2017 Year in Review

By Rich Smith, 01-03-2018

I was struggling with how to start this piece, because so much happened at Atlas in 2017. Luckily, one of my favorite bands helped me out. Through the magic of misheard lyrics, which also reeks of irony, I got this: "everything has changed, absolutely nothing's changed." For those of you familiar with Pearl Jam, that's from Corduroy off the Vitalogy album. Possibly my favorite Pearl Jam album of all time...or at least a close second to Ten. Either way, I've misheard that one lyric for as long as I've known the song. More on that later.

So everything has changed. We started 2017 by adding enough desks in our current office to fill it. By the end of the year every spot was full. That meant we hired 30 new people, mostly recruiters. We implemented a new database that will tie every department together into one well-oiled machine. We launched a new website. We started work on a new, mobile timecard. We went through some tough personnel changes and came out stronger in the end. If that wasn't enough, we started the process of locating new office space. Omaha has a TON of empty office buildings, and a company could spend a lot of money on fancy unnecessary nonsense. But that isn't our style, we needed work space not ego space. We found a great spot in the Old Mill area that will serve us for years and years to come. It's not traditional office space by any means, but we are going to make it Atlas through and through.

Beyond all that, we ramped up our social media presence. Matt Loughran, our Marketing Director, really gave us the gas to pour on what was already a growing flame. I don't want to get to ahead of myself, but 2018 is going to be even bigger for us in that department. We have even more gas to pour on what now seems to be a raging bonfire. I can't wait for all of you to see what is coming, and to participate!

Most importantly, Atlas grew as a company. When others in the industry were lamenting the lack of jobs and what appeared to be a slowdown, we continued to grow. Inc Magazine has ranked Atlas the fastest growing privately held company in Nebraska for the past two years, and I have no doubt we'll be right there again when the list comes out next year. However, none of this would be possible if it wasn't for all of you. Every Atlas nurse that works their ass off every day in a very difficult profession. You are Atlas. You make us great. Without you, we aren't here. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

So the ACTUAL lyrics to Corduroy are: Everything has chains, absolutely nothing's changed. After 20+ years of mishearing that, I'm re-energized. Our industry has a ton of chains. The old guard has worked very hard to make sure nothing will change. Atlas is changing that, and will continue to change that. That's the part that will not change, no matter how much things change internally. Atlas is still Atlas, no matter what.

2017 was pretty awesome. 2018 is going to blow the doors off. I can't wait! Happy New Year everyone!