Our Promise
Putting People First
We got our start doing things differently. We challenged the existing constructs of the talent acquisition industry and created a safe haven for career minded individuals to turn to for sage, unbiased guidance and counsel. Nearly two decades later, this commitment to people remains at the core of our business.
COMPANY TIMELINE
THE DESIGNFORCE STORY
2003
PRACTICE LAUNCHED
In 2003, Founding Principal, Ahmed Kurtom pitched the concept of Engineers leading Engineering recruitment efforts to Randstad (then Spherion), a Fortune 500 firm. DesignForce was then launched under the Spherion name and began a direct hire talent acquisition group focused on engineers that operated in the building, manufacturing, and general contracting space.
2005
MARKET EXPANSION
In an effort to further it's expertise within the greater A|E|C industry, DesignForce (Then Spherion) expanded its market outside of engineering to include interior designers and architects.
2009
FULL-SERVICE IDEATION
We realized the need to shift from a staffing model into a management consultancy model where we could service not only our client's talent acquisition needs but also their workforce strategy needs.
2010
DESIGNFORCE FOUNDED
In 2010, we exited Spherion and began doing business independently as DesignForce. We went back to our roots and designed an infrastructure that embodied our firm’s ethos and mission of always putting people first.
2014
K STREET OFFICE LAUNCH
DesignForce developed a career oriented office space in downtown DC in Federal Triangle designed to pay tribute to the design community.
2020
DESIGNFORCE TURNS 10!
DesignForce celebrated it's 10th year of business under the DesignForce name in 2020!
2022
B-CORP CERTIFICATION
After years of incremental progress, change, and intention, DesignForce officially became recognized as a Certified B-Corporation! Becoming a B-Corp is a tangible affirmation of the meaningful impact we seek to create and the core values that we have upheld as building blocks for our organization: collaborative, intentional, people-first, and impact-driven. Achieving B-Corp status is a symbol to us, our people, our clients, and our industry that it takes a people-driven approach to develop and nurture workplaces that allow people to grow and flourish.
2023
18TH STREET OFFICE LAUNCH
Over the past years, DesignForce has grown in size, reach, and impact. To accommodate this growth, we launched a brand-new collaborative office space located in the heart of Dupont Circle in Washington, DC. This new space will serve as a career excellence center, a place to host learning and development workshops, and a home for A/E/C professionals to come and safely talk to us about their careers!
UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES, SHARED MISSION
Meet our People
Ahmed Kurtom
Managing Principal
Ahmed Kurtom is the President and Founder of Design Force and leads both Workforce and Strategic Initiatives.
Read more about Ahmed's story here.
Anh Tran
AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, Director of organizational strategy
Anh has dedicated over 15 years of her career to the intersections of culture, built environment, and strategic results...
Read more about Anh's story here.
GABRIELLE CAMILLI
SENIOR WORKFORCE STRATEGY CONSULTANT
Hailing from Annandale, VA, Gaby Camilli is a DMV native who has always been driven to strive for top-tier performance facilitated by prime organization and planning.
Read more about Gabrielle's story here.
Allie Stegall
SENIOR WORKFORCE STRATEGY CONSULTANT
Allie is passionate about fostering lasting relationships with others to impact their careers positively.
Read more about Allie's story here.
tasmia hussain
PE, workforce strategy consultant
Tasmia is excited to use her experience as an engineer to help industry professionals find fulfillment, motivation, & meaning in their careers.
Read more about Tasmia's story here.
Danielle Sperry
M.S.,ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGY CONSULTANT
Danielle is excited to apply her educational knowledge and technical skills to impact career professionals and organizational goals.
Read more about Danielle's story here.
wahnetah carty
ASSOCIATE WORKFORCE STRATEGY Consultant
Wahnetah has dedicated her career to understanding how a person’s values shapes their personal and professional lives.
Read more about Wahnetah's story here.
Jason Neiswinter
ASSOCIATE ANALYST
Jason’s innate curiosity about people and their unique stories fuels his dedication to elevating others to always present their best, most authentic selves.
Read more about Jason's story here.
Kara Taylor-Gonzalez
ASSOCIATE CONSULTANT
Kara is driven by her passion for building community and acting as a resource for career professionals.
Read more about Kara's story here.
Alice Vernon
ASSOCIATE WORKFORCE STRATEGY CONSULTANT
Alice is passionate about advocating for others during moments of change.
Read more about Alice's story here
Interested in a people-first career? Check out our current internal job openings on our careers page here.
What we're made of
Our Values
These are our values: the foundation of our organization, the bricks used to build every relationship we form, guide every decision we make, and mold every solution we provide.
our commitment to your people.
People First
Unbiased by design; as non-commissioned people strategists, we take the time to holistically understand those we partner with -- their why, motivators, and greater purpose. We equip them with the information and advice necessary to unlock their greatest potential.
Impact Driven
We are dedicated to fostering a positive and inclusive people experience within the architectural, engineering, and general contracting industry where people from all backgrounds can grow and thrive!
Collaborative
We take a team-minded approach to our work internally at DesignForce and externally with our industry partners. We know that the greatest impact is realized when diverse perspectives are brought together to achieve a shared mission.
Intentional
We take a data-driven, intentional approach to all of our decisions and consults at DesignForce. We believe the same amount of care and due diligence that is put into designing and creating buildings should go into career decisions.
CALLING ALL DREAMERS 
We're looking for creative thinkers who are passionate about helping people design the careers of their dreams. Dreamers with a passion for collaboration who don't shy away from challenging the status quo.
Let's Chat Over A Brew
Nitro, tea, or something stronger...