Kelly Hodges

I've been in the grocery store industry since 1991, when I started with my first grocery store chain. My mom used to tell me she always knew I was going to be in the grocery store industry because even when I was a kid, I wanted to play grocery store all the time. I previously worked 27 years for Bilo, another grocery store chain, where I held several positions throughout my time there. I started as a part-time deli clerk closing the deli bakery down, and I taught myself how to do cakes and became a cake decorator. Eventually I became an assistant in the deli bakery field, then a Deli Bakery Manager. From there, I went through a management program and became a store manager, which I would say was probably my most notable professional achievement because hitting that store manager goal was something I really worked toward. I was a store manager from 2015 until 2018, when Bilo went out of business and closed my store. After 27 years, I never thought I would be looking for another job, but that's when I came to Harris Teeter. Harris Teeter has been really good to me, so it was an easy transition. I've been with Harris Teeter since 2018, and I've been a deli bakery specialist for about 3 years now. It's primarily been in Fresh Foods, the deli bakery department, although I have been a store manager and a co-manager, so I've worked in all areas of the grocery store. I really like the grocery store environment because I get to meet so many different people, and it's never the same job twice. I do occasionally find jobs on the side, doing cakes and things like that, though I haven't done my own business yet.