Resource Center

Jared has a unique path here at Harbor, and has used knowledge gained throughout his years here to advance from role to role. Q: How did you make the transition from where you started to where you are now? A: When I started at Harbor, I was a route driver delivering to C-Stores. This was back before Harbor took on Subway as a customer. Back then, I wasn't thinking about going into management. After taking a year away from Harbor and coming back, we had fully grown into the foodservice business that we have today. After returning, I worked foodservice. Because of the knowledge of doing both types of routes, I was moved into more a training role. I have always enjoyed teaching and training people, so at that point I knew I wanted to move up and become a member of management. Q: How long have you been at Harbor? A: Originally. I joined in October 2013. I left in 2016 and came back in 2017. Q: Any advice for advancing your career at Harbor? A: Work hard and apply yourself. Never stop pushing yourself to be better. Set goals and do whatever you can to reach them. Q: What roles have you held at Harbor? A: Route Driver, Trainer, Lead Driver, Driver Supervisor, Assistant Transportation Manager Q: What do you think is the most important quality to have to get your career started at Harbor? A: Being genuine and motivated.

Throughout Visuri's years here at Harbor, she has held many roles in a short amount of time! She started as a Store Solutions Representative and worked her way to her current role as a Territory Sales Manager. Q: How did you make the transition from where you started to where you are now? A: My prior retail c-store experience helped me incredibly in the transition of my roles here at Harbor. The ability to learn my roles fully, adapt to change, and be open to new opportunities also helped me grow. Q: How long have you been with Harbor? A: 3 years and 3 months Q: Any advice for advancing your career at Harbor? A: Step outside your comfort zone! Harbor has a lot of opportunities in various departments, and it is ultimately up to you to take that initial step. Learn everything you can in your current role and ask questions if something else interests you, but most importantly believe in yourself and give it your all. Q: What roles have you held at Harbor? A: Store Solutions Representative February 2020 through March 2021 / Lead Store Solutions Representative March 2021 through September 2022 / Foodservice Program Coordinator September 2022 through May 2023 / Territory Sales Manager May 2023 to present. Q: What do you think is the most important quality to have to get your career started at Harbor? A: Live by Harbor's core values. Be genuine with yourself, friendly with everyone, resourceful in everything you do, and stay motivated daily. If you follow these four values, you will go far here at Harbor.

Through Chelsea's years at Harbor, she started as a Replenishment Buyer for Candy/Beverage in July of 2011, working various roles in between, and moving to her current role as Brands Manager. Q: How long have you been with Harbor? A: 11 years Q: What roles have you held at Harbor? A: Replenishment buyer for candy/beverage, Category Manager for: beverage, cooler, frozen, grocery edible, grocery non-edible, grab & go, snacks, then Brands Manager. Q: How did you make the transition from where you started to where you are now? A: I took the time to listen and learn. By watching how others went about things, I observed what worked and what didn't and learned what effective communication looks like. By trying a lot of different types of systems, processes, tasks, strategies, I learned not only what my strengths are, but what I enjoy the most. Q: What do you think is the most important quality to have to get your career started at Harbor? A: Being proactive. Don't wait for someone to tell you to do something. If something needs doing, do it. Look for ways to improve things. Can things be done more efficiently or effectively? If so, then put a plan together. Don't be shy about sharing your ideas. Even if your suggestion can't be implemented for some reason, it shows that you are motivated (one of our Harbor values!) and can think outside the box. Q: Any advice for advancing your career at Harbor? A: I think for the most successful folks, advancement for the sake of a title change or "climbing the ladder" is not the main objective in showing up for work every day. Instead, it is almost more of a byproduct. If you dedicate yourself to doing your job to the best of your ability, show you are willing to learn and solve problems, treat others how you would want to be treated, you're bound to go places.

