’s mission of Serving Others might appear simple — “it’s just two words” — but like so many others at the company she believes it’s at the core of everything DG does.
Martin, who joined DG in 2020, said she was drawn by the approachability of upper leadership. “Everyone at Dollar General wants to lock arms and accomplish things together. We are a connected, engaged and down-to-earth team. Despite being a huge organization, DG feels like a small company.”
In her role as division vice president of store operations, she understands the company’s reach, overseeing approximately 2,200 stores in four southeastern states. Martin spends a significant amount of time visiting Dollar General locations and working with regional directors to ensure a positive, and consistent, shopping experience for customers while growing sales. A typical week can include visiting as many as 50 stores.
“I go into stores with the high-level intention of assessing conditions to ensure we’re on track, checking that shelves are stocked and that the store is well maintained. But I’m also there to support the team. I always ask, ‘What can we do to help you? How can I support you?’ ”
Julie Martin
While Martin finds it rewarding to clear barriers for her team, her role is more than identifying and solving problems. She’s mindful of the importance of “calling out the good” and giving the store teams credit for their successes and hard work, often highlighting employees’ efforts on the company’s internal communications platform and LinkedIn.
“Recognizing our teams is very meaningful for them. They work hard in our stores, so it’s important to show appreciation. At DG, if you work hard on something, you’re able to see an impact in a relatively short period of time. You can use your voice to impact a metric or sales result, and it makes me proud when I’m able to motivate my team to work on something and we then see the fruits of their labor.”
Beyond keeping shelves stocked, showing positive sales trajectory or demonstrating inventory management skills, Martin shouts out employees’ efforts outside of work as well, highlighting volunteerism efforts and praising those investing in the education of their family and themselves by taking advantage of DG’s zero cost tuition and secondary education reimbursement programs.
Martin is also passionate about supporting her teams through challenges, helping them be more successful in their roles while developing people and giving them opportunities to grow. “I love seeing people do well and advance. I love guiding them and providing opportunities for exposure, networking and advancement.”
Beyond her day-to-day role of overseeing stores and DG teams, Martin leads the company’s SERVE employee resource group, which supports and recognizes military personnel, their families and supporters.
