A message from Founder and Principal, Hayley Nichols.

Can you believe Allovus is 8 years old? Not many people know this, but I started Allovus because someone told me I couldn’t do it. Strangely enough – that had the opposite effect on me. I had no experience running a company, I had no training in business, I had zero financial backing. And yet, here we are 8 years later with 75 creative employees, 2 offices, 20+ clients (4 fortune 500 companies), zero debt, financially sound, and have a reputation that reflects my core values. That is success to me. Did I do this alone? Absolutely not. WE did it. And we did it by living by our principles and brand promise.

Allovus started small…2 clients and 10 employees to be exact. All but 2 of the original founding employees are still here (Barb is now happily retired and off riding horses on a farm.) Thank you Stephanie, Martina, Robert, Candy, Spring, Lynn, and Alison for 8 years!  We’ve had approximately 175 people come and go throughout the years. 2 are people I used to work for, 2 are family members, 2 are former high school pals, 25 are prior colleagues, and the others are new creative minds I am blessed to be connected with because 8 years ago, I took a leap of faith.

“The whole is more than the sum of its parts.” —Aristotle

Where do people go when they leave Allovus? A few became clients, many were hired full time in the contract we placed them in, others went off to pursue other passions outside the software industry, and a few to find careers outside Allovus. But all have one thing in common, they are all part of the Allovus DNA. I want to personally thank everyone who has helped shape and build this company and your contributions. I will forever be thankful.

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” —John F. Kennedy

We started Allovus during the worst month of the economic crisis, February 2009. Everyone thought we were CRAZY, including myself. In the last few weeks, a flood of emotions has run through me, and I remember the reasons I knew Allovus would be successful. First off, the talented group of creative professionals I had worked with over the prior 12 years were my friends and family. I missed them tremendously during the year I had to wait out a non-compete from my previous employer. Many of them were clients and employees eager to jump on board. Second, I needed a new project. Flipping houses just wasn’t doing it for me. And third… I was inspired. Our former President Barack Obama spoke to my core being. He inspired me, released me from my fear, and renewed my faith in Americans. That inspiration brought out the courage I needed to conquer my fear of failure.

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ —Eleanor Roosevelt

Throughout those eight years, he built something profound and important; he exemplified intelligence, kindness, and thoughtfulness. He led the country by setting an example, and that with courage, determination and preparedness, we can build something great. What we have built here at Allovus is miniscule in comparison, but to our 175 people, it has been a safe haven, where their creative minds could focus on solving problems and creating designs and solutions that result in better and amazing products. We raised the bar on how creative agencies should support and treat their employees. We set a new standard and opened the conversation on non-competes and rules of engagement. We ensured that every employee has a voice, and has the opportunity to work on meaningful and engaging projects. We proved that putting your employees first works.

“America will never be destroyed from the outside.  If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves. —Abraham Lincoln

As the first week has unfolded with our new president, I am left feeling uninspired. I’m concerned that fear is driving decisions, and our country is becoming divided. So, I will look for inspiration in new places.

I ask that anyone who has been a part of Allovus to continue to stand up for what is right. Challenge the thinking of those who want to dismiss the values we believe in. Consider running for office or support someone who should be running.  Teach your children the facts from all sides of the equation and help them to make decisions from a place of understanding and empathy for those involved. And continue to challenge people’s thinking and require thoughtful debate from others. I will do my small part by continuing to uphold our values when making both business and life decisions that reflect these core principles. Allovus has proven that if you invest in your people, and make decisions based on facts rather than fears, success will be inevitable.

“If you run you stand a chance of losing, but if you don’t run you’ve already lost.” —Barack Obama

I believe that together we can continue our path of success and be an example to those who think differently. Our diversity, creative thinking, and respect we have for one another is at the core of who we are. I am honored and proud to work with people who exemplify these values on a day-to-day basis.

“The best thing you can do is the right thing; the next best thing you can do is the wrong thing; the worst thing you can do is nothing.” —Theodore Roosevelt

Sincerely,

Hayley Nichols

Founder + Principal