Ryan O’Brien Mendoza
Director of Operations
Location: Spokane
Ryan is Atlas Staffing’s Director of Operations. He is responsible for leading a team of highly talented managers and strategizing with them to meet and exceed goals. On a day-to-day basis, he supports and refines the sales process, ensuring Atlas Staffing keeps client challenges and needs top priority.
Ryan enjoys working at Atlas Staffing because the company’s internal structure paves the way for professionals. Between Atlas’ comprehensive career track and team of supportive managers, everyone is in charge of their destiny and personal goals.
Something Ryan loves about his role is how he can sit down and have real conversations with prospective partners. He takes the time to understand their unique challenges and crafts a shared success plan that all parties can work toward.
Ryan graduated with a full-ride scholarship from Whitworth University, studying both psychology and Spanish. Before Atlas Staffing, he spent time working in healthcare recruitment, giving him a start in the staffing industry. In his time at the company so far, he’s excelled in each position he’s held, from Recruiter to Account Manager to Branch Manager to Sales Manager to Director of Sales to now Director of Operations.
Get To Know Ryan
When you were 5 years old, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to either be a professional skateboarder or a guitarist for a world-famous rock band!
What was your first job?
During college, I worked at Borders – and even worked until the very end of their existence. I miss that bookstore!
If you could pick one celebrity or historical figure to have lunch with, who would it be?
Hands down, Anthony Bourdain. My wife and I loved watching all his travel shows and reading his books. I admired the real, raw look he provided into various cultures. I can’t even comprehend how amazing that conversation would be!
What’s your favorite quote?
Not necessarily my favorite, but one that’s stuck with me lately: “When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps 100 times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred–and–first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that last blow that did it, but all that had gone before.” – Jacob Riis
What’s your nickname and how’d you get it?
Dozer. It comes from my last name, as well as being a power hitter during my baseball days growing up! Many of my childhood friends still refer to me as Dozer to this day.
What was your first car?
1991 Toyota Corolla – Believe me, that thing could have surpassed 400k+ miles easily. Who cares about a bit of rust and a leaky windshield when you know it’ll run forever!
What’s a fun fact nobody would’ve guessed about you?
The hobby that brings me true joy is cooking. On any given weekday, you can find me standing over the range with my apron on, experimenting on a new dish! And yes, it’s a manly apron.