DesignForce

A little time on the water, a beautiful sunset, and the best company! 🛥️💛

Last week, our team traded the office for the open water, setting sail from Georgetown for a sunset cruise along the Potomac. With great food, drinks, and plenty of laughs, it was the perfect opportunity to celebrate the people who make our team so special.

Grateful for this crew, the chance to connect beyond the day-to-day, and the memories made!

New hire announcement! DesignForce is thrilled to welcome Stephanie Buccola, MPS to our team.

A Northern Virginia native, Stephanie brings eight years of talent acquisition and people strategy experience, along with a passion for understanding what helps people feel fulfilled, supported, and successful at work. She has led and developed recruiting teams, strengthened talent acquisition operations, built data-informed practices, and partnered closely with leaders to improve hiring strategy, processes, and the overall talent experience.

Stephanie earned her Master of Professional Studies in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from George Mason University, where she deepened her passion for using research, data, and employee insights to solve organizational challenges. Drawn to DesignForce’s people-first mission, she’s excited to bring together her talent experience and passion for I-O psychology to help organizations and their people thrive. We’re so excited to have her on the team - welcome, Stephanie!

A little fresh air, sunshine, movement, and a reason to step away from our screens. 🌈📸
As part of Wellness Month, our team coordinated a series of activities designed to help us unplug, reset, and make a little more space for wellness, including a Color Walk scavenger hunt!

The future of our industry depends on who we’re developing today.
Engineer, author, and creator Griffin Furlong, P.E. ( aka Griffin Furlong )has inspired millions online by making engineering more accessible. We caught up with him to talk about mentorship, education, and what it takes to shape the next generation of engineers.
Read the full interview at the link in our bio. 🔗

A huge congratulations to Tasmia Hussain, PE on her promotion to Senior Workforce Strategy Consultant! 🍾🎉
 
Three years ago, Tasmia made the courageous decision to pivot her career after spending nearly a decade as a practicing licensed mechanical engineer in the life sciences sector. While changing paths is never easy, she brought with her something invaluable: firsthand experience, deep industry knowledge, and an authentic understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing AEC professionals.
 
Today, Tasmia’s work with our clients and the professionals she coaches in the MEP space is shaped by that lived experience. She brings a thoughtful, people-first approach that helps individuals and organizations navigate growth, change, and career development with confidence.
 
Beyond her expertise, Tasmia has become a trusted leader both within our team and among the clients we serve. Her passion for the AEC industry, commitment to others’ success, and genuine care for people make her an invaluable part of DesignForce.
 
Congratulations, Tasmia, on this well-deserved promotion!

Excited to share that we’ll be at the 2026 Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) Annual Conference! Three of our amazing team members will be leading sessions that tackle the real-world impact of I-O psychology:

-Ahmed Kurtom, our founder, will lead “So, Are You a Workplace Therapist? Marketing I-O to Organizations”, sharing actionable strategies to translate I-O expertise into outcomes that resonate with executives.

- Danielle Sperry will guide a breakout in “Best Practices vs Doing Our Best: Balancing Practicality & Rigor in Training Design”, focusing on training design in organizations with limited resources.

-Jamal Cottman will lead “From Access to Advancement: Cultivating Career Pathways for Neurodivergent Employees”, shifting the conversation from entry to sustainable advancement.

Come join us for insights, practical strategies, and candid conversations about the future of workplace psychology! 🙌🏼📚

No better way to welcome spring in DC than bouquets + bagels 🌸🥯 Thanks to everyone who joined us for a little flower arranging and a lot of Call Your Mother!