Q: YOU HAVE BEEN WITH ATLAS SINCE JANUARY 2020. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE SO FAR? WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR ROLE?
My experience at Atlas Metal has been very positive. From the very beginning, I have felt appreciated and trusted. I have been given the opportunity to bring my abilities to the role, and this vote of confidence drives me to do my best work. I have the autonomy to adapt my day-to-day work based on the needs of the company.
Q: IN SOME OF OUR OTHER CHATS, WE’VE GATHERED THAT EVERYONE AT ATLAS HAS ONE ANOTHER’S BACK, AND THAT ATLAS FEELS LIKE A FAMILY. ANY EXPERIENCES SO FAR THAT ALIGN WITH THAT?
Absolutely. Our interdepartmental communication is fluid and seamless. Atlas’s positive culture encourages teamwork, and we become more engaged and willing to help one another.
In my own department, I have two associates working with me, Hortensia Leon and Alba Lopez. These ladies are wonderful! They always have my back and have been invaluable as I’ve come on board. Their experience helps our customer relationships, too, because they’re just so familiar with each one. I can blurt out a customer number, and they’ll say, “Oh yeah, that’s so-and-so, they’ve been with us for a long time, and they have five kids.” It’s incredible learning from them. They have helped me understand what “making metal personal” truly means!
Lastly, I will say that Mr. Meade has given me so much trust. I started in 2020, but he makes me feel as if I’ve been here for ten years. It’s very special to have someone like that running things. It’s a positivity that moves through the company.
Q: BESIDES THE TRADITIONAL FINANCIAL TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, A CONTROLLER CAN ALSO SERVE AS A CATALYST OR STRATEGIST TO THE ORGANIZATION. HAS THIS BEEN TRUE FOR YOU, AND HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO SHARE ANY “BIG PICTURE” IDEAS?
Something I have done since I started working at Atlas is to share pertinent financial information with key members of operations to be used as a strategic tool for decision making. I believe that basic understanding of finance is needed to connect our operations to their financial impacts.
And although they might not be “big ideas,” I have been vocal when I see opportunities to increase efficiency, even in small ways. And what’s great is that this is a company where that’s highly encouraged. I’ve even suggested simple ways to templatize sales emails, helping that department save time by not manually typing the same information on every email. Additionally, I adjusted how we sell our scrap metal because I saw a financial opportunity there. So hopefully, these things add up to worthwhile improvements and efficiencies for the company.
It’s very fluid here and very refreshing compared to other places I’ve worked. Everyone has an entrepreneurial spirit, and it’s encouraged by the company.
Q: ATLAS TAKES PRIDE IN THE WAY THEY BUILD THEIR PRODUCTS WITH A HANDS-ON, PERSONAL APPROACH. DOES THIS APPROACH RELATE TO YOUR DAY-TO-DAY AS WELL? HOW DOES ATLAS’ “MAKING METAL PERSONAL” ETHOS INSPIRE YOU?
It has inspired me to be more customer oriented. I try my best to accommodate our customers’ needs because I want to leave a positive impression and encourage trust. Being able to work hand in hand with our customers, based on their specific needs, has been very rewarding. I’m a numbers person on paper, but at Atlas, I’m empowered to be a people person, too.
Q: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ATLAS PRODUCT OR PRODUCT FEATURE, AND WHY?
I believe all our products exhibit fine craftsmanship. Our workers' skills, expertise and dedication come through in every one of our units.
I’ll also admit that before I learned about serving line equipment, I assumed it would all be large, bulky and not very flexible. Seeing the INFINITI FIT and other modular options really has opened my eyes to how versatile this equipment can be for our customers.
Q: WHAT DO YOU WANT CUSTOMERS TO KNOW ABOUT ATLAS, ABOVE ALL ELSE?
Atlas is a customer-oriented company because we recognize that customers are our business. We want our customers to feel satisfied with every interaction with us. We strive to manufacture superior products to earn our customers' loyalty. And that comes from trusting and believing in our incredible employees, most of whom have been here for ten years or more —which is very rare in our industry. We certainly value their unique skillsets, but more than that, we value their well-being. I truly believe they feel that respect, and that it adds to the consistent quality of our equipment.
