Here, Everyone Belongs

"H-E-B was founded on the unwavering belief that each and every person counts."

Craig Boyan, President at H-E-B

Because People Matter

We're in the people business. We just happen to sell groceries.

Because People Matter

We're in the people business. We just happen to sell groceries.

Our Stories

Quynh
Operating Director of Manufacturing for Print, Floral and Safety

While Quynh didn’t grow up with H-E-B, she didn’t have to dig too deep to see why it was the place for her— a place where she could grow, thrive, and be herself. Quynh’s story is about her journey through multiple industries, lessons learned, and how you can always find a home at H-E-B.

Bonny
Director of Own Brand

When your daughters tell you to chase what you love, you build a career for both you and your family. That’s how Director of Own Brand, Bonny Akers found a balance between the office and her home and how she’s modeled what’s possible for future female leaders at H-E-B. And, it all started with ketchup.

Justen
Director of Emergency Preparedness

Justen Noakes, H-E-B’s Director of Emergency Preparedness, followed an unlikely career path to get to where he is today. From an industrial engineering internship to a career in emergency management, Justen shares his story and how seizing opportunities, trying new things and always being reliable can lead to an amazing career.

Quynh, From Automotive to H-E-B: A Story About Relationships and Vulnerability

So, what’s your H-E-B story?

Well, my journey to H-E-B had some stops along the way— but It was amazing once I finally got here. I worked in automotive early in my career, and later moved to a medical device manufacturer (which is what brought me to San Antonio back in 2010) all before I found my way to H-E-B! After that company was bought out, I started searching for a new role and reached out to a few of my colleagues who gave me the name of a recruiter at H-E-B. I sent her an email with my resume and after an extensive interviewing process, was offered the position as Director of Continuous Improvement for Manufacturing in 2014. Shortly after that, I took over responsibility of our meat plant, and then in 2015 also took over the San Antonio Snacks Plant, Print Plant and Floral— I’m sure you’ve noticed that none of these alike. This role definitely brought me out of my comfort zone in more ways than one.

How was the grocery industry different from what you were doing?

Not to oversimplify it, but at its core manufacturing is really just taking raw materials, converting them and producing product at the end of the day.

With automotive and medical devices, the process involved is so precise it can be measured down to the micrometer. As I’m sure you can gather, food isn’t quite so precise. Livestock differs, produce differs, it’s not always so precise. Sure, we do plenty of planning, but there is always some level of fluidity and adaptation.

Did you have any experience with H-E-B before this?

Not really, but as I was preparing for my H-E-B interview, I really dived into the company to learn all I could, and I remember being so blown away by how highly everyone— both Partners and customers— spoke about H-E-B.

Coming from the world of automotive, this was significant to me. We had a mission statement hanging on the wall like every other company, but we didn’t really live into it, and I could tell that H-E-B did.

What do you love most about working for H-E-B?

For the first time, I’m in a career where I truly feel like I can be myself. The automotive industry can be very competitive— there wasn’t a lot of trust to go around, and you didn’t dare share any details about yourself or your work. I felt like I could never let my guard down and just be me. In 2014, I attended the Women in Leadership conference and I remember being shocked by a couple of things: one, that there were so many female leaders– that was a rarity in automotive— and two, how open and vulnerable these women were with everyone. They didn’t share their credentials or their accomplishments, they shared their stories. This was such a foreign concept to me at the time, but I loved it and I started working to model vulnerability with my own team.

What’s your favorite part of the job?

Definitely the people– they are at the heart of everything we do. Early in my career, when I had just taken over responsibility of the meat plant, I decided that the best way to learn the processes and the Partners was through hands on experience. So, in my first year I made a commitment to work every single assembly line. I wanted to understand the process, but I also wanted to gain insight into what our Partners do every single day. All I gotta say is, our Partners are amazing—they do the work with such skill and consideration. Working alongside them, however briefly, helped me gain a whole new level of appreciation for them. Even more, our Partners have such great ideas and recommendations for improvement, and I always try to take the time to listen those, as well as their challenges and frustrations so we can work together to find solutions.

What’s the most challenging part of your job?

Definitely anticipating and staying ahead of the demand. H-E-B is continuing to grow and expand, which means an increase in demand, and we are constantly auditing our processes to make sure we’re working as efficiently as possible to prepare.

How do you feel your contributions are valued?

One of my favorite things about H-E-B is the Because People Matter awards. Getting nominated for one of those and reading what another Partner or leader says about you is so heartfelt and special. Especially because they took the time to recognize you and your contributions. I’ve been honored and humbled to have been selected for the Harvey Mabry Excellence in Management Award in 2015 and the Linda D. Jiminez Diversity Leadership Award in 2017— both big highlights of my career.

What’s been a memorable moment at H-E-B for you?

One that really stands out to me is getting to watch our EOC in action during Hurricane Harvey.

They had set up shop here in our building, just right down the hall actually and being able to participate in answering calls and be a part of the planning was a neat experience. I got to really see first-hand how H-E-B steps in and helps in times of crisis.

During hurricanes and times of immense crisis, our dairy and especially our bakery plants become so vital because these are the basic essentials that people need. It’s very fulfilling to be a part of that.

What’s next for you?

That’s a great question— I’ll be anxious to see too! When I started as the Director of Continuous Improvement, I wasn’t thinking about the opportunity I’d have later to lead all these various plants, and now here I am! I’m always up for a challenge and eager to see what’s next!

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

Building relationships is a huge deal at H-E-B and can be the key to your success– make it a priority! Our culture is definitely about relationships– the collaboration we gain by working together is so much greater than what we could do alone.

Vic, Growing Up With H-E-B

Vic, is it true that your entire career at H-E-B started because your dad told you not to come home without a job?

YES! When I graduated from Huston-Tillotson University, my dad told me, “Don’t come home without a job.” So, I didn’t know where to start, but I knew I needed to do something. A friend of mine who I played basketball with worked at H-E-B and helped me get hired. I didn’t necessarily plan on working in the grocery business, but I definitely wanted to be able to go home!

Once I was hired on, I just absolutely fell in love with the company. During college, I had other jobs and at those places, there was a divided system of the “haves” and the “have-nots" -- there were the leaders and the other folks. At H-E-B, it’s not like that. We’re all Partners. I fell in love with how we approach the business and how we treat each other and I felt – even then – like I truly belong.

That is a story we hear a lot at H-E-B – people think they’re taking a part-time job, but end up building a career.

Yep! That’s what happened to me. Almost 30 years later I’m still here!

You said you didn’t want to work for a grocery store – what was your experience with H-E-B before you worked here?

My family moved to Austin from Oklahoma when I was 17 years old -- during my senior year in high school. H-E-B was really the only place to shop and I remember it was much better than any grocery store we’d ever been to. I made some friends in my new school who worked as checkers at H-E-B, and they would talk about how fast they were at checking customers out, but I didn’t pay much attention other than just finding their competition interesting.

But, once I started having to shop for myself, I immediately fell in love with H-E-B. During college I had no idea I was going to work here – especially as long as I have – but I do remember loving the whole experience.

So, was your first job at H-E-B as a checker?

Nope, I got a job as a bagger. It was right out of college and I had no intentions of staying — I just wanted to get my dad off my back. But my store leadership started to mentor me and really talk to me about how I could grow a lot with H-E-B. He told me, “anything you’re looking for in a career, you can have right here.”

Who was that?

My store leader, Greg Nichols, talked to me about sticking around because there was a lot of room for growth. I had never worked in the grocery business, so I really depended on him to lead me. I remember telling him, “I want to be a Top Store Leader like you!” and he said, “Okay, let’s map it out!” He told me I was good with people, but he really wanted me to start learning the business, so we’d walk the store every morning and he’d show me how to do certain things. Then he said, “You know, I think you'd probably be a really good grocery manager.” So, I moved to a career in grocery management, and I loved everything that I was doing.

I figured I’d apply for the SMT – Store Management Training (now called SORL) one day, but I was just trying things as they came. Initially I didn’t even want to apply, because I was having so much fun as a grocery manager, but I kept getting encouragement from my leaders to go into store leadership.

After I went through SMT, I ran stores for H-E-B and then I got promoted to be the Director of Customer Service, which is when the Group VP of HR, Christy Banazek came to me and asked If I’d ever thought about working in HR. Honestly, I hadn’t ever considered it, but she and Chief People Officer, Tina James told me that they thought I’d be very successful in HR and I trusted them both. So, I said “Okay, let’s try it!” Little did I know it would be one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done. I came into HR as a Director back in 2010 and last year I was promoted to VP of HR! I’m still on cloud nine about it. Even though I’m working my tail off, I’m happy as can be!

