Thank You!
I’m personally writing to you to share a life update. To start, I want to make sure that I adequately convey my overwhelming appreciation for your support over the past eight years. Do not worry – Thrive OT Harlan, Omaha and Gretna are stronger than ever with plans to continue serving these communities for years to come. In fact, we are introducing local Harlan team members who recently joined us. Now, please indulge me for a moment as we relive the growth of Thrive OT.
The Journey
What a journey it has been! And continues to be. Beginning as a fleeting dream while driving in my car, to late nights putting pen to paper drafting business plans and vision statements, to the courage of seeing an idea come to life as each trusting client walked through my door… Thrive OT has grown leaps and bounds.
From October 2017 to October 2022, I was a one-woman show. Many of you remember these days! If there was a hat to wear getting my new business startup off the ground, I wore it. After a full day treating clients, I often spent my evenings driving within a 1-2 hour radius of Harlan to present at any event that would have me; I remember seeing attendees’ eyes light up with hope as they connected the dots for their personal health. I am still passionate about sharing occupational therapy’s unique role in pelvic health and beyond, and “presenter” has become a title I proudly wear.
How beautiful it is to watch something you so carefully, and fearfully, plant grow bit by bit, while showering it with love, respect, and a whole bunch of grit.
In the fall of 2022, I got a wild hair (this isn’t shocking to those who know me well). Instead of taking the week off for a family trip as I had originally pencilled into my calendar, I decided to spend my week devoid of patient care, inundating myself with everything needed to hire a fellow occupational therapist team member. Insert Marissa! After a phone call where I shared my desire to help more people by expanding our team, Marissa enthusiastically said “I’m interested. What do we need to do?” Since then, she shows up with the same “What do we need to do” attitude regarding my many business ideas and future forecasting, and I’m confident this venture will be no different.
For the next three years, we vigorously worked to bring Thrive OT’s vision and mission to life in new places. We happily watered our flagship Harlan location, while planting new seeds elsewhere. It felt as if I was starting my business all over: late nights, fear of failure, enthusiasm for what could be, and a persistently personal vulnerability. Oh, how it has been worth it.
Through the hard times, we leaned into our core values to guide us. I am continually committed to protecting and supporting our team and clients by upholding these core values, my favorite of which are passion and integrity.
At Thrive OT we embody the power of reciprocity and prioritize respect for everyone in our orbit. This has allowed us to attract a large team of wonderful practitioners and support staff, while serving blossoming caseloads who trust our vision and mission. Our amazing team has grown to 13 employees and counting. Wow!
A Day in the Life
As the business changes, so too does my role. My days are ever-evolving and often unpredictable. I desperately miss connecting with my clients, yet I relish in the exhilarating, albeit painful, ebb and flow of entrepreneurship. I’ve learned to lean into the discomfort, and my skills are put to the test with each hardship. Every win we celebrate together developed on the heels of unseen failures and persistence.
I often joke that each day hundreds of baseballs are thrown my direction, and I need to know which one to hit to ensure our continued success. I now have the pleasure of mentoring our team so they, too, can hit one out of the park. During my doctoral program, I learned about servant leadership. I promised myself I would implement these qualities if Thrive OT ever expanded. Now, we proudly offer a supportive place of employment, where our committed team has the space to challenge themselves personally and professionally. I am fiercely protective of our work culture and our team members who lead with kindness and respect.
With some of my prior responsibilities currently upheld by leaders on our team, I am committed to seeking new opportunities for our company, while ensuring the train continues down the track. My husband once described me as tenacious. “Where do you come up with these things?” he often asks me as I enthusiastically share yet another idea.
He’s not wrong – I am wired for progress. I feel an immense amount of gratitude to be in this position, to experience the pressure of pushing boundaries while embarking on adventures in unchartered territory.
The Future
The following reveal may not be news to some of you. If this is the first you are hearing of it, I hope you imagine us sitting in my office, sharing our life goals and updates, and possibly shedding a tear together.
My husband and I feel called to move closer to my hometown in Kansas and purchased land for a homestead. I have not lived near my old stomping grounds in 20+ years. With us raising our kids without grandparents nearby for many years, and my sister growing her sweet family, we feel a deep ache to return home.
After leaning into our hearts’ desires and praying for direction, many gifts unfolded; one such gift was locating two wonderful occupational therapists near Harlan, an undertaking I have been pursuing for nearly three years!
I appreciate your grace with our balancing act of navigating personal timelines and providing our valued clients with transparency.
Takeaway
How wonderfully life unfolds when you relinquish control, find peace in the discomfort, and persevere during moments of fear and uncertainty. In the spring of 2026, the aforementioned changes will take root. While we are heartbroken to leave a community we saw our family residing in for years to come, we find ourselves smiling through the tears and gazing at the opportunities that lie ahead.
My mind sees the future like artwork, dancing in front of me, coming to life one challenge at a time. I am eager to bring Thrive OT to Kansas, to serve family, friends and communities neighboring my core childhood memories.
For the foreseeable future, we are excited to pursue RV life as a family while visiting all Thrive OT locations, an endeavor our family has grown accustomed to over the past few years while opening and supporting our Omaha and Gretna clinics.
Logistics
Our Harlan team is committed to providing quality services and upholding our core values. In addition to our stellar occupational therapists who currently serve Harlan, we are also integrating our recently hired and local occupational therapists, Andrea and Hayli, so please help them feel welcome. I have seen firsthand how much love they have for this community. My mission has always been to provide exceptional health and wellness services, and I am confident our team will continue to champion this calling.
This Is Not Goodbye!
Please be on the lookout for future emails detailing a fun Thrive OT event in February 2026. I will be attending, along with Marissa, Andrea, and Hayli. We all look forward to seeing you there.
Thank you for trusting me and our Thrive OT family.
Warmly,
Erica Stevens