SPRINGDALE, AR - As of January 26, industry vet Jim Antz hung his hat on a 37-plus-year career. The former Harps Food Stores Chief Financial Officer recently retired from the organization. As part of the transition, Harps appointed Debbie Creek as Vice President of Finance and John Taylor as VP of Information Systems.

“I am honored that I got to work with Jim Antz as my boss, mentor, and friend,” Creek said in a recent report, giving a nod to Antz after he spent the last 18 years as her mentor. She has also long held leadership roles at Harps, having been named as Controller back in 2006.

In her time as Controller, Creek helped grow the chain from 52 stores to a total of 149, as Talk Business reported.

Taylor also had a long career with Harps, starting in 1992 as a grocery bagger. He rejoined the company in 2001 after graduating from college, taking on the role of Programmer/Analyst and quickly rising to Director of Information Systems.

“I am so thankful to work for such a great company,” Taylor said of his new executive position. He brings with him extensive experience in computer systems engineering from his time spent at the University of Arkansas. “I look forward to taking on this new role and responsibilities.”

These newly named leaders have big shoes to fill as Antz officially makes his exit.

Antz began his career at Harps in 1987 as Management Information Systems Director. He quickly rose through the ranks, being named as the VP of Information Systems in 1998 and later VP of Finance and Administration in 2000.

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Kim Eskew commented on the leadership transition.

“I am always saddened to lose both a good friend and a great contributor such as Jim Antz, but I am encouraged to know that we have developed a bench within our company of talented people who understand and embrace our culture and who have prepared themselves for this moment,” Eskew said. “Both of these individuals have done that, and while I will miss Jim, I am confident that he left us in good hands with both John on the information systems side and Debbie on the financial side of his considerable knowledge of both areas.”

We wish the best of luck to these leaders as they take their next steps.