Is it really the most challenging?

Yes! Don’t get me wrong – I love it. My favorite part of my job is the people. A lot of the time people look at us like “Oh here comes HR, what did somebody do wrong,” but that’s just not the case at H-E-B. HR is different at H-E-B. We set up our processes so that we can truly be the voice of the Partner. Our belief that “Each and Every Person Counts” is something we get to live by every single day. That’s really the best part of my job.

On the flip side, the biggest challenge is helping people understand that we’re not able to help them 100%, all of the time. Not being able to always completely solve issues or help Partners solve their issues can be really challenging. But, every day, I get a chance to try and over the years, we’ve done some amazing things. And, that’s pretty awesome.

What’s different about HR at H-E-B?

When I got into HR, I was talking to our Chief People Officer, Tina James and she told me “I don’t need ‘Yes!’ People on my team. I need people on my team who will challenge the status quo and use their voice.” In this company, I've seen many of my ideas come to fruition, both when I ran stores and in my current job in HR. When you can see your contributions come to fruition, there’s really nothing better than that.

Do you have an example?

I was fortunate enough to be the HR Leader in Central Texas during the fires in Bastrop. In our store we had a ton of folks whose homes were in jeopardy of being burned down or had been burned down. So, I met with Tina and she told me they’d give me the resources so I could take care of the Partners. I spent 2-3 weeks meeting with every single Partner in the store, giving them food, donating clothes, getting them out of the shelters and putting them in hotels, just making sure they were taken care of.

After a couple of weeks of that, Charles [Butt] showed up to the store and met with me and a couple of other folks and asked what we were doing for the Partners. That was one of my proudest moments because I was truly deputized to take care of our Partners at H-E-B. I was so excited because I got to tell the person who owns this company, who leads by example, that I was able to take care of the people in a way that he would be okay with. It doesn’t get any better than that for me.

What’s next for you?

I love what I do, and I love talking to and helping Partners. As long as I can do that, I’m not too concerned with what title I have. I learned early on not to chase titles, but to fall in love with the work and make sure the job is done to the best of your ability.

Whether I was in carry-out, a checker, or a service leader, I’ve been able to help Partners— and that hasn’t changed in 29 years. What’s next for me is to continue doing that, whatever role I’m in.

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

When I think about the most successful folks at this company, their core is their heart for people. You have to care for people, and you have to work hard. And then, of course, you’ve got to love food. At H-E-B, we’re Texans Helping Texans, we work hard, and we care for people. I think anybody can be successful at this company if they do those things.

Esther, From Checkout to Corporate

Is it true that you were wearing flip-flops during your first interview with H-E-B?

That is correct. I was wearing a t-shirt, torn-at-the-knees sweatpants, and flip flops! I had temporarily moved back in with my mom while I was in school, and she sent me to H-E-B to pick up a few things. The store was having a job fair (this is back when we did all of the hiring at store-level), and I needed a part-time job. I thought I'd fill out an application and see how it went, not realizing they were doing on-site interviews. When I got to the front of the line, I figured "What the hell? I have nothing to lose." Thank goodness they saw past my fashion and gave me the job.

So, you started working as a front-end checker at the San Antonio Marketplace store. What was your first day like?

I started on November 23, 1993, four days before Thanksgiving. On my first day, a Partner (what we call H-E-B employees) took us upstairs and gave us a sheet of paper that looked like the keyboard. The trainer showed us what every key did, gave us a couple of scenarios, and sent us downstairs to pair up with an experienced cashier.

But the store was shorthanded, so they put a Partner on the check-stand next to mine in case I had questions, and set me off.

If you have ever been a checker or bagger four days before Thanksgiving, you know it is crazy busy. Needless to say, I had no choice but to figure it out as I went, scanning more turkeys than I ever imagined possible.

How long were you a checker?

Only for a little bit. At that store, I worked for an amazing manager, Kathy Bowen, who saw something in me. She started using me as what we then called a Junior Assistant Service Manager. She urged me to apply to the training program we now call our School of Retail Management (SoRM) to develop my skills in H‑E‑B store operations. I went through the program and became a Service Director, which I loved.

After a couple of years, there was a re-org and that role no longer existed. So, I moved into our grocery department as a Manager. Again, I was influenced by great leaders—Michael Strauss (currently Director of Retail Operation in San Antonio), Bob Brandt (a retired Partner known for Customer Service—he even has an award named after him), and others—who encouraged me to apply for H-E-B's School of Retail Leadership (SoRL), which develops skills at the total store level. The first time I applied, I didn't get in. I was upset, but I got over it, tried again a year later, and made it

Once you made it in, what was the program like?

It was awesome and challenging—a lot of learning all at once. I was only in the program for about five months when Alice Childers, who was Vice President of San Antonio Food and Drug, HR called and said, "Kiddo, I have a great opportunity for you!"

You never know what will happen when people say, "I have an opportunity for you." They needed an Assistant Store Director to work with my previous boss Kathy Bowen to open a new store in Fredericksburg, TX. (Kathy and I have a lot of history—she's probably one of the most influential leaders of my career.) So, I moved to Fredericksburg.

How did you move into corporate?

After a two-year run in Fredericksburg, I was able to return to San Antonio as a Top Store Leader—that's what we call the person in charge of each individual store. Then I moved and opened two other stores, then trained other leaders on our larger store formats. Then I got another "I have a great opportunity for you" call. This one was to work on a productivity project on the corporate side. I had no idea what that meant, so I asked around and everyone told me not to do it.

So, I accepted.

I love to work on things that people tell me I can't or shouldn't do. So, I helped start our Continuous Improvement & Design (CID) department. That team looks at our processes from end to end to find out how to make them more streamlined and efficient. I'm super proud of that work and how it evolved to be a significant part of how we do business every day.

What was the biggest adjustment as you transitioned to the corporate level?

I thought I knew a lot coming from stores, but this role challenged me in ways I could not have imagined. I was making a ton of mistakes because I did not understand the other sides of the business. I understood the power of relationships at the store level, but I had never invested in the relationships at the corporate level. We were also working on something most people at H-E-B were not totally bought into, so getting everyone on board and open to a new way of running their business was quite challenging. I had to quickly learn about change leadership, the power of effective communication, empathy, and relationships—four key learnings that changed the game for me as a leader at H-E-B.

And then what?

After eight years on the Continuous Improvement & Design team, I went back to store operations as a Director of Retail Operations in Houston, which was another job that I absolutely loved. Then I got a call from Paul Tepfenhart, Group Vice-President, and Howard Butt III, who said: "Esther, we have a great opportunity for you." And here we are!

Currently, I have the awesome opportunity to run the Store Operations side of H-E-B Digital, which has been the most rewarding and most challenging job I have ever had at H-E-B. I am having a lot of fun, but this role is stretching me and so many others in ways we just could not have imagined. While the CID change was pretty significant, this one is definitely challenging in new ways. I guess that's why this one is called a "digital transformation."

What’s your favorite part of your job…and the most challenging?

My favorite part will always be about the people, our Partners and customers! I have the most amazing team that leads the charge every day (I get a lot of the credit, but make no mistake, my team makes all these great things happen—not me). I also love all of the energy in the stores, the excitement from our customers and all of the amazing Partners I have met across the company. I have learned so much on the tech side, which was a part of the business I knew nothing about. I still don’t know much, but now I know who to call!

The biggest challenge for us right now is that we are learning while we are also working to win. There is no time to slow down and we have to build a business in a space that we haven't spent a century in. We have experts in tech, experts in store operations, experts in delivery, and experts in product development—the challenge is sharing that expertise across all areas of a very complex business to bring the absolute best experience to our customers.

The great news is that, like anything else at H-E-B, we will figure it out!

What's next for you?

Ha, we will see when the next "great opportunity" comes my way. I love H-E-B and will continue to work hard in whatever capacity I’m needed to make sure we succeed.

When did you know H-E-B was going to be your home for the long haul?

It's hard to say the exact moment that it happened, but here is what I can tell you: 26 years ago, I never imagined that I would be able to work for a company that I love and respect, surrounded by people that I love and respect, earning a living that allows me to provide my family with a life I did not dream possible, and doing all of this in a job that is as exciting as it is challenging and rewarding. I also get to work for so many leaders that I believe in and admire who I know believe in me. How in the world could anyone ever walk away from that?

Justen, An Unlikely Career Path: From Engineering to Emergency Preparedness

Is it true your H-E-B career started with a summer internship?

