Path of Progress Intern Feature: Ryan Rieta
As we look for interns to join our team this summer, we wanted to highlight some team members who started in that role at Harbor, and went on to start their professional careers.
Path Of Progress

Path of Progress Intern Feature: Ryan Rieta

April 19, 2022

How did your internship experience at Harbor prepare you for your professional career?

The internship experience helped me learn the importance of building an effective report that everyone can understand. I learned that it’s not about how much data you have, but rather it’s about how can you make the data accessible to everyone. Having numbers is a great tool to have but unless you are able to break it down for others to use then it will not be useful. In my current role I am always building and maintaining reports that are used across multiple departments. Each time I build a new report I always pull from my past experiences as an intern.

What was the most important thing you learned from your time interning?

The most valuable thing I learned was how each department fits within the operation. The internship program allowed me to meet with many people in different roles in the business. I spoke and learned from people in just about every department. Understanding how every department worked helped me see the entire picture of the operation.

What roles have you held at Harbor?

  • Order Selector pick mods for two summers
  • Operations Intern
  • Quality Assurance Coordinator
  • Quality Assurance and Safety Coordinator (Same position as above, but just added workplace safety to my role)

What is the most important piece of advice for having a successful career at Harbor?

The most important piece of advice that I can give someone would be to never be afraid of making a mistake. Harbor is a great working environment that will allow you to used missed opportunities as a chance to grow and learn in your career.

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Posted on: April 19, 2022
Eric has worked at Harbor for 20 years, starting out as a Merchandiser, and eventually moving into his current role of Creative Manager. Q: What roles have you held at Harbor? A: I was hired as a Merchandiser (Store Solutions today). I did that for about a year and a half. I was then asked if I was interested in working as a buyer in the Purchasing Department. I had no experience in this area, but I was eager to learn, so I accepted the job as the buyer for HABA & GM. Soon afterwards I was approached to take lead in our Planogram program called Merchandising Solutions. This was much more of a job that I was suited for, as I had a design background so I welcomed the opportunity. Planograms soon led to more design projects and this was really the birth of Marketing at Harbor. Harbor was undeniably growing and needed to evolve. Today I stand as the Creative Manager and I’m very proud of how far not only Marketing, but Harbor has come during my time here. Q: How did you make the transition from where you started to where you are now? A: My path within Harbor has been a little unconventional and nonlinear, but that has allowed me to gain experience in other departments and learn more about how the company works as a whole. This has only made me better at my job and allows me to see the bigger picture. Hard work opened up opportunities for me that might not have come otherwise. In the end I’m doing a job that I love and I feel lucky every day that I get to work with an amazing team and for a company that stands behind their values. Q: How long have you been with Harbor? A: 20 years Q: Any advice for advancing your career at Harbor? A: My advice for anyone looking to advance at Harbor is to find a way to make a difference. Be passionate about what you do, be the person people want to come to for answers and show your team you are eager to learn as much as you can about our business even if it’s outside of your comfort zone. Q: As a long standing employee, what do you think is the most important quality to have to get your career started at Harbor? A: I would have to say being resourceful. Be a problem solver and always be positive….see any potential difficulty as a challenge and not a road block.
Posted on: April 19, 2022
Caleb's path of progress is unique as he has held various roles and has gained knowledge along the way, which has served him well in his current role as PM Warehouse Supervisor. Q: How did you make the transition from where you started to where you are now? A: I started my career at Harbor as a utility worker, soon after that moved to order selector where I was able to be a part of a team which helped me develop the needed skills for leadership. I then moved to stocking and receiving where I was able to see more departments and how they worked together. I later moved to Inventory Control which gave me a much better understanding of the inner workings of our whole operation. Q: How long have you been with Harbor? A: 9 and a half years Q: Any advice for advancing your career at Harbor? A: Work hard, be reliable, and strive to embody the harbor values. Q: What roles have you held at Harbor? A: Utility, order selector, stocker, receiver, inventory control, and PM supervisor. Q: What do you think is the most important quality to have to get your career started at Harbor? A: Our core values are a great way to express what we are all about and if you have the motivation to grow within the company you will go a long way.