Springdale, Arkansas-based Harps Food Stores Inc. has promoted two executives, Dakota Breshears and Travis Lee, to new positions.
Breshears has been promoted to VP of meat and seafood.
Breshears’ journey with Harps began in 2004, when he joined the team in Springdale. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in biology, he joined the Harps’ manager trainee program and was appointed grocery manager in 2011. Breshears’ leadership qualities led to his role as store manager in 2012, where he remained until 2016 when he assumed the position of meat category manager.
Harps recognizes Breshears’ commitment and the contributions he has made to the company’s success. In his new role, Breshears’ will be responsible for overseeing the entire meat and seafood department. Breshears fills this position after former VP of meat and seafood, Layne Chastain, retired in August.
“Dakota’s journey at Harps is an inspiring story of hard work, dedication and continuous growth,” said Kim Eskew, chairman and CEO of Harps. “His promotion to VP of meat and seafood is a natural progression of his career, and we are excited to see his dynamic leadership drive the success of this vital department.”
Lee has been appointed as director of loss prevention.
Lee joined Harps in October 2020. His journey with the company began with the completion of the store manager trainee program, demonstrating his determination and ability to learn and adapt. The following year, he joined the loss prevention team. Lee fills this position following the August retirement of former director of loss prevention, John Rinks.
With a track record as a law enforcement professional, Lee has amassed experience in research, problem-solving, interviews, interrogation and conducting civil and criminal investigations. His career has been marked by collaboration with numerous federal, state and local agencies, working on high-level cases involving crimes against persons and property, as well as financial fraud crimes.
“I am honored to be a part of the Harps family and am excited to contribute to the protection of Harps’ employees, customers and assets,” Lee said. “My faith, law enforcement experience and dedication to serving the community align perfectly with Harps’ values and commitment to safety and security.”
Harps Food Stores is a 100 percent employee-owned company, operating 146 stores in six states: Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Louisiana, Mississippi and Kansas. Harps is the largest employee owned company in Arkansas and was founded by Harvard and Floy Harp in Springdale, Arkansas in 1930. Since then, the company has grown to employ more than 7,200 associates.
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