Supplying top brands to retailers and beverage establishments throughout Oregon and Washington requires a collaborative effort. Columbia Distributing is proud to employ like-minded individuals committed to achieving organizational goals and keeping our company at the top of the beverage distribution industry. One of those employees is delivery supervisor James Reese, who has been with Columbia Distributing since 2006. Learn the duties of a delivery supervisor from Reese himself and what makes Columbia Distributing different from other employers.
What Does a Delivery Supervisor at Columbia Distributing Do?
As a premier beverage distributor, Columbia Distributing prides itself on delivering orders on time so our partners can continue operating without a hiccup. This responsibility falls on the delivery supervisor.
To get a jump on the day, Reese begins his duties before the sun comes up. “I start my day at 3:30 a.m. This allows me to have a lot of interaction with our teammates before they start their daily routes,” Reese explains.
The role of delivery supervisor entails several administrative duties. Reese says, “After meeting with team members before they depart, I start my morning admin duties, such as morning communications, daily invoice adjustments, and logging ADP hours.”
Reese prefers to spend part of his time in the field with his drivers. “Depending on any meetings for the day, I will head out in the trade to work with my teammates. I will usually try to complete audits while out in the trade, ensuring we are continuing our efforts to provide service that exceeds our customers’ expectations.”
Time at Columbia Distributing
While working on a cattle ranch in Arizona, Reese reached out to a family member who was employed at Columbia Distributing at the time and spoke highly of the company. “My family member had nothing but good things to say about Columbia Distributing, and I thought it would be a great fit for me and a possible long-term employment opportunity for my future,” Resse says.
Once he joined the team, Reese quickly began learning the industry and taking advantage of the tools provided to him. “The support I have had to grow within the company has been amazing,” he says. “I started as a driver helper and was encouraged to train to get my CDL (commercial driver’s license). I then was promoted to a relief driver position in 2010, which is the title I would hold for 12 years. During this time, I learned each route we occupied within our branch, gaining experience and becoming familiar with the fundamentals of how the business operated, along with building relationships with all our accounts as well as our teammates.
“In 2022, I was then promoted to lead driver,” Reese continues. “This promotion provided even more opportunities to grow within the company. In 2024, I was promoted to the position of delivery supervisor.”
Consider Joining the Columbia Distributing Family
In addition to career advancement and personal growth opportunities, individuals choose to work at Columbia Distributing because of the people. Reese explains, “What I love most about working for this company is the relationships that I’ve built while here. It’s like one big family to me.”
If you’re interested in working at Columbia Distributing and providing alcoholic beverages and non-alcoholic products to customers in the Pacific Northwest, browse our open positions or contact us today to get started.