Yep! I started at H-E-B as an intern while I was a student at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. I was getting my degree in industrial engineering and as part of that learning track, I had the opportunity to do an internship in our planning and research department for our warehousing division. I started out doing time-studies in one of our warehouses, which translated to me standing there with a stopwatch timing everything that was being done.

Did you have any experience with H-E-B before this?

Not at all— I’d never even heard of H-E-B! I grew up in a small town just North of Wichita Falls and we didn’t have an H-E-B even close to where I was. In fact, I was working for Wal-Mart when I accepted the internship. A classmate of mine at Tech told me about this internship she had completed for this awesome company in San Antonio, and this was intriguing to me since I had never been anywhere south of Wichita Falls, so I applied for and was accepted into the program! When I got to San Antonio, I immediately fell in love. I guess it was meant to be because I’m still here!

Wow— I guess the internship went well?

Oh, it was a great experience. My very first project was converting our warehouse order selection system, which was a manual process at the time, into an electronic system—something we still use today! I remember my internship was getting ready to end and I was planning to head back to Lubbock when H-E-B offered me a full-time position as an Industrial Engineer. Of course, I said yes, and I ended up finishing my degree online through Kansas State University!

So how did you make the switch from industrial engineering to emergency management?

In 2004 I got a call from my boss at the time to go help out Glen Murray, “the hurricane guy”. It was during Hurricane Claudette and they needed someone to help answer the phones, make copies, and help with other support activities. This was the first time I was exposed to any kind of hurricane support work— I grew up in North Texas, we had tornadoes, not hurricanes. I didn’t really think too much about it at the time, I was just there to help. Later that year, I got another call from my boss who said that Glen wanted me to take on the hurricane responsibilities. Of course, I was honored, but it was nerve-wracking because, besides that one day, I had no experience in this kind of emergency management. I didn’t jump into the work full-time right away, I was just there as a supporting role while I stayed in my primary role, but in 2005 Glen retired and mentored me as I moved into his position.

I was outside in my backyard when Hurricane Katrina made landfall in New Orleans, and I thought to myself “how can I help with this.” It wasn’t affecting H-E-B directly, but we stepped in any way to support evacuees that were coming to Houston— supplying food, our mobile kitchen, and other supplies. Besides being my first major disaster in this new role, it was also my first taste of the philanthropical side of disaster relief.

So, you had no experience in disaster relief or emergency management before starting in that role… what do you think they saw in you that said, “we need him for this job.”?

Wow, that’s a great question. I’ve never asked! I had a lot of experience in both rolling out new systems at H-E-B and supporting them as they got up and running. This translated to me always being “on-call.” Whenever anyone needed me, I was there. So, I think what caught their eye was my reliability and my willingness to do what it takes to get something done and bring it to fruition.

What’s your favorite part of your job?

I love that it’s different every single day— no two days are alike. Every day brings a new set of challenges and opportunities, and I’ve found that I really thrive in that ambiguity. I guess that’s just the nature of the work. People say, “no two disasters are alike”, and that’s so true. You could have two hurricanes hit the same place with the same power and the same windspeed that will affect people differently. When I finished my degree online through Kansas State, I studied Social Science— the study of human behavior– and nothing has been more useful to my current role than that. The human side of this work is so intriguing to me, but also so challenging because you’re walking alongside Partners at, potentially, their darkest time and you can feel the weight and responsibility of that as you work to be a light and bring about something positive. It’s challenging work, but it’s so fulfilling. I also get to help in influencing how this company operates in a way that affects our Partners positively— because that’s our number one goal when it comes to disaster relief, we want our Partners to thrive.

How does H-E-B do Emergency Response different?

It’s easy to look at emergency preparedness as a necessary evil, but H-E-B looks at it a different way. This is just another way for us to have a positive impact on the lives of our Partners, customers and communities. Disasters are inevitable, but it’s how we respond in those moments that sets us apart. It’s not about our bottom line, it’s about being a good neighbor— that’s the Spirit of H-E-B.

Do you do anything outside of H-E-B to keep your skills sharp?

Back in 2013 I joined, and now serve as Vice Chairman of the Board of, Texas Search & Rescue, an all-volunteer non-profit organization based out of Austin. I believe it’s so important to give back to the community, and this is one of the ways I’ve found to do that while also keeping my skills sharp.

What’s been a memorable moment for you?

The funny thing about this role is you end up building relationships with buildings— and I don’t mean in the literal sense, nor do I mean specifically with the operators and leaders. You build relationships with the experiences and memories with a particular store. One of those for me is our Bastrop store, where I spent a lot of time after the fires. Another is SA32, which at one point had rain pouring into the building after the hailstorm in 2016 caused significant damage to the roof. But I think the store that sticks out to me the most is our Braeswood store in Houston, which is now closed.

This store flooded 3 years in a row— first in 2015 with the Memorial Day floods, then in 2016 during the Tax Day floods, and again in 2017 when Hurricane Harvey hit. I remember watching the cameras as the area around the store started to flood and thinking “here we go again.”

Later on, our VP of Security and Loss Prevention calls me and says “hey, there’s someone trying to break in to Braeswood.” At this point, the store had taken at least 4 feet of water. I got on the camera and watched, thinking it was probably looters, and what I saw just astounded me. I saw the glass of the front door break and a man step in, then he turns around, and a baby is handed through the broken glass and placed in his arms. Shortly after, the mom comes through and they all get on one of the registers to take refuge and get out of the water. Even though that store is permanently closed now, I love that in her final moments she was able to shelter and save the lives of three people during Hurricane Harvey.

What’s next for you?

Continue to make things better! We have an amazing set of tools in our Emergency Response toolbox, forged out of many lessons learned. There will always be areas where we can improve, and our commitment to relentless dissatisfaction keeps us from staying still too long. Every disaster is another opportunity to grow and learn how we can continue being there for Texas. I know I can’t do this forever, but for now I want to continue working as hard as I can to make this sector of our business the best it can be for whoever takes my place one day.

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

Try everything you can! If you’re asked to take on a new project or try something outside of your wheelhouse, do it. Those experiences are so valuable to finding your career calling and where you can make the most impact. Whatever it is, H-E-B can help you get there.

Sarah, A Family Legacy of Service and a Heart for H-E-B

Sarah, where did your H-E-B career start?

It all started at our Kerrville store 25 years ago. My career began in SORL (then called SMT) where I spent a month in every department at that store. By having the opportunity to walk in each of our Partners’ shoes — frying donuts, stocking shelves, cutting meat at the market — I got to witness first-hand the value that each and every one of our Partners bring to H-E-B.

Soon after, I became the Grocery Manager— which was an interesting experience because back then, there weren’t any female grocery managers. From there, I worked my way up to Unit Director and then eventually, I got to open SA29, which is now the store that my husband runs!

What was it like as a young, female recent college graduate in this role as Grocery Manager?

Well, the average tenure of the Partners on that team at the time was longer than I’d been alive and at that time, there weren’t a lot of women Grocery Managers -- I was a young, female, with a college degree but very minimal grocery experience and I moved into the role during the holidays – our busiest season! I’m not sure who was more terrified -- me or the Partners on the team!

But, I learned quickly and I leaned on the team a lot because they had more experience in Grocery than I did – and I realized that building relationships with those around you --other Partners and leaders -- is so important. That’s how you end up with someone in your corner who will lift you up and help you when you need it. The culture at H-E-B isn’t one of competition – it is built on a rock-solid foundation at the corner of comraderie and collaboration. And it’s been that way in every job I’ve held at H-E-B through the years.

How did you make the transition into HR?

I was invited to do a rotation in HR and ended up spending about 6 years in SA West (now just called San Antonio Stores) doing everything from college relations and recruiting to Partner relations. Then, my career went full circle and I began managing the SORL program that I started in, which was so much fun!

Not long after, Tina James, our Chief People Officer, tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I would be interested in going over to MWT and that’s where I’ve been for 11 years. I really had to push myself out of my comfort zone to switch from Stores to MWT — it felt like I was starting all over. Once again, I was a woman in a historically male-dominated industry with very little knowledge of manufacturing, warehousing, or transportation -- I had so much to learn. But, my peers, leaders, and colleagues were all there to help me through it. It was hard, but definitely one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

“Sarah is a great business partner… she’s really my right hand. Because of her background in stores, she has an integral understanding of H-E-B as a whole, the strategy behind how everything works and how to keep the business moving, but also a true understanding of the heart of our Partners and their needs.”

– Carson Landsgard, Executive VP Manufacturing, Supply Chain & Logistics

How is working in MWT after 11 years?

