Here, Everyone Belongs: Marcus Shipley

Welcome to H-E-B, Partner! What brought you here? 

In September 2022, a dear friend (who happens to be a recruiter) called me about an exciting opportunity in Texas and I immediately hoped it was H-E-B. I’m originally from Austin and lived in SA for over a decade, so I have always loved H-E-B — I mean, who doesn’t? So, when he asked what I thought about H-E-B, I start sharing all the amazing things about my home state’s grocery store. After a few minutes he stops me and says, “I’m not looking for information about H-E-B. They have a position open that would be perfect for you and I’m curious if you’d be interested?” He didn’t have to ask twice! 

Soon after applying, I met the team in San Antonio and started learning about the business of H-E-B as more than just a customer, and specifically the digital business. I also got the greatest opportunity to meet Howard who helped me understand how digital is critical to the business and our future. So, when my official offer came from Howard, I was thrilled to join the team as H-E-B’s Chief Digital and Information Officer. 

What was your experience with H-E-B when you were younger?

My dad was in the Air Force so, while I was born in Austin, I’ve lived all over. When I was a teenager, we moved to San Antonio, and I still remember my first shopping experience at the H-E-B off Pat Booker Rd. in Universal City. I’ve shopped in grocery stores all over the world, but nothing beats an H-E-B. It’s such a great company, doing great things for Texas. Now I wonder what took me so long to be here with my own Partner badge!

Your onboarding experience was pretty intense – what was that like? 

H-E-B is fascinatingly complex, which is why I find so much value in my onboarding plan. Overall, I spent three months learning the nuances of this company, spending time in our stores, warehouses, and manufacturing plants, and really gaining first-hand knowledge of our unique business and our unparalleled culture. Getting to work so closely with our Partners gave me valuable perspective on what it takes to keep H-E-B running. To this day, I’ve never had an onboarding experience that was as robust and detailed as this one.  

A particular moment that stood out to me was when I was assisting our overnight stockers. It was so neat to be an active participant in the process that brings items loaded on pallets to our stores where they’re neatly placed on shelves for our customers to shop the following day. This is a vitally important element of our business, but something that we may not always think about because we don’t see it happening. To see first-hand the hard work and dedication of our Partners at all hours of the day was both impressive and inspiring.  

We’re glad you’re here! What do you anticipate will be your favorite part of the work? 

You know, H-E-B has been on this Digital transformation journey for quite some time. Even though I’m new in this role, seeing how our tools and tech have made a real difference in the lives of our customers and made our Partners’ work easier is hands down one of the best parts of my job. To be at a company where I can combine my business knowledge and technical skills with my heart for taking care of others and my love of Texas is so fulfilling.  

Part of that journey is hiring recent grads into the digital organization – what do think makes H-E-B attractive for new technical talent? 

One of the things most new grads are looking for is a company that takes care of the community – and is both stable and innovative. H-E-B definitely strives to be there for the communities we serve. And with over 100 years of stability, we still challenge ourselves to be innovative and try new things – that’s the whole reason we are offering digital solutions for our customers who want to shop differently. The digital team is in the fortunate position of building tech that feeds Texans – that’s an incredible mission! It’s not just a job; it’s an opportunity to serve and make a meaningful difference with the talents and skills you have.  

Now, in the Digital organization, specifically, there is a world of endless possibilities. It’s not just the app or the website or Curbside or Delivery – though those are crucial! There is a lot of technology involved in getting groceries on the shelves and into the hands of our customers. And that means there’s a ton of opportunities for growth and skill development. You get to shape your expertise while creating digital solutions that genuinely improve the lives of Texans. It’s an exciting and rewarding journey, no doubt about it. 

What else excites you about H-E-B’s future? 

Over the past 7 months of my onboarding, and close collaboration with our Digital teams has led us to identify a set of priorities that will bring a modern touch to many of our platforms, including MWT and HR. We’re investing heavily in platform modernization, which is an important endeavor.  

Another area I’m really excited about is our continued investment in Partner Tools. There’s a lot of time and energy that goes into ensuring we’re giving our Partners the best tools possible to help them do what they need to do every day. At the same time, we’re devoting a lot of time and resources to our consumer-facing technology like heb.com and the My H-E-B app. 

I know it’s a broad response but trust me when I say that there’s a lot of excitement happening on multiple fronts. We’re making significant strides with technology and making sure that our Partners and customers have the digital solutions they need to fully experience the best of H-E-B. It’s a thrilling time, and we’re fully committed to delivering excellence in every aspect of our digital offerings. 

What advice would you give others about working for H-E-B? 

Embrace ‘Because People Matter’. It’s not just a slogan on our badges, or a statement in the Bold Promise; it’s the very foundation of our culture. The success of H-E-B now and in the future lies in prioritizing the well-being of our Partners and customers.  

Whether you’re directly serving our customers or supporting our Partners, always keep in mind that their well-being is at the heart of what we do. When you truly understand and embody this principle, you’ll find fulfillment and contribute to the overall success of H-E-B. 

Interested in becoming a Digital Partner? View our open roles, here.