Nikelle's path of progress is unique, as she started as an Order Selector and held various roles in between her current role as a Replenishment Buyer.
Path Of Progress

Path of Progress: Nikelle Ivanoff

March 13, 2024

Nikelle’s path of progress is unique, as she started as an Order Selector and held various roles in between her current role as a Replenishment Buyer.

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

A: I started as a part time order selector back at the Tumwater Harbor warehouse in 2009, and became full time after I graduated HS. I spent most of my time on the warehouse side being an order selector, but also worked as the “print tag girl” and the night invoicing. I was motivated to do more for Harbor, and was luckily to have leaders guide me along my way. I was promoted to Operations Administrative Assistant in 2018, and spent two years there until I felt I was ready to grow more as an employee. Ryan Phillips was a huge motivator and cheerleader in my corner when he suggested I look into the Junior Buyer position. I knew after talking over the position that this was something I was very interested in and was luckily enough to move into that position in Nov of 2021 and in Jan of 2023 was promoted to a Replenishment Buyer, which is my current role!

Q: How long have you been with Harbor?

A: I originally started at Harbor in 2009, when I was a Junior in HS. After I had my first child, I got the opportunity to stay home with him from Sept of 2015 through Nov of 2017. But Harbor was always a part of my life during this time, as most of my family and friends still worked there. In Dec of 2017 I came back and I just celebrated my 6 year anniversary!

Q: Any advice for advancing your career at Harbor?

A: Have a good attitude and patience. Some things might not work out when or how you want it, but having a good attitude about things and being your genuine self will always help guide you to your next opportunity.

Q: What roles have you held at Harbor?

A: Order selector in multiple departments, Invoicing/ Tags, Operations Administrative Assistant, Junior Buyer, and Buyer.  

Q: What do you think is the most important quality to have to get your career started at Harbor?

A: Willing to learn and trying new things. Harbor has a lot of amazing positions and career opportunities and trying something new could lead you to somewhere you didn’t expect and absolutely love it!

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Posted on: March 13, 2024
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: March 13, 2024
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.