Jeremy's Path of Progress is unique in that he transitioned roles within a short amount of time at Harbor! Q: How did you make the transition from where you started to where you are now? A: Having the work experience from prior employers, an understanding of Harbor's processes, and an intimate knowledge of the dispensed beverage segment helped me make the transition into the role I am in currently. Q: Any advice for advancing your career at Harbor? A: Communicate with all departments within the company, and learn as much as you can about how we go to market and how the business is ran. People will always be the most important part of Harbor, however, understanding the processes of how we do business will help to not only advance your career, but also to make recommendations on how to improve upon what is already in place. Team members are trusted to make business decisions, so learning as much as you can about our business will give you the knowledge to make educated decisions. Q: What roles have you held at Harbor? A: Foodservice Sales Developer from January 2020 - March 2021 to my current role as a Beverage Foodservice Program Manager Q: What do you think is the most important quality to have to get your career started at Harbor? A: When starting a career with Harbor, the company values are instilled immediately. Genuine. Motivated. Resourceful. Friendly. All of these qualities are important when starting a career with Harbor. Being genuine and friendly allows for strong relationships to be built with team members and customers alike. Being motivated to truly be "obsessed with our customers success" sets us apart from all of the competition, and allows for Harbor, its team members, and our customers to succeed. Being resourceful and continuing to learn new skills and processes to better yourself and the company will make you a true asset to Harbor from your start date. All of our values are important for different reasons, but they all are part of the roadmap to success within Harbor.

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Certified Food Protection Manager (which begins enforcement, March 1st, 2023) is part of Washington State's 2022 update to the retail food code that requires every foodservice operation to have at least one person trained and certified as someone with "Active Managerial Control". In this interview, our Restaurant Consultant, Andy Cook sits down with Washington State DOH's Public Health Advisor, Susan Shelton to discuss in plain speak what many restaurant operators are wondering: -Where does one go to receive certification? -What skills and knowhow will certification impart? -How does a foodservice operation ensure compliance? -What responsibilities will a Certified Food Protection Manager have? -How will this affect our relationship with our local health inspector? Listen To The Podcast Here

Leon has worked various roles at Harbor, starting as a Stocker and working diligently to achieve his current role as Warehouse Manager. Q: How did you make the transition from where you started to where you are now? A: My career in grocery wholesale started with a company that Harbor later acquired. While there I went from order selection to stocking, and then on to delivery driver. I had a brief hiatus to pursue an opportunity driving elsewhere.  I returned after hearing how much Harbor had improved the operation, and incentivized hard work. Since then I have continued to learn and have always wanted more. I guess you could say I like a challenge, and here we are! Q: How long have you been with Harbor? A: It will be 15 short years on March 5th 2023 Q: Any advice for advancing your career at Harbor? A: My advice is to be a continuous learner. Ask questions and get involved. Take on more and be proud to do so, and when more is asked of you take it as a compliment. Q: What roles have you held at Harbor? A: Stocker, Delivery Driver, Receiver, Supervisor, A.M. Warehouse Manager, and currently Warehouse Manager.

Through his years at Harbor, Adam worked in various roles, starting as a Delivery Driver and moving to his current role as a Transportation Manager. Q. How did you make the transition from where you started to where you are now?   A. My first role at Harbor was a full-time delivery driver out of the Tumwater, WA warehouse, which later moved to the current Lacey, WA warehouse.  I worked as a delivery driver for 10 years and enjoyed working directly with our customers and salesreps.  After we moved to the Lacey warehouse, I showed interest in moving up within the company and into a management position, but I wasn’t selected.  I guess it wasn’t the right time.  A management opportunity came available later, but it required relocating my family to the Marysville, WA area.  After taking that initial step, I began to learn new things about Harbor and the operations and continued advancing throughout different roles, to where I am now. Q. How long have you been with Harbor?  A. Feb 2023 will be 17 years. Q. Any advice for advancing your career at Harbor?  A. Stay true to Harbor’s core values of being genuine, motivated, resourceful, and friendly.  There are a lot of opportunities within Harbor to advance because the company is continually growing.  Advancing within the company will require constant improvement because there are a lot of things to learn about an operation. Q. What roles have you held at Harbor? A. Feb 2006- Delivery driver- Tumwater, WA and Lacey, WA July 2016- North Area Driver supervisor- Mount Vernon and Everett, WA July 2018- Dispatch supervisor- Lacey, WA April 2019- Driver supervisor- Lacey, WA March 2021- Assistant transportation manager- Lacey, WA July 2022- Transportation manager- Lacey, WA Q. What do you think is the most important quality to have to get your career started at Harbor? A. I think the most important quality is being friendly and working with others.  Harbor is a family, and a family is a team.  Working together as a team is extremely important.