We are doing so many amazing things at MWT and while some may look at my 11 years here and think “wow, that’s a long time” I truly feel that we’re just getting started.

Recently, Carson and I started conducting quarterly facility visits, and we end each visit with a roundtable where Partners are invited to hang out and share any comments or concerns. This new tradition is something I enjoy so much; it just gives me so much energy and insight to how we can help our Partners! The challenge is we can’t solve every problem, but we work really hard to fix the ones we can.

I tell everyone that MWT is the place to be -- it’s pretty exciting!

“Sarah is awesome. She was my first HR business partner, and I had the pleasure of working alongside her for 5 years. Every meeting with Sarah is either started or finished with ‘MWT is the place to be!’, and she says it with an energy that is so contagious. Regardless of the circumstances or the specific challenge we’re facing, she brings a ‘can-do’ spirit that is encouraging and always lifts people up.”
– Juan-Carlos Ruck, Executive VP North West Food Drug

You mentioned that your husband works for H-E-B, but he’s not the only one in your family, right?

No, a lot of people may not know this, but my mother also worked for H-E-B. She was in the legal department for 33 years before retiring just a couple of years ago. It was cool to watch her grow in her career – at a time when there weren’t a lot of women in the legal department – and now my daughter, step-daughter, niece, and step-granddaughter also work at H-E-B. There are a lot of Elizondo women here. And Sixto, of course! Sixto just celebrated 50 years, and he’s so proud of his daughters and granddaughter carrying on the legacy!

Wow, that is quite the H-E-B legacy. What advice did you give your daughter when she went to work at H-E-B?

When I started working at H-E-B, my mom encouraged me to make sure I loved the work I was doing. So, I handed that advice down and I encourage it in my daughter. There will be those discouraging days when you may not enjoy the work— maybe that’s when you’re dealing with an angry customer or a power outage or something else, but I remind her to focus on the positive and remember that everyone has a story and you never know how it may be impacting them. I also remind her to be her true, authentic self and to be courageous in sharing her thoughts and ideas. People are going to form an opinion of you regardless, so it should be an opinion based on the REAL you. And that takes work!

“Sarah is a great role model and a trailblazer when it comes to the roles women hold at H-E-B. Whether it was early on in her career and serving as one of the first female Grocery Managers to today, where she is the VP of MWT. She is respected for her thought leadership, the insight she brings to a conversation, and is seen as a great partner with the operation.” – Lisa Rowan, HR Manager

Did your dad work for H-E-B too?

No, but he was SUCH a huge fan of H-E-B. He used to shop at SA34, and that’s actually the store I used to run. So, when I got assigned there, I just happened to mention my dad and my team was like “Oh, we know him!” It was pretty cool to get assigned to the H-E-B store where my dad had been shopping for years.

I think the moment that the spirit of H-E-B touched me the most was when we had his funeral. I remember it so clearly, the H-E-B managers at SA34 showed up in their red shirts to pay respects to their customer, my dad, and I didn’t even work there anymore. It was so special.

He loved that I worked for H-E-B, and I know he would be just ecstatic that his granddaughter now works for H-E-B. It’s a legacy I know he’d be so proud of.

What makes H-E-B so special that your whole family works here?

The culture, our great Partners and the commitment to making the lives of Texans better. Since the very beginning of my career at H-E-B, from that first time I walked the Kerrville store with Charles in SORL, it’s evident that the Sr. Leadership at H-E-B genuinely cares about the thoughts and opinions of Partners at every level. I know I’ve felt that for sure throughout my career, regardless of my role I’ve always felt that my opinion is valued.

Now that I’m in a position of leadership, I’m mindful of the impact this had on me and want to make sure I’m doing the same for my Partners. We need the thoughts, ideas and opinions from every level and every area of our company so we can continue being successful long into the future.

If you weren’t at H-E-B, what do you think you’d be doing?

Hmm, that’s a great question. I’ve thought about being a Principal or a College Professor— I’ve always been passionate about teaching others and helping them grow.

“Sarah is very personable and genuine leader. She has a great personality and gives you the encouragement to come see her to discuss any concerns you may have.” – “Bob tail” Joe Gonzales, H-E-B Driver

One of my proudest moments was winning the People Development Award. I love helping people figure out what their strengths are and then watching them grow into those strengths. It’s a huge passion of mine.

What else has been a memorable moment at H-E-B for you?

Definitely getting my first assignment as a top store leader 20 years ago. Even though SA14 was a small store, I still couldn’t believe I was handed the keys and had my picture up on the wall, especially considering how young I was. That was such a highlight for me. It was terrifying and exciting all at the same time.

Since then, there have been a lot of moments like that, but that first one where I was trusted with the legacy of H-E-B was a big one. I can’t imagine how Florence must have felt in 1905 when she opened our first store in Kerrville, but I felt the weight and honor of her in that moment and have tried to carry that with me and pass it on to current and future leaders of H-E-B – especially those in my own family!

Phyllis, From Top Flight to Top Store Leader

So, Phyllis, what’s your H-E-B Story?

I started at H-E-B as an external hire into the SORL (School of Retail Leadership) program. Before that I was a flight attendant, which I loved, but I decided to come to H-E-B because of my son. He was missing mom at his school activities, so I decided it was time to make a career change.

Being born and raised in Austin, of course I’m familiar with H-E-B because I shopped there with my parents, but my interest in working for H-E-B came about because of an article my husband saw in the paper about H-E-B hiring store leaders. He said to me “Hey, what about this position? This sounds interesting, this might be something you might like to do... be a store leader for H-E-B!” I kinda laughed. And now here I am 22 years later and loving it! These have been some of the best years of my life. I remember my first rotation in SORL in the produce department at Austin 17, I showed up on my first day in heels and a suit. I knew I was going to be in produce, but I really didn’t know what that meant because I didn’t have a background in grocery retail. So, I had to go home, on my first day, and get some flats. But here I am, I made it through, and I’ve had the opportunity to not only work in store operations, but also serve in a regional role as the Regional Merchant on the GM/Drug side of the business and have had the opportunity to help with several company initiatives.

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

My father used to take me and my three siblings grocery shopping with him and he would quiz us on the different fruits and vegetables. If we got them right, we got to choose an extra snack for the week. Those were some of my fondest memories, shopping at H-E-B with my dad. He made it an adventure. So, what a delightful coincidence that the produce department was my first rotation in SORL.

Once you got to H-E-B, what did your journey look like?

I completed my rotation in the produce department, then I went to Austin 20 and completed my Manager in Charge (MIC) total store rotation and then moved on to Central Checkout at Austin 3. Now, ironically, I’m back as a Top Store Leader at Austin 3, it’s been exciting, fun and surreal to come back and run a store of this magnitude.

Sometimes I look back and think about how amazing it is that H-E-B hired me, a flight attendant, and gave me the opportunity to learn the grocery and retail industry. I have almost 500 Partners in my store, and I get so much joy from leading them.

Growing up, H-E-B was never on my radar so that almost makes it more surreal that I saw that article and now I get to help lead the store and lead our team. I love having such a huge team that believes in me as a leader— but you can’t do this by yourself. My team’s success is my success. It’s an overwhelming, amazing feeling.

What’s something you learned as a flight attendant that is serving you well in your role now?

Hospitality. And really caring about people. Those experiences being so close to the public, dealing with different personalities and handling those moments transpires over into what I do here at H-E-B very well. I’m glad H-E-B saw that skillset and took a chance on me.

What’s your favorite part of your job? And most challenging?

One of my favorite parts of my job is interacting with my team. Another part is not knowing what I’m walking into every day. That's exciting and I love that my position is not predicable. Leading a team of almost 500 Partners to achieve our goals is rewarding. I love putting on events for the public and just taking things to the next level. Taking all the different inputs from my team to strategize and create these events is so exciting.

It can be a challenge to guide and coach so many different personalities, because everyone’s voice deserves to be heard. Respecting everyone’s ideas is key to achieving our Team’s Goals.

How do you work to make sure that your Partners feel their voices are heard?

Listening. Listening is key. And you have to make sure you’re making yourself available to them. You have to make the time, no matter what’s going on, so they know that what they have to say is valuable.

How do you feel your contributions are valued?

When I’ve had the opportunity to participate in special projects and my input is heard and utilized that makes me feel that my contributions are valued. When I served on the Diversity Council, I presented the idea of establishing recognition for non-titled female partners during the month of March for Women's History Month. That idea evolved into H-E-B's Women of Distinction celebrations which are held in March throughout the entire company. The company taking my input made me feel valued.

What’s next for you?

