Path of Progress Intern Feature: Alex Johnson
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: Alex Johnson

April 19, 2022

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

My internship at Harbor allowed me to have a hands-on experience applying the knowledge from both what I had learned in school, along with new knowledge I gained during the internship. Collaborating with different departments gave me the chance to ask questions and learn about different roles and responsibilities within the company. An important component of an internship is to learn from others around you and everyone at Harbor is willing to put their current “to do’s” down to talk or let you shadow them if you are interested. Harbor puts you in a position to grow both your hard and soft skills through different day-to-day tasks, projects, and activities that will help build a foundation for your career.

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

I was able to increase my comprehension of the supply chain and get a more in-depth understanding of all the components. Throughout my internship, I learned how vital each role is to get the right product to the customer at the right place, the right price, the right time, and the right quantity.

What roles you’ve held at Harbor?

  • Procurement Intern
  • Replenishment Buyer
  • Item and Pricing Specialist
  • Logistics Manager

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

Always be willing to take on a challenge. Many opportunities will arise as Harbor continues to grow that will allow you to improve not only yourself but the company as well. Do not be afraid to take something on that is asked of you even if you don’t know the answer right away. Reach out to those around you to piece together a solution as there are many talented people within the Harbor family with years of industry experience.

OTHER Path Of Progress
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Posted on: April 19, 2022
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.
Posted on: April 19, 2022
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.