Behind the Scenes at Skyline: Celebrating Eight Years of Excellence
Skyline Med Staff’s founders Brannen Betz and Kelsey Martin.
Meet the dynamic duo steering the ship at Skyline Med Staff: Kelsey Martin and Brannen Betz. As founders, these two make up the heart and soul of the company. To celebrate Skyline’s eighth birthday, we’re sitting down with the founders and zeroing in to learn the history, values, passion and genuine care that has allowed Skyline to grow into an agency synonymous with trust and excellence. Keep reading to both learn the journey that got Skyline here and the exciting path that lies ahead!
What are your roles within Skyline Med Staff? How long have you been in the healthcare industry?
Kelsey: I have worn many hats at Skyline since its inception, including recruiter, client manager, trainer, mentor, and director of recruiting teams, and currently, I serve as the Chief Executive Officer. This comes after working in healthcare staffing since 2010!
Brannen: I’m Skyline Med Staff’s CFO and this will be my 24th year in travel healthcare staffing. Currently, I’m responsible for tracking cash flow and financial planning and I also oversee the IT side of the company.
How does it feel to be celebrating Skyline’s eighth birthday and to watch what was once a small company expand to what it is today?
Kelsey: Worth it. This organization was almost like having another child in the family. We put our blood, sweat and tears into creating and building it with the best internal staff, travelers and VMS or facility relationships that we could. We wanted it to be a family and for those that are a part of Skyline to be proud of the company they work for. I think we have achieved that and we’re planning to continue to grow and align with the changing healthcare industry. We want to continue to make an impact on our staff, travelers and the facilities or patients they serve.
When was the “ah ha!” moment that made you realize that you were going to start Skyline?
Kelsey: For me, I grew up in a family of entrepreneurs with both my late father and my brother starting their own companies – so it was in my blood. I’m also a bit of an overachiever and a go-getter, which made taking a risk to start a company feel right for me. When Brannen and I truly started to look at starting Skyline, we knew that our skill sets and personalities aligned in a way that would give us a great foundation. We had the experience and we believed we could do it right and be successful in this industry.
Brannen: When it comes to me, there wasn’t really an “ah ha” moment which seems to be more spontaneous. Instead, Skyline Med Staff’s creation was a snowball effect over my first 15 years working with travel nursing. Kelsey and I watched so many companies in a great industry just making completely wrong decisions and doing things for the wrong reasons. We just knew there was a better way to do things, to treat people and to build something.
How did the name “Skyline Med Staff” come to be?
Kelsey: Naming a company is almost like naming your child. There’s so much thought, time and so many potential names that go into it. The reason I landed on Skyline Med Staff is because I had a vision of each travel healthcare professional seeing new skylines everywhere they go on contract. Whether it’s the big New York City skyline or the rural skyline of Norfork, Nebraska, every place has some sort of skyline that identifies it. We knew that we wanted to be on that journey to each new skyline a traveler visits or works at.
What’s the best experience or your favorite traveler story that’s happened over the past eight years?
Brannen: My favorite story is about a traveler who took an assignment out east. While she was there, she met a security guard and they eventually got married. It was one of those times when you could see how much of a positive impact her travel assignment had and how it turned her in a direction she’d always wanted. It was one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen!
What core values did you aim to found Skyline on and how do you implement them today?
Kelsey: Two things we’ve always focused on are being intentional and fostering teamwork. We ensure that Skyline is intentional with the amount of thought that goes into decision-making, processes and our overall vision. We are also intentional with our internal staff and healthcare providers to make sure we are achieving the best outcomes.
When it comes to teamwork, our team focuses on the people we work with internally as well as with our travelers, healthcare providers and the facilities or vendors we align with. We know that working together for a common goal and building relationships is essential to our vision and it can’t happen without that team mentality coming first.
Brannen: On top of what Kelsey said, we have always gone by the platinum rule– treat others the way THEY want to be treated. This means clear and honest communication, being timely with decisions and always making sure we understand the short or long-term effects of the decisions we make.
What about your values, mission or operations set Skyline Med Staff apart in the industry?
Brannen: There are a lot of companies that lack in the clear communication sector. They tend to sugarcoat things, hide things, or spin them in a way that seems true but just isn’t. Not everyone is always ready for our kind of clear and honest communication, but in the end, we feel a company should be built on being transparent.
Also, most larger companies have shareholders or other people invested in the company who aren’t involved in the day-to-day. This forces them to really focus decisions on the bottom line and not necessarily on what is best for the short and long term. On the other hand, Skyline is 100% owned by executives who are heavily involved in the day-to-day and has no outside investors. This means we can operate based on real data and keep an active pulse on the company.
Can you tell us what potential travelers or facilities should know about what it’s like to work with Skyline?
Kelsey: We pride ourselves on getting to know the why behind what someone is looking for, and making it not just a match, but a perfect fit based on pay, location, job requirements, career goals, etc. Our recruiters aren’t just salespeople, they’re career advisors who are there to help healthcare professionals find the best position for them and to coach them along the way. We answer questions, educate travelers about the process (including compliance) and help them succeed during their assignment. We are a support system for travelers.
As far as facilities go, we show them value to qualify travelers and present them to the facility in the best way. We take care to provide healthcare professionals that we would also want to care for our own family members.
What has it been like building an internal team to support the Skyline vision?
Kelsey: We call ourselves the Skyline Family and that says a lot. Our people are what represent us and reflect on who we are, and I’m so proud of and thankful for everyone who makes up the team. They are the reason we are the organization we are today.
Brannen: I think the thing I like most about this experience has been the people I’ve met along the way. Your job is so much more enjoyable when everyone is rowing in the same direction and they’re good people who want the best for not just themselves but for those around them. That's a fun thing to be a part of. To put it simply: good people = a good company.
What exciting initiatives or plans do you have in store for the future of Skyline Med Staff?
Kelsey: Growth! We believe in the teams and leadership within our company, and we know they’re moving us in the right direction every year. We’re a powerhouse of energy, passion and dedication that we hope others will want to join and share with us. Whether it’s internal staff, facilities or travel professionals, join us for the next eight years to be a part of the journey!
Join the Skyline Med Staff Team
Skyline Med Staff is a women-owned staffing agency dedicated to delivering exceptional customer service, forging personal connections, and ensuring quality contracts. With our expertise in matching healthcare professionals with hospitals nationwide, we are your trusted partner for travel contracts and permanent positions.
At Skyline Med Staff, you can easily embark on your next travel adventure and experience the difference we bring to the healthcare industry! We take pride in our ability to provide tailored staffing solutions that meet your unique needs all while creating lasting relationships and fostering a sense of community. Whether you’re looking for a travel assignment or a long-term career move, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Learn more about joining our team by visiting skylinemedstaff.com.