I really enjoy what I’m doing, so I’m not sure yet. One of my goals is to be the General Manager of a Plus Store format, but maybe a corporate position down the road—my interests lie in talent development— and marketing because I love events and merchandising strategies. I’m not sure what’s next, but we’ll see!

What’s a memorable moment at H-E-B for you?

When I received the Because People Matter, Hal Collett Great People Award for Central Texas. The award is so special to me because my team nominated me for it and that just spoke volumes to me. It was also so special because Hal Collett hired me, he was my last interview. I have the Award in a special place. It’s humbling when your team nominates you for a regional award like this.

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

My advice is run to your computer, fill out the application and apply. All your career goals can be achieved. There are endless opportunities with our company.

Barbara,

From Brenham to Big Time, how a small town farmgirl grew a career with

H-E-B

So, Barbara, is it true your H-E-B Career started at a fast-food restaurant?!

YES! It actually started by chance! I worked for another company for 10 years, but I knew it wasn’t where I wanted to be long term— I just didn’t know what I wanted to do next. So, I resigned.

I happened to be eating lunch at a fast-food restaurant that was in the parking lot of an H-E-B and saw that they were hiring— impulsively, I decided to see if I could get a job there!

The day I went in for my interview, I dressed pretty professionally, because that’s what I was used to. The store leader looked at my resume, looked at me, and asked “You're applying for a Partner position?” When I answered in the affirmative, he asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to enter our management program?”

Not knowing what I really wanted to do, I declined and said, “Nope! I don’t want to be a manager!” So, my H-E-B career begin as a customer rep in the Deli – the department I am currently the Regional Merchant for in the NWFD Division!

Anyway, after a couple of days, I realized I was struggling with NOT being in charge— I’m not the type to just watch things unfold— so, I went back to my store leader and took him up on the management opportunity. He connected me up with Roxanne Orsak, our district manager at the time, and she sent me to the management training program in Austin, TX, which actually proved to be a bit of a roadblock at first.

Why is that?

Growing up on a farm just outside of Brenham, I thought I’d always stay close to home, but my career with H-E-B has taken me all over the state of Texas — from Austin to San Antonio and then Houston and Dallas where I live now. It’s all worked out, but I didn’t know how I felt about it at the time.

For my first solo-assignment in Austin, I showed up to my new store – not in a suit this time, but in my Wrangler jeans, cowboy boots and button up shirt— people started calling me “Miss Country.”

How did you move from Austin to now being settled in Dallas?

By always saying, “Yes” every time the phone rang and someone offered me a new opportunity.

After opening up Austin 23, I got a phone call to go to Houston and help open one of the big format stores as the Deli Manager. After almost a year of doing that, another phone call from the Director of Deli led to the VP of Deli taking me on an adventure to San Antonio where I took the job as Corporate Merchandiser for Deli. This was a brand-new position that I helped develop and shape over the course of 6 or 7 years.

Being in that position was interesting because it bridged the corporate world with the store so I was working with Partners on a daily basis — I got to have my feet in both worlds!

Then, you guessed it— another phone call! I moved into the role of Deli Regional Merchant (RM) for San Antonio West and then eventually into the Continuous Improvement & Design (CID) team. It was in CID that I helped create the deli model that the department still uses today.

In 2016, I transferred back to Houston to help launch the 5S Program, and I was there for a couple of years before I was offered a position as the Regional Merchant for Deli/Restaurant for the new Northwest Food/Drug division!

What’s a memorable moment at H-E-B for you?

There’s one moment that happened early in my career that sticks with me to this day. I remember it so clearly because it was the moment that I remember thinking “I love doing this.” Back during my first solo assignment at Austin 1, I was working the Deli as the manager and we had this one older customer who was just… unpleasant. He was difficult to work with and ALWAYS gave the deli Partners a hard time with his order. So, one day I said to myself: “I’m going to find a way to connect with this man.”

So the next time he came in, I walked over from whatever I was doing to work with him. We talked and I really just tried to get to know him. I finished his order, handed him his bacon (he always got bacon) and then he grabbed my hand and put something in it, looked at me and said, “next time you see your parents, tell them they raised someone special.” I looked down at my hand and saw that he had given me a Werther’s Original. I think I went into the cooler and cried after he left. I took his order every time we came in from that point forward, and he would always give me a Werther’s Original before he left. It became our thing. Although I was still new in my career at H-E-B at the time, that moment made me stop and think to myself “you’ve got this, Barbara.”

How do you feel your contributions are valued?

In my previous role as the Corporate Merchandiser for Deli, I noticed that a lot of the training materials we were using hadn’t been updated since 1994, so I talked with my VP about helping to develop processes that put structure behind how we do things, so it was formalized across all stores. It’s incredibly rewarding to realize that a lot of the stuff that’s being used in Deli is material that I created.

What’s your favorite part of your job?

I have a huge heart for people. Interacting with others, getting to know them, and supporting them— whether customers or Partners— brings me so much joy.

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

Put in the work to be great, stay true to yourself, and help those who need it.

What’s next for you?

Well, I have only been in Dallas for just over a year – in fact, I hit my one-year anniversary in October 2020! Which was also the Grand opening of our Lubbock store! I’m having so much fun doing what I do. I would love to stay here awhile and see Dallas become what Houston is— there’s many exciting things going on right now.

If someone has an opportunity that they feel I’d be great for, I’m not opposed to it. We’ll see what that next phone call brings— I haven’t said no yet!

Bonny,

Building a Career You Love

So, Bonny, what’s your H-E-B story?

H-E-B Own Brand through and through, I started with H-E-B about 15 years ago as a Brand Manager for our Own Brand Department. At the time, this part of the business was just ramping up so I was pretty heavily involved in building out our distinct brand, our goal was to build something that could be well-known and well-loved by our Partners and Customers. After about 5 years, there was an opportunity to be a Brand Growth Manager where I was able to work closely with our procurement team to bring the renowned famous condiment, ketchup to be exact, of a local favorite burger place to H-E-B shelves!

From there, I served as the Director of Branding before moving into my current role as the Director of Own Brand. At that time, the department had 50 Partners but is now made up of more than 115 Partners. I have the pleasure of leading a team of talented Partners who all support Branding and Development for our unique Own Brand products. It’s funny because for the first couple of years at H-E-B, I maintained my resume, but after that 2-year mark, I haven’t updated it since! I’m an H-E-B Lifer!

What exactly do you do?

What we do each and every day is develop products for customers, providing them the best quality, the best assortment and the best experience— giving families now what I got to enjoy growing up, but on a much larger scale. It’s also fun to create products that are unique to Texas – this is a unique state and our customers deserve flavor profiles that you can’t find anywhere else. It’s created for Texans by Texans – and that’s pretty cool.

Of course, I have to ask. What’s your favorite OWN Brand product?

Hmm. I never have just one! It changes almost by the week and just depends on what I’m craving at the moment! Right now, I’m loving our Meal Simple by H-E-B brisket queso. Our new H-E-B snack mixes are great as a snack OR you can crush it up and use as a breading for chicken. So versatile and so yummy! (My favorite is the honey mustard.)

What is your favorite part of your job?

My answer is twofold. First, I love to see the products we work so hard on—that are inspired and developed by Texans—come to life in our grocery stores, because I know that they are going to serve our communities.

Second, I’m very passionate about leading, developing, coaching and mentoring Partners, and this works out well because that’s about 80% of my job, ha-ha! Before my current role I had absolutely no experience leading anyone. I remember asking my Leader at the time I was promoted to Director if I was going to be trained in leadership before jumping into the role

And he said, “no, I told our admin support to convert all of my individual Partner meetings to your calendar. You start tomorrow!” While that was a rapid education by wildfire, it worked out. I discovered a love of mentorship, especially mentoring the women on my team to help them become leaders. When I started, there weren’t a lot of women in leadership. The company does so much to invest in female leaders and I wanted to do that within my own team.

What do you feel is the most challenging part of what you do?

Cultivating a culture of passionate and educated Partners about Own Brand so they know why it is so important to the company and our customers and how it allows us to create customer loyalty and drive profitability. An easier feat with smaller teams, but with a company of 137k Owners, it becomes more challenging.

What’s been a memorable moment for you?

Speaking of career-life balance, there was a pivotal point in my career where I felt like I had achieved all I wanted to, and I started to think about leaving the workforce and staying home with my kids. This was about 5 years into my career, and I remember at the time there was a Buyer I worked closely with that was telling me not to leave, that I had so much more to offer.

