At Ascend, we strive to provide opportunities for employees to stretch their skills and advance their careers by moving among business segments, brands and teams, driving personal and team growth while creating a culture where people love what they do, take ownership and are empowered to pursue new career opportunities within the company so we “hire our own talent.”

Scotti Wolf made her move from Swift River Online Learning to ATI Nursing Education when the virtual clinical solutions provider joined ATI in November 2021. At Swift River, Scotti served as a “one-woman administration and accounting department” — managing accounting, payroll, finance, taxes and human resources. A year later, she’s settling in well as a billing CAM supervisor at ATI and describes Ascend as “the place for purpose-driven people.”

Ascend Communications (AC): How did your previous role at Swift River help prepare you for your role at ATI?

Scotti Wolf (SW): I have worked for many small, expanding businesses, so I was used to wearing a lot of hats. That came in handy when we experienced extremely rapid growth in early 2020 and my team members and I often found ourselves creating processes on the fly to increase our efficiency, which allowed us to serve our clients quickly and effectively.

At Swift River, we were a very small and intimate team, each of us handling a specific function of the business and everyone I worked closely with was a high performer. When I look back at my time in that role, I am still so in awe of what we accomplished over the course of the last few years.

AC: Can you tell us about your new role?

SW: My current position at ATI is the billing CAM supervisor. We are a subsection of the client account manager team (CAM), which handles customer service and billing at the institutional level and is split into five sub teams. The members of my sub team are responsible for setting up billing in its various forms for our clients. My main goal every day as the supervisor is to make sure that my team has the tools they need to continue to do quality, accurate and impactful work.

AC: What was the process like making your move? 

SW: During the acquisition, I had the opportunity to discuss potential open positions not only for myself but also for the Swift River team. I learned about the billing CAM supervisor position and loved the idea of getting to do something I liked while also having the chance to lead a team in an official capacity.

After a whirlwind of interviews and onboarding, I was working both in my former position through the end of the transition and learning about the work I would be doing. It was a lot at the time, but the best things in life are often worth working for.

AC: How would you describe the dynamic of your new team? 

SW: My team is amazing both vertically and horizontally. I get the chance to help and support passionate and highly experienced people pursue their goals every day. If I ever have questions or feel lost on anything, I have both an incredible team of fellow CAM supervisors and a highly approachable team of leaders to whom I can voice my concerns and questions and receive thoughtful answers and direction. We’re very supportive of one another and that extends to how we care for our clients.

AC: How have Ascend’s values and culture shaped or influenced this process for you?

SW: I am a very purpose-driven person and Ascend is the place for purpose-driven people. We put a lot of emphasis on our company values, and I’ve never felt like a cog in a machine in the time I’ve been here. I truly feel that our purpose is what feeds us and fuels us and being surrounded by like-minded humans from diverse backgrounds is not something you get everywhere.

I love seeing that the same values I have are prized at a company level. It’s so much easier to be yourself and give more of yourself to your work when you know that it’s valued. I’ve always been passionate about my work and supporting those I work with and knowing that is not only expected but appreciated gives me an unprecedented boost in confidence. It’s empowering.

AC: Do you have any words of encouragement to others at Ascend who are considering making their move?

SW: If you see an opportunity that you genuinely want to take advantage of, go for it; especially if it scares you! Fortune favors the brave, and bravery is the act of being afraid and pushing through regardless. At the end of the day, as long as you go into something with good intentions and passion, you’re winning — even if you fail. At Ascend, I feel seen in a way I haven’t before, which makes me want to take advantage of any opportunity that comes my way.

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When team members move to new roles across Ascend, they grow their skills and stretch their capabilities within a company they already know, maintain their benefits and connections with colleagues, and teams gain an employee already invested in the work, mission and culture — one that can ramp up quickly and bring legacy knowledge to their new role. To learn more about career opportunities at Ascend, visit our Careers page.