Join us as we welcome Amazon, the Seattle based e-commerce giant, to Lake Nona. Located near the intersection of Boggy Creek Road and 417, the 855,000-square-foot building is hard to miss. The warehouse is massive!
Amazon is known as the company that delivers everyday items with the click of a button or Alexa command. Known as a “disruptor” for its innovation, Amazon has boldly changed the way consumers buy and sell products online.
Brenda Alfred, operations public relations manager for Amazon in Florida, expressed excitement as we spoke about Amazon’s future impact on the local area. As an employer, Amazon seeks to directly impact the needs of the community, especially all things STEM-related (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Recently, Amazon selected Osceola Science Charter School (OSCS) to receive $10,000 worth of equipment to make a significant impact on education. (Check out the May 2018 edition of Nonahood News for the OSCS story by Nicole LaBosco.)
This time last year, Nonahood News reported Amazon’s fulfillment center coming to Lake Nona. Fast forward to today, the four-story fulfillment center has already begun hiring. Once complete, the facility will employ more than 1,500 associates, with up to an additional 1,000 temporary associates during the holiday season. Nationwide, Amazon employs more than 200,000 full-time associates at more than 100 fulfillment centers across North America.
Alfred shared a tiny bit about Launch Day, the day the first group of new hires enters the building. It is a huge event, she says. No media is invited; only employees, managers, mascots from local athletic teams, and, of course, general manager Mike Bauer. Alfred says Bauer is passionate about fostering a positive employee culture necessary to support Amazon’s success.
In terms of benefits, Amazon associates receive highly competitive wages and comprehensive benefits, including health care that is effective on the first day on the job, up to 20 weeks paid parental leave, a 401(k), and company stock awards. Amazon offers full-time employees innovative programs like Career Choice, where the company will pre-pay up to 95 percent of tuition for courses related to in-demand fields regardless of whether or not the skills are relevant to a career at Amazon.
Associates will also have the opportunity to engage with Amazon Robotics, which empowers a smarter, faster, more consistent customer experience through automation. Amazon Robotics allows the fulfillment center to house 50 percent more inventory. Improving storage capacity within the fulfillment center means Amazon can have more customer products on hand, providing a vast, in-stock selection for customers. Amazon Robotics also reduces processing times from what could take up to several hours to mere minutes, enabling faster shipping times to customers. According to their website, “Amazon Robotics has a dedicated focus on research and development to continuously explore new opportunities to extend its product lines into new areas that will redefine what ‘Now’ means and allow Amazon to continue to offer customer experiences that will delight and amaze.”
Known as the “Amazon effect,” local real estate near the facility has seen an uptick in interest as well. High profile projects near Amazon in Lake Nona include KPMG’s $450 million training complex and Tavistock Development Group’s phase two of the Lake Nona Town Center.
The grand opening date has not yet been announced. Stay tuned to Nonahood News for more information on this exciting addition to Lake Nona!
Sophia Rogers is a six-year year Lake Nona area resident and Realtor/founder of NonaHomeGuide.com. A wife and mom of four, family, relationships and real estate are her passions. She can be reached at sophia@nonahoodnews.com.
