Ryan's Path of Progress is unique in that he transitioned roles within a short amount of time, starting as a Foodservice Developer and transitioning into a Category Manager.
Path Of Progress

Path of Progress: Ryan Stamatz

January 24, 2024

Ryan’s Path of Progress is unique in that he transitioned roles within a short amount of time, starting as a Foodservice Developer and transitioning into a Category Manager.

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

A: Throughout my career, I’ve consistently held assignments in various sales roles. Initially hired as a Foodservice Sales Developer at Harbor, I committed nearly 5 years to this role. As my career progressed, I faced a pivotol moment where I had to decide between advancing in Foodservice sales leadership or applying my Foodservice expertise to category management. Fortunately, I had both options on the table. Ultimately, I chose to transition into category management, a move that presents daily challenges, allows for heightened productivity, and enables me to make impact across all facets of our organization.

Q: How long have you been with Harbor?

A: I joined Harbor on July 11, 2018

Q: Any advice for advancing your career at Harbor?

A: If you’re genuinely passionate about your work and it consistently contributes positively to the organization’s overall results, advancement opportunities will naturally unfold.

Q: What roles have you held at Harbor?

A: Foodservice Sales Developer and now Category Manager

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

A: To kick start you career at Harbor, it’s crucial to be an avid learner. The complexity of our industry and Harbor’s position as a premier wholesaler offers a wealth of knowledge to absorb. Actively tapping into available resources and cultivating colleague relationships will serve you well. Also, embracing failures as part of the learning and growth process is essential. Stepping outside your comfort zone and making occasional mistakes indicate a willingness to solve the challenges we face and develop as an industry professional.

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Posted on: January 24, 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: January 24, 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.