5 minute read
Leaning into Business
No one appreciates and understands the world of higher education, college sports and the importance of community quite like Chris “Pokey” Harris ’99, DBA. The devoted UPIKE Bear takes sports loyalty to the next level while also demonstrating the entrepreneurial characteristics of success with pure enthusiasm.
In the fall of 1995, Harris’ accomplishments began to take root on “the hill” during his freshman year while playing baseball for then- Pikeville College under coach Johnnie LeMaster. From the beginning, he learned valuable lessons about putting in the effort every day to achieve long-term goals.
“I recall being in my high school industrial arts class and seeing coach LeMaster’s business card, so I called him to visit Pikeville and try out for the baseball team,” said Harris. “My mother and I explored the city and loved the mountains. One of the best decisions I have ever made was choosing to attend UPIKE and I cherish the friendships I have made along the way.”
LeMaster recalls that Harris was affectionately known as “Pokey” to his teammates and he always kept the team laughing when they needed to release tension.
“Pokey’s baseball instincts were way above par for a kid coming out of high school. The outfield was his home away from home, and his bat could always be counted on when a big hit was in order,” said LeMaster. “He was always ready to practice and his greatest asset was that he was a wonderful teammate at all times.”
Harris received his history and political science degree as an undergrad at UPIKE before joining the world of lean manufacturing, which is the process of minimizing waste within a manufacturing operation. He began his lean training as a team member on the assembly line at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky in Georgetown, Ky., where he gained valuable hands-on experience.
His eagerness to learn led him to join the family business in 2001, alongside his father, at Harris Lean Systems, Inc., (HLS). He moved to Murrells Inlet, S.C., serving as the vice president of operations for 10 years.
HLS is one of the largest and most efficient companies across the nation. It has been instrumental in assisting 50 companies at more than 180 sites worldwide with major financial improvements to become lean manufacturers.
Harris later went on to earn three more degrees: his master’s in business administration and doctorate in business administration from Anderson University, and a master’s in youth development leadership from Clemson University.
From 2013 to 2016, Harris served as an assistant professor of supply chain management at the University of Indianapolis Business School before eventually taking over the family business at HLS. During this time, he co-authored five books with his father and wrote an impressive list of articles about Lean Enterprise Systems, including the Shingo Prize Awardwinning book Making Materials Flow, published by Jim Womach and the Lean Enterprise Institute.
On top of his many accomplishments, Harris began hosting an insightful and entertaining podcast called Leaning Out with Dr. Chris, which discusses details of the 12-steps of lean enterprise implementation through the eyes of lean implementers HLS has worked with over the years.
“The goal of the podcast is to understand the systematic approach and hear what other people are doing,” said Harris. “I enjoy creating this cross-platform to share stories, work together and share those practices.”
Most recently, Harris’ passion for baseball has allowed him to reset his sights on collegiate sports and fulfill a lifelong dream by becoming the co-owner of a collegiate level baseball team, the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes, located in Central Illinois.
“One summer, while my family and I were on vacation in Savannah, Ga., watching a baseball game, I remembered how much I loved the atmosphere. Small town baseball is the most American thing you can do with your family, but it is the business model of the team that is the most intriguing to me,” said Harris. “When the opportunity presented itself for me to own part of the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes, I jumped at the chance and I am most excited about continuing to foster the community I love dearly.”
Occupying his spare time these days between authoring publications, operating businesses and mentoring young men, Harris practices his woodworking skills by creating handmade furniture.
Harris recently surprised his former teammate UPIKE Dean of Admissions Gary Justice, ’96, MBA ’13 with a custom-made desk to place in his office located on campus. Harris uniquely named the desk “Brutus” and crafted it from red elm, etched with Justice’s baseball number, the UPIKE logo, bear knobs for the drawers and stories from their adventures as baseball teammates inside each drawer.
“Pokey’s success comes from not being afraid to fail. The desk represents the power of the UPIKE baseball brotherhood. He is a great guy and I am proud to call him family,” said Justice. “He is another in a long line of examples of how rewarding the UPIKE experience can be. It is hard work, but the connections you make personally and professionally, as well as the practical knowledge, make it an invigorating and worthwhile prospect for anyone with a drive to better their careers or themselves.”
Harris currently resides in Versailles, Ky., with his family and credits UPIKE with his success.
By Stacey Walters
