It was 1995. While kids were watching Clueless, listening to Kiss from a Rose, and collecting Beanie Babies, I was forging a new path with Atrium.
It started in an unconventional way. Fresh out of college, I applied for a job I wasn’t really qualified for in HR and talked my way into being an early talent hire. From the moment I started, I realized I had truly found my passion. It was so rewarding to help people find the perfect job. I vividly remember thinking, “How does it get better than this?” That experience, coupled with an entrepreneurial spirit, led to the founding of Atrium.
Valuing Flexibility
The internet was in a nascent state. My “tech stack” included a Rolodex, a landline, and a paper filing system on my desk! But this was all it took to connect with people and seize the potential of the contingent workforce.
I could see that flexibility was becoming a growing focus in the world of work, and that temporary staffing provided just that as positions became more specialized and companies implemented strategic workforce planning. It was clear that this new era of work was all about adaptability and meeting the evolving needs of businesses.
A BLS report from 2010 confirms what I saw. The 90s were a boom decade for temporary staffing as the demand shifted to more highly skilled roles with higher salaries. By 2000, the industry had expanded to 2.7 million employees and accounted for 2% of the U.S. population.
One thing I find so fascinating as I look back at the last thirty years is how the development of Atrium is inextricable from what was happening in the world of work. The pace of change in the workplace was breathtaking, and companies wanted to work with a true client-led partner who listened and was agile enough to make magic happen.
And it’s from those small beginnings with an office of four people who didn’t just talk the talk; but walked the walk grew into a global workforce management firm with diverse capabilities none of us could have imagined back then.
Relationships Matter
I also knew temporary workers deserved just as much respect as any other type of worker, and with that, Applicant-Centric™ was born. I built Atrium on the premise that people matter – clients, candidates, team members.
As we celebrate thirty years of Atrium, I’m filled with gratitude for every person who has been part of this journey. I count our successes in so many different ways, but the most important measure is in relationships.
From the amazing tenure of so many of our employees to alumni employees with whom I am still in touch today to our many amazing clients with whom we have worked for decades, I firmly believe it is our ability to grow and respond to their needs that defines us.
Milestones That Mattered
Our journey has been marked by pivotal moments that reflect our commitment to growth and innovation. Beyond pioneering an Applicant-Centric philosophy in 1995, we joined WBENC in 2003, enabling us to pay it forward and support other women-owned businesses.
Soon after, in 2008, we entered the Managed Services Provider arena, where we are now an Ardent Partners Market Leader. The development of Engagent™, an industry-leading 1099 vetting and independent contractor compliance platform, followed in 2015. And two years ago, we expanded on a global scale, giving us the ability to support clients wherever their business takes them.
Let’s Get to Work
My desk looks very different today. You won’t see a landline or a Rolodex or much paper at all. But what you will see at my desk and throughout our entire organization is a continued dedication to putting people to work. We were customer-obsessed in 1995, and that continues to be our guiding principle in 2025.
The rest, as they say, is history. But I know our best chapters are still being written.
People first. People always.
