Path of Progress: Ashley Wade
Through her years at Harbor, Ashley has worked in different roles within the Warehouse and eventually transitioned to her current role as an Accounts Payable Clerk.
Path Of Progress

Path of Progress: Ashley Wade

October 31, 2022

Through her years at Harbor, Ashley has worked in different roles within the Warehouse and eventually transitioned to her current role as an Accounts Payable Clerk.

Q: How did you make the transition from where you started to where you are now?

A: I felt like my transition was natural within the company, I knew I couldn’t jump straight into an office role when I had no experience about the company or about food distribution in general. My only work experience was retail and being a barista. When looking to advance, I looked for positions I believed I was qualified for while achieving what I was looking for. My time working in the warehouse has certainly helped me in my office positions as I know the process of the outflow of product as well as the incoming. I am able to share my knowledge with my teams and help answer questions when the come up.

Q: How long have you been with Harbor?

A: I have been with Harbor for 5.5 years, I started in April of 2017 when I was 19!

Q: What roles have you held at Harbor?

A: I started in the Warehouse printing Tags as well as being an Order Selector. From there I moved to an inventory role on the PM shift, followed by a change to the AM Receiving Team. From there I decided I would like to be in an office role so I moved to a Customer Service Position. I then transitioned to a position as the Accounting Admin Assistant and my most recent position is an Accounts Payable Clerk.

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 to have is the desire to learn and try new things. I love learning and am always willing to take on more work if I am able to. Harbor has changed so much in the short amount of time that I have been here, I have loved getting to work with new people in different department and seeing how other positions relate to each other as I continue to progress within the company.

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Posted on: October 31, 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: October 31, 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.