Writing about how awesome you are, or how great your company is, isn’t effective marketing according to Kathy Sierra (via Joel Spolsky’s recent (and perhaps final?) blog post). Sometimes you’ve just got to ignore this otherwise sound advice. This is one of those times.
I’m delighted and proud that Atomic Object was selected this year as a Michigan 50 Companies to Watch company by the Edward Lowe Foundation. The 50 to Watch award recognizes privately held, second stage companies that have demonstrated intent and capacity to grow. (For more on the award and foundation, see our press release.) Being one of the 300 companies selected over the six year history of the program exemplifies for me the two drastically different perspectives on Michigan’s economy evident since we started Atomic in 2001. On the one hand, we have the gloom and doom portrayed by the national media. On the other, we have world-class, growing companies like Atomic, DornerWorks, and Maestro eLearning (one of our customers, and the parent of Bloomfire). All three of these companies have been recognized as a 50 to Watch company in 2010. It may take a generation for Michigan to fully adjust to the realities of the global economy. I’m very proud that Atomic is a small (but growing!) part of that adjustment.
Atomic is more than the sum of its parts. It’s 10 years worth of learning, 10 years of earning customer trust, 10 years of sharing our innovations with the technical community, 10 years of figuring out our business on the fly.
But mostly Atomic is people.
Atomic today is 28 people. My co-founder Bill Bereza, without whom I might not have had the irrational confidence needed to start the company. Our first apprentice, Mike Marsiglia, whose broad talent now helps me with sales and finance. Karlin Fox, responsible for many internal innovations and holder of critical viewpoints. Micah Alles, who stepped up to the critical role of system administrator while maintaining his development leadership. Dave Crosby, our passionate and humorous first software craftsman, who was nearly there from the beginning and has mentored so many. Mary O’Neill, our business manager and my wife, who so adeptly wears many hats, all taken at one time or another off my head. Shawn Anderson, who always knew he’d return to the fold. Mike Swieton, one of our most flexible and thoughtful talents. Shawn Crowley, who’s moved us so effectively into product development practices, and who stepped up at a critical time. Mike Karlesky, who spearheaded building up our embedded work. Scott Miller, the first person with significant prior work experience to figure out Atomic was a good bet. Matt Fletcher, who shares my academic bent and has such high standards for himself. Patrick Bacon, with his incredible skills, steadiness, and positive attitude. Justin DeWind, who can tackle any problem, and inspired me to learn something about economics. Dustin Tinney, who codes with the soul of an artist. Drew Colthorp, who never acts like the smartest guy in the room, even when he probably is. Greg Williams, king of our embedded realm. Andrew Witte, our boy genius, all grown up. Greg Pattison, who so effectively expresses the critical project worry gene. Ryan Fogle, unflappable and productive like few others. Melissa Bugai, the first person in our office to carry the banner of exploratory testing forward. Michael Harrington, the most persistent apprentice applicant we’ve ever met, and thank heavens for it. Andrew Bellenir, keeping us safe from attack. Marissa Christy, proving the dictum of hiring brains over experience and spreading the word. Samuel Bowles, who is leading our growth in design. Kyle Gibson, the latest young developer to start down the path of craftsmanship with us. And finally, Paul Hart, who gives us a design pair and has already started teaching us.
I’m humbled and honored by the people I work with at Atomic. Being recognized as a Michigan 50 company is an acknowledgment of their abilities, hard work, perseverance and attitude.
3 Comments
Congratulations! You have a very cool thing going on there in Grand Rapids! You have every right to let people know how awesome you are. Well written!
Congratulations Carl, and the entire AO team! This recognition is well deserved. West Michigan is lucky to have a company like you.
Atomic is West Michigan’s truly innovative gem…and a great example of how to run a company. The accolades (and self-boasting) are well deserved. Congratulations!