Zachary has a unique path here at Harbor, and has used knowledge gained throughout his years to advance from role to role.
Path Of Progress

Path of Progress: Zachary Hiester

January 25, 2024

Zachary has a unique path here at Harbor, and has used knowledge gained throughout his years to advance from role to role.

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

A: I was hired for a PM Utility position, and started picking orders about two months after that. My supervisor, Aaron Lawrence, noticed my willingness to learn and do whatever he needed me to do. I then learned how to pick in every department, as well as run the stamping machines and consolidate/load. This went on for roughly two years before I followed him to the AM shift, where I did inventory control and learned a lot about our inbound processes. I did this for about two years before being approached by Chris Ritter and Leon Dillon about a Supervisor position on the PM shift. I was eager to take on the leadership role and responsibility. I worked as a PM Warehouse Supervisor and eventually the PM Warehouse Assistant Manager for about 5 years. Over the last year, I moved into my current position as the AM Warehouse Assistant Manager. I am looking forward to seeing what the next 10 years has in store!

Q: How long have you been with Harbor?

A: Over 10 years

Q: Any advice for advancing your career at Harbor?

A: Show up every day ready to work! Things can change rapidly in our business. Be willing to learn and adapt as things change. The more you learn now, the better prepared you will be when opportunity knocks. Speak up when you have an idea or see room for improvement, but also listen intently. We have a lot of really great people at Harbor, people who have been doing this for a long time, they have an amazing amount of wisdom and knowledge about our operation, so try to absorb some of that! Don’t let your job title define what you learn or your willingness to do whatever is needed.

Q: What roles have you held at Harbor?

A: PM Utility, Order Selector, Inventory Control, PM Warehouse Supervisor, PM Warehouse Assistant Manager, AM Warehouse Assistant Manager

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

A: Being genuine, motivated, resourceful, and friendly are all important qualities when getting started at Harbor.

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Posted on: January 25, 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 25, 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.