So, I remember sitting down with my girls, after talking it over with my husband, and asking them what they would think If I was the one picking them up from school each day and spending summers with them at home, and they responded with “will we still get to try the products you bring home that aren’t even on shelves yet?” and I said, “Well, no, because I won’t be working for H-E-B anymore.” And what they told me was, “then no, mom, that means a lot to us that we get to spend that time trying those products with you, and you get to do what you love to do.” That was really a career-defining and mom-defining moment for me. I felt like they gave me permission and released me from some of that guilt I felt. It’s been 10 years since, and I still think about that moment.

As a strong female leader, yourself, how do you lead by example within your own life?

As a career woman and also a wife and mother, I wanted to model balance within my own life so the women on my team can see that it is possible for them as well. No matter their life goals -- whether to have their career, marriage, children, any or all or none of the above— I want to show them that it’s possible.

There’s been times in my own career when I’ve had to tell my leaders that I’m not ready for a specific opportunity yet because of the stage my family was in. There isn’t always going to be an equal balance, especially after the year we’ve had, and sacrifice will be necessary at times, but H-E-B has never stopped investing in me. This company has allowed me to build a career and a life that I love, and I want to do the same for those on my team.

How do you invest in the women on your team specifically?

Besides mentoring them, and sharing my own story, I also make it a priority for us to attend Women in Leadership conferences, as well as recommend great books on leadership. The biggest fear I hear from my team, specifically the women on my team, is they want to get married or have children one day, but don’t want that to impact the trajectory of their career. I want to help address those fears and show them what’s possible.

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

Build foundational relationships with others because that will serve you well in your career. You don’t have to be an expert in everything, just build relationships with other people you can trust. And also, be adaptable to change. It’s inevitable, especially at H-E-B given our commitment to relentless dissatisfaction, but it will challenge you and grow you in so many ways.

What’s next for you?

You know, I’m not sure what’s next for me. I know for right now and into the foreseeable future I’ll continue working on driving customer loyalty, developing products customers cannot live without, and creating a culture of excellence. I love what I do!

Here, Everyone Belongs Podcast

H-E-B believes that Each and Every Person Counts, and we are proud of our longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. From our Partners to our customers to the communities we serve, we are dedicated to making the lives of Texans better.

Play

“H-E-B understands that diverse teams create more innovative solutions. I love working on a team that is inclusive and values multiple perspectives.”

Bobby

Facility Leader

“H-E-B has given me a safe, caring family that I can be proud to be a part of. We respect one another. We ask the tough questions to get to the truth and use that truth to make our family better for everyone. We care for each other, good times and bad. Like a family we make room for everyone at the table.”

Ernest

Operations Leader, Houston Transportation

8 year Partner

Ready to belong on our Manufacturing, Warehouse & Transportation Team?

“Regardless of our belief, our background, our preference, the important part is knowing that we are all heading in the same direction together.”

Roland

Regional Merchant, eCommerce Operations

14 year Partner

Ready to belong on our Store Leadership Team?

"Being able to work alongside such a diverse Store Partner population every day helps inspire creativity, allows for open dialogue, drives innovation and leads to better problem-solving."

Christi

Operations Leader, Gulf Coast Region

8 year Partner

Ready to belong on our Store Hourly Team?

“Our ways of working and our ways of celebrating success acknowledges that every Partner is actively making an impact towards the greater H-E-B mission."

Angela

Senior Director, Digital Design

2 year Partner

Ready to belong on our Digital Team?

Our People

“I love my job at H‑E‑B. We’re given the support and opportunity to try new ideas and to push boundaries. It’s challenging, but also incredibly rewarding.”

Edgar

Graphic Designer

“In our company, you don’t have to leave the company to have multiple careers. Here, You have the opportunity to really hone in on what you’re passionate about, but still stay with the company that takes care of the community and connects with our Partners on a deep level.”

Cesar

Director of Leadership Development

“The most exciting part of my role at H‑E‑B is that I am able to see the impact of my work almost in real time. The new horizons of retail, especially E-Commerce, require us to be thinking three or four steps ahead.”

Karen

Finance Manager - E-Commerce

“H‑E‑B invests a lot in training and developing leaders. As a result, I’m part of a great leadership team and working here has been the best experience of my career!”

Martin

Technology Leader, Corpus Christi Bakery

“More than any other company, H‑E‑B has character. People matter – you’re more than what you do. There’s a real sense of pride in being an H‑E‑B Partner.”

Leon

Software Developer

“At H‑E‑B there are so many different things you can do, so many different paths you can take, to follow your passion. From my perspective, there’s never a reason to leave H‑E‑B

Catherine

Project Manager

Filter People By:

We Have a Great Story

H-E-B started in Kerrville, TX over 110 years ago, and has grown to over 350 stores.

Jennifer, Corporate Attorney

I come from a retail family. My dad retired from a major retailer and my brother is the Director of Sales for a national footwear brand. So even though I’m a lawyer, I’m not surprised that I ended up working in retail too.

I went to school in the northeast but I came home to Texas for grad school. Eventually, I got a job at a Law Firm in San Antonio and H-E-B was one of my clients. I always enjoyed working with the people from H-E-B and a former colleague, who now works at H-E-B, told me a position was available. When you work for a law firm and you have an in house opportunity for a company you admire end enjoy working with, you jump at it!

Partners at H-E-B are highly competitive and very driven, but we are passionate about the company’s mission and we never lose sight of people. I’ve been service minded all of my life and I feel like that is encouraged here more than at other companies where I’ve worked. I’ve had opportunities to serve with the Symphony Board, Leadership San Antonio Steering Committee (twice), Young Men’s Service League, San Antonio Food Bank, and Haven for Hope.

The biggest difference between working at a firm and working in house is that you only have one client. You have to learn new areas of the business and learn them on the fly. You really have to be a generalist and go where the business takes you. When I started at H-E-B, I was focused on reviewing IT software licensing agreements and customer facing technology policies. Between when I started and now, the needs of IT have changed dramatically and my role has grown to support Benefits, Treasury, HR, Data Science, Digital Marketing, Privacy, and Data Security.

The great thing about having one client is that you have a shared destiny with the people you work with. You get to see the legal work you do play out for the customer in the stores or company expansion. You get to live the journey with the business team, which you don’t get to do when you work for a firm – you move on to the next project. It’s also great to get the unsolicited positive comments from family, friends, or someone you just met when you tell them you work for H-E-B. I worked on the H-E-B 2 U Curbside project and I’ve heard so many times how life-changing the service is to so many Texans. When you get caught up in the day to day of meeting deadlines, it makes me feel like what I’m doing really does make a difference.

I’ve lived in many different states and cities across the US, but Texas and San Antonio always felt like home. There has always been a draw to the city because I have family and friends here and it doesn’t have the crazy traffic I’ve experienced in other cities. There is also an indescribable spirit to the San Antonio community and it’s a great place to raise my son. He is involved in sports so my weekends consist of serving as an Athletics Booster for his school. In addition to high school sports, I enjoy the San Antonio arts scene. The Museum of Art, The Tobin Center, the symphony, and the opera all provide wonderful experiences. There are also great parks like Hardberger and fun day trips to state parks, Austin, Fredericksburg, the Hill Country, and the beach.

Courtney, Business Development Manager for Ice Cream, Novelties, and Frozen Desserts

One of the greatest things to me about working at H-E-B is the fact that you can explore many different career paths, all within one organization. When I left a job with a Fortune 500 company in Chicago to come to H-E-B 10 years ago, I had already completed two summer internships with the company in the Grocery Procurement division, and I knew that I wanted to be part of this culture. Why? Because H-E-B has soul. It’s more than a company, it is a living, breathing entity with a way of being that’s hard to describe if you haven’t experienced it. It’s something you can feel, and it means something to be a Partner here.

I started my career in the role of an Optimization Analyst. I worked with the Business Development Managers across grocery, general merchandise, and drugstore to create pricing strategies. From there, I worked as a Financial Analyst and Project Manager for the President of the San Antonio Food and Drug Division, then moved to the Advertising department as an Account Manager, before finally returning to Grocery Procurement where I am today.

As the Business Development Manager (BDM) of Ice Cream, Novelties and Frozen Desserts my job is unique in that I get to manage and set the strategies for the next five years on my products. It involves a lot of analysis on where the business is moving and the products that we need to have in place for the future. The challenge is that we always have to make sure we are staying on the cutting edge of trends and satisfying customer demands in our lines of business. Redesigning lines, introducing new lines, and keeping our fingers on the pulse of what’s going on via trade shows, social media and more is imperative.

One example of this that I am most proud of is the relaunch of our H-E-B Creamy Creations brand ice cream. It took a plethora of people, but it is the biggest thing I’ve done in my career. Since the new packaging launch the brand is performing exceptionally well. Part of what made that project so special was getting to know the Partners in our ice cream plant. They are the MVPs at what they do and they put the soul back into the equation.

When I’m not tasting ice cream (a big job perk!), I’m exploring all the other foods our city has to offer. I love checking out new restaurants and getting to know the people who are doing cool and interesting things in San Antonio. I live downtown with my two shih-tzus, and there is always something fun going on including a great art scene.

San Antonio is a big city, but it’s easy to get connected in your community so it has more of a small town feel. I’m extremely passionate about animals and I serve on the board for The Animal Defense League of Texas.

Being able to explore such a diverse career path with H-E-B has been a rewarding experience. It’s a challenge because my job is ever changing and every day there are things I don’t get done. But at the end of the day, when you see the work you’ve done come to life on the shelf, it makes it all worth it.

Jody, Vice President of Sourcing

Fresh out of graduate school at Texas A&M, I turned down a job offer from H-E-B in order to travel to South America and work on a ranch in Paraguay. Undeterred, the Recruiter tracked me down and sent a typewritten letter addressed to the capital of Paraguay offering me a job upon my return to the states. When the letter found its way to me, I was so impressed that I accepted and returned to work for H-E-B one year later. That was 29 years ago.

Over the course of those 29 years I have done everything from driving trucks to working as a Project Manager, and a Store Leader, before landing in my current position as the Director of Sourcing in our Global Sourcing Department where my team and I serve as a modern day Marco Polo. We are food adventurers, traveling the world to find the latest and greatest new global or local food trend and bringing it to the H-E-B customer. We are students of the marketplace, staying relevant by going to farmer’s markets both here and abroad and by reading and watching social media and apps to see what’s trending. Living and working in a global marketplace is challenging because a natural disaster that happens thousands of miles away can affect us locally in terms of supply and we have to be on top of that daily.

One of the most innovative things we do, however, happens locally with our Quest for Texas Best contest. Through this program, we work with many small entrepreneurs including women, minority, and veteran owned businesses to bring their products to the marketplace in a fun, innovative way. As someone who grew up on a ranch in South Texas, I know how life changing this can be for our local friends and neighbors.

Changing lives is something that H-E-B does well, and at many levels. As the Top Store Leader in Eagle Pass, I remember cashing payroll checks and every Partner asked me to put aside a portion of his or her check for Rosie, a Partner who was staying at the Ronald McDonald House while her child was in the hospital. I was so moved by these people who were willing to give their hard earned money to help another Partner in need, and even more impressed when I found out that H-E-B would match their efforts. I think that’s what makes us so different. Our Partners are like-minded with a commitment to help others and do the right thing. In a word, H-E-B is a company with heart, and it translates to everything we do, whether we are offering emergency relief to our communities in times of disaster, or making a difference in the lives of a farmer in Peru. It’s a culture and a way of life that knows no boundaries.

Amadeus, Facility Designer

As the landscape of retail shopping continues to change, my job as a Facility Designer is to design the next generation of stores for the next generation of H-E-B shoppers. I work on remodels, major expansions, new departments, and new stores, keeping in mind that people shop differently now and they want different experiences than what we have designed in the past. We are constantly researching trends and attending design and technology conferences to see what new resources are out there that can help us stay efficient and keep up with the speed of delivery and accuracy of information that is needed to build a store.

Even in my previous design careers with other companies, I’ve always been drawn to retail projects because there is an element of psychology when you are designing a space that is meant to attract people to buy things. It is a fast paced environment—we are always trying to stay one step ahead of the competition. But it’s special because you get to see your design come to life and watch it work in the real world and see how the customers react to it and experience it. I get to collaborate with different Partners and departments to create the best customer experience for the best retail company in the world. I’ve even incorporated real-time walkthroughs of 3D model buildings, along with Virtual Reality experiences of our designs.

I grew up on a ranch in Del Rio, and my parents were both teachers. That’s why I admire the way H-E-B helps our communities through education. I have never seen another company highlight and celebrate our teachers and educators the way H-E-B does. My mom was a recipient of the H-E-B Lifetime Achievement for Excellence in Education Award and I really appreciate that our company puts the spotlight on those who are truly shaping the minds of our future.

Working at H-E-B feels like working for one big family. You feel like you are part of something and that what you are doing matters. And we have fun with Partner activities like the H-E-B Got Talent contest, which I won in 2013 and got to meet Mr. Butt.

As Partners, we are encouraged to be active in the community and I have participated in CANstruction a competition between local design firms where we create structures out of cans to benefit the San Antonio Food Bank. I am an avid gamer and I participate in Extra Life, a program that raises money to support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals through marathon gaming.

San Antonio is a big city with a small town feel. It is rich, diverse and full of life, celebrating its heritage through events like Fiesta and the Texas Folklife Festival. The culture is what I like best about the city—and H-E-B is a big part of that.

Ben, Vice President of Real Estate

The path to H-E-B was not necessarily a straight one for me. I am originally from Michigan, attended Boston College, and started my career as an Equity Market Maker on the Chicago Board Options Exchange. Eventually, I burned out on the trading industry and began to explore other opportunities. Around the same time, my father-in-law left a position with a large national retail chain to work at H-E-B. My wife is originally from San Antonio and my father-in-law spoke so highly of H-E-B, so I decided to submit my resume. With a finance background and limited real estate experience, H-E-B took a chance and hired me. Thirteen years later, I am still here.

When I first started my career with H-E-B, I worked in Shopping Center Development, overseeing the leasing and property management of H-E-B-owned shopping centers. After completing my MBA, I began to work in Real Estate, scouting locations for new stores and warehouses. Now, as the Vice President of Real Estate for San Antonio Food Drug, I oversee both Shopping Center Development and Real Estate. Building a successful store, however, is not the result of a single department’s efforts. My job requires a great deal of problem-solving and collaboration with numerous other teams, including Design, Construction, Operations, Real Estate Research, Planning and Analysis, and Public Affairs. Together, we are able to build unique stores that not only meet the needs of the business, but more importantly, meet the needs of the communities where they are located. H-E-B understands how important its stores are to the Texans they serve, and strives to be a good neighbor and responsible corporate citizen every step of the way. This kind of integrity and loyalty makes me proud to be a partner.

One of the things that has surprised me the most about H-E-B is the diversity of opportunities available. Thirteen years ago, I thought H-E-B was just a grocery store. I soon came to understand, however, that it is much more dynamic than that. As a partner, it is a place where you are empowered to grow and evolve your career in any number of ways within the company. And the culture simply cannot be beat. I honestly cannot imagine a better place to work. Plus, it is located in a wonderful city. San Antonio has everything that a big city might offer –great dining, entertainment, and culture –with a friendly small-town feel. As the father of three young children, I believe it is the perfect place to raise a family. And its central location, with the hill country and the beach just a couple of hours in either direction, is also nice. Together, H-E-B and San Antonio make a great pair, and I feel fortunate to be a part of both

Taylor, Associate Executive Recruiter

When I was a Campus Recruiter, my role required me to go on campuses and talk to students, faculty, and staff about our internship program. That’s part of the job was easy for me because I started my career at H-E-B in 2017 as a Human Resource intern.

The internship program at H-E-B is unique in that it exposes you to all different areas of the business. Through weekly “Coffee Chats,” interns have the opportunity to interact with leaders from every area including Global Sourcing, Real Estate, E-Commerce, and more, and learn firsthand about their departments. You get real, hands-on experience that for me included redesigning the corporate HR web page. I had to come up with innovative ways to engage HR Managers and help them understand how the new web page would help them and the rest of our H-E-B Partners.

After graduating from Texas A&M in August of 2017, my Manager asked me to extend my internship until December. It was during that time that Hurricane Harvey devastated Houston and I was sent to the Emergency Operations Center and placed in charge of issuing gift cards and money to Partners who had suffered loss as a result of this natural disaster. The way that H-E-B reacted in this situation meant a lot to me because my father has always instilled in me the importance of giving back to your community and volunteering your time and resources. I always wanted to work for a company that believed in the same things that I did and this experience with H-E-B showed me that our values aligned.

That was part of the reason that when I was offered the opportunity to come on board full-time, I didn’t hesitate. Now, I help recruit talent to the company through our internship program and coordinate things like the “Coffee Chats” that were so useful to me. One of my primary focuses in today’s competitive corporate hiring environment is to keep our branding and messaging at college fair and recruiting events current and cutting edge. Our team has rebranded and redesigned our booth to attract students, and we’ve implanted HireVue, a digital interviewing tool that allows potential candidates to answer screening questions via video.

One of the things we want to get across is the culture of H-E-B. The people I work with care about me personally and professionally. It was something I did not expect in a corporate setting. Every day that I walk into work, I feel like I am walking into my home with my family.

Carol, In-Store Demo Representative

When I first started as an In Store Demo Rep at H-E-B, I thought I’d just be passing out samples, and asking people if they’d like to try a product. As it turns out, it is so much more—and it’s the perfect fit for me!

Everyone who knows me knows that I am a people person and I love to talk. Prior to coming to H-E-B I worked at a veterinary clinic for 10 years. I love animals, but this job appealed to me because it offered me the opportunity to engage and interact with our customers every day in a unique way. Now, less than a year later, I already have regulars who know my name and who will come give me feedback on the products they’ve purchased. One of the biggest customer favorites is our Meal Simple Simply Heat line. They love how it’s a complete, wholesome meal that can be ready in under two minutes in the microwave.

One of the coolest things about my job (besides that it has greatly improved my cooking skills) is that my manager lets me grow and take on more challenges including being in the Showtime Kitchen. Here I get to do more than just demo foods and offer samples. I get to cook right in the store while explaining to customers over a mic what it is that I’m preparing. It’s so much fun for me because I love meeting and talking to people.

I’ve never been to a grocery store that had in store demos seven days a week. Most places I’ve been to only have them on weekends---if they have them at all. It’s really awesome because so many people tell me that they wouldn’t have purchased or tried a new product if they hadn’t sampled it in store first. I’m the same way. One of my families favorite dishes that I make is street tacos, but if I hadn’t had to learn to make them in the store and tried them myself, I probably wouldn’t have tried them at home on my own.

Another aspect of H-E-B that is different from other companies is the way they are invested in their Partners and treat them all like family. They encourage you to grow, and the culture and values of the company make you want to be a better Partner. For me, it truly is a family company. Both my husband and my daughter are Partners too. In fact, when my daughter suffered a personal loss, the way that the company stepped up, providing food as well as job security after a long leave of absence was like nothing I’d ever seen from a large corporation. Leaders from all departments constantly checked in with our family, offering help and support through a difficult time. I realized then what a special company this is, and it took hold of my heart.

H-E-B is a huge part of the San Antonio community. San Antonio is a great city and there’s always something to do. I was born here, but we moved to Massachusetts when I was little and didn’t come back here until I was 16-years-old. I was excited to come back because there are so many different cultures here and it’s a fun place to be. We enjoy going to the Pearl on Sundays because it’s like everything I love about the city in one place. With so many restaurants, as well as the farmer’s market and retailers, there is something for everyone.

Josiah, Integration Competency Center Developer

I grew up near Ft. Hood, Texas and I always heard about what a great company H-E-B was. Every time we shopped there, the Partners were so friendly and they would always talk about how well the company took care of them. That’s what drew me to H-E-B.

I first worked in Stores as a Bagger, a Cashier, and then an Assistant Manager. I completed the internship program in the summer of 2017 and began working in my current role as a Developer in the Integration Competency Center about six months later.

H-E-B was my first real job after graduating from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, and it is just what I had always heard it would be. It’s like one big, huge family. Everyone is happy, cheerful, and ready to work together, sharing great ideas to accomplish one goal.

In my department, that goal is to get people the data they need to put together applications. We are the middle-man, working with multiple teams across the company to get data from one area to another. It’s like putting together a puzzle. Our customers are internal Partners who call us to request data such as pricing information, product information, warehouse information, and more. For example, when a team needs to know what items are at which warehouse and the current average cost and status of the product, we are the ones who get that info to them. When Curbside wants to know what products they can sell on their site, we give them the information they need including the pricing.

My degree is in computer science, so I enjoy finding ways to keep my team cutting edge by upgrading to newer tools for us to play with and finding new plug-ins for existing tools that allow us to do our jobs in a more efficient way. We are always looking for innovative ways to get data to our customers more quickly, like in milliseconds. One way we have accomplished that is by moving some of our projects to the Cloud. Another way is by using Elastic search data storage tool. Most services use Oracle storage so this is a different and more modern approach.

Computer programming aside, what I love most about my job is the heart of H-E-B. This is a company that takes care of not only its Partners, but also the community at large. They are one of the first responders in a disaster, and they do things like build homes for disabled veterans because these are the right things to do, not because they want any recognition. That heart spills over to the Partners who are always ready to help and solve issues. My team has such diverse backgrounds and it gives each of us a unique perspective to bring to a problem.

When I’m not on computers at work, I’m on computers at home. I enjoy playing video games, hanging out with my friends and my dogs, and listening to music. I also like to go the Riverwalk late at night when the lights are on. There are so many cultures in one area in San Antonio, and there is always something fun to do.

Here, Everyone Belongs

"H-E-B was founded on the unwavering belief that each and every person counts."

Craig Boyan, President at H-E-B

Because People Matter

We're in the people business. We just happen to sell groceries.

Because People Matter

We're in the people business. We just happen to sell groceries.

Our Stories

Quynh Operating Director of Manufacturing for Print, Floral and Safety

Bonny Director of Own Brand

Justen Director of Emergency Preparedness

Quynh, From Automotive to H-E-B: A Story About Relationships and Vulnerability

Vic, Growing Up With H-E-B

Esther, From Checkout to Corporate

Justen, An Unlikely Career Path: From Engineering to Emergency Preparedness

Sarah, A Family Legacy of Service and a Heart for H-E-B

Phyllis, From Top Flight to Top Store Leader

Barbara,

From Brenham to Big Time, how a small town farmgirl grew a career with

H-E-B

Bonny,

Building a Career You Love

Here, Everyone Belongs Podcast

“H-E-B understands that diverse teams create more innovative solutions. I love working on a team that is inclusive and values multiple perspectives.”

Bobby

Facility Leader

Ernest

Operations Leader, Houston Transportation

8 year Partner

Ready to belong on our Manufacturing, Warehouse & Transportation Team?

“Regardless of our belief, our background, our preference, the important part is knowing that we are all heading in the same direction together.”

Roland

Regional Merchant, eCommerce Operations

14 year Partner

Ready to belong on our Store Leadership Team?

"Being able to work alongside such a diverse Store Partner population every day helps inspire creativity, allows for open dialogue, drives innovation and leads to better problem-solving."

Christi

Operations Leader, Gulf Coast Region

8 year Partner

Ready to belong on our Store Hourly Team?

“Our ways of working and our ways of celebrating success acknowledges that every Partner is actively making an impact towards the greater H-E-B mission."

Angela

Senior Director, Digital Design

2 year Partner

Ready to belong on our Digital Team?

Our People

“I love my job at H‑E‑B. We’re given the support and opportunity to try new ideas and to push boundaries. It’s challenging, but also incredibly rewarding.”

Edgar

Graphic Designer

“In our company, you don’t have to leave the company to have multiple careers. Here, You have the opportunity to really hone in on what you’re passionate about, but still stay with the company that takes care of the community and connects with our Partners on a deep level.”

Cesar

Director of Leadership Development

“The most exciting part of my role at H‑E‑B is that I am able to see the impact of my work almost in real time. The new horizons of retail, especially E-Commerce, require us to be thinking three or four steps ahead.”

Karen

Finance Manager - E-Commerce

“H‑E‑B invests a lot in training and developing leaders. As a result, I’m part of a great leadership team and working here has been the best experience of my career!”

Martin

Technology Leader, Corpus Christi Bakery

“More than any other company, H‑E‑B has character. People matter – you’re more than what you do. There’s a real sense of pride in being an H‑E‑B Partner.”

Leon

Software Developer

“At H‑E‑B there are so many different things you can do, so many different paths you can take, to follow your passion. From my perspective, there’s never a reason to leave H‑E‑B

Catherine

Project Manager

Quincy, Director of Corporate Security

We Have a Great Story

H-E-B started in Kerrville, TX over 110 years ago, and has grown to over 350 stores.

Sushma, Vice President of Digital Product Management

Mike, Chief Product Officer

Bobby, Facility Leader

Sabino, Order Selector

Chris, Lead Overnight Stocker

Robert, Director

Joseph, Software Developer II

Janise, Food Service Rep

Josue, Information Security Analyst

Charles, Own Brand Manager

Trevor, Customer Service Assistant

Leon, Software Developer

Kristen, Software Developer

Quynh
Operating Director of Manufacturing for Print, Floral and Safety

Bonny
Director of Own Brand

Justen
Director of Emergency Preparedness