Coforma

Please join us in welcoming Kathleen Kassel, Coforma’s new Senior Accountant! Kathleen brings 16 years of experience in government contracting finance and accounting, with a strong focus on work supporting the Department of Defense. Over her career, she has successfully managed finance software conversions and set up payroll and benefits systems for multiple organizations. Kathleen’s vast knowledge of all things accounting will make her a valuable addition to our finance department. “I’m very happy to be joining the Coforma team,” she shares. “I was drawn to the organization’s core values, people-centric benefits, and professional development opportunities. I hope to continue expanding my finance skills here while helping the company grow.” Outside of work, Kathleen enjoys life in the Shenandoah Mountains of Virginia, where she spends her time tubing and kayaking on the Shenandoah River. She’s a proud mom of two teenage boys (one of whom is a high school senior this year), her dog, Bella, and two cats, Nike and Peyton Manning. Welcome, Kathleen! We’re excited to have you on board. #CoformaCareers #GovernmentServices #CivicTech

The United States Digital Service (USDS) centers its work around the idea that the American public deserves government services that are effective, trustworthy, and user-centered. Since its inception 10 years ago, the organization has partnered with over 30 federal agencies, bringing together top technologists and agency stakeholders to meet modern challenges and deliver superior digital services. Among the many who have contributed to USDS are Coforma CEO Eduardo F. O., who served as the organization’s Executive Creative Director and Director of Common Platforms from 2016-18, and our Senior Director of Creative Technology Jared Cunha, who was a Digital Services Expert at USDS from 2016-19.  “My experience at USDS completely reshaped the way I envisioned my career,” Jared shares. “It’s truly a gift to work on systems that can improve people's lives and increase trust in our public institutions. This was my first experience in the civic tech space, and I knew early on it was where I wanted to be.” Eduardo was also drawn to the organization’s mission to effect positive change. “My passion for improving people’s access to critical services by leveraging product and technology practices to remove points of friction led me to USDS,” he recalls. “But I took away so much more from my time there. Helping bring about change for those in need exposed me to the passion of our government’s civil servants. Their depth of knowledge, coupled with the pain arcane systems caused, made me want to improve the products and services our government provides its citizenry from the private sector. It’s what inspired me to co-found Coforma.” Eduardo took the passion, experience, and values from his time at USDS and infused them into Coforma’s DNA. The principles that make USDS successful—centering the user, scaling capacity, continuously innovating, tackling root causes, and building trust—are the same values that drive our business practices today. We are grateful for the opportunity to have collaborated with USDS on several projects, including the IRS’s Direct File pilot and a portfolio of initiatives with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). We also recognize that there is still much important work to be done. “Working in civic tech has its challenges, and we still have such a long way to go,” Jared acknowledges. “But I’m heartened to see how many smart, mission-driven public servants and vendors have committed a portion of their professional lives to bringing our government into the 21st century and beyond.” Read more about the important work USDS has done in its first 10 years here: https://lnkd.in/gbF8M476. #CivicTech #Leadership #GovCon #DigitalTransformation

The annual Greater Washington Government Contractor Awards celebrate leadership, innovation, and excellence within the government contracting community, recognizing companies that go above and beyond in supporting partner agencies and those they serve. We’re honored to announce that Coforma has been named a finalist for Contractor of the Year in the $25-$75 million revenue category. Members of our leadership team had the privilege of attending the finalist reception earlier this month, where they engaged with fellow industry leaders who share our commitment to elevating the industry. Our heartfelt congratulations go out to all the finalists! We look forward to joining you all at the awards gala on November 6.  #CivicTech #Leadership #GovCon #DigitalTransformation

Last month, Coforma CEO Eduardo F. O. had the privilege of attending an invitation-only pre-African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) reception at the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) in Washington, DC. Hosted by US Trade Representative Katherine Tai (pictured below with Eduardo) and SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman, the event brought together American and African entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and community members for international connection and collaboration. The reception was a precursor to the 21st US-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum (AGOA Forum), where academics, trade and policy experts, and business leaders were invited to explore how Small and Medium Sized-Enterprises (SMEs) can drive inclusive and sustainable growth across the US and Africa. The discussions centered on reimagining AGOA beyond 2025, with a focus on creating a more inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous tomorrow. Coforma remains committed to advancing technology solutions that contribute to meaningful global change. We’re honored to participate in events such as this, where we gain insights and share ideas that will lead to thoughtful initiatives that improve people’s lives both here and abroad. #SmallBusiness #Leadership #GovCon #Technology #SocialImpact

Earlier this year, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that it was making Direct File a permanent, free tax filing option after the success of its pilot program. Direct File is a game-changer, bringing a free tax filing option to a broader population. Its users reported saving time and money, while benefiting from a top-notch customer experience. Coforma was honored to support the IRS in designing Direct File. In our latest case study, linked below, we share how this first-of-its-kind service came to be. We also look forward to continuing to improve Direct File alongside our IRS partners as they expand its use to all 50 states and the District of Columbia. #DirectFile #IRS #Innovation #CivicTech #DigitalServices #GovernmentServices

We’re very pleased to introduce Monika Pathak, Coforma’s new Principal Health Policy SME. Monika brings extensive experience in US health policy development and advocacy to our organization. She’s worked with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), leveraging her policy expertise to provide extensive research, analysis, and advice on policy activity and its potential impact on local communities. Monika has liaised with Health Vaccine Operations teams and Vaccine Operations leadership to coordinate mass COVID-19 vaccination sites and, later, mpox vaccinations. She’s also contributed as a healthcare analyst in monitoring Medicaid redesign efforts and policy development. For her achievements, the New York DOHMH granted her multiple Distinguished Service and Professional Excellence awards. In her role, Monika will employ a vast working knowledge of federal healthcare laws and policies to translate agency rules into products, services, and solutions that promote health equity and accessibility. “Coforma’s mission and demonstrated dedication to civic service drew me to the company,” she shares. “After just one interview, I felt like my goals to advance healthcare access aligned and were shared by Coforma leadership and team members. I’m excited to join an organization dedicated to making an impact at a broader level.” Monika joins our remote team from Manhattan, NY. She enjoys spending contemplative time with crossword puzzles and finds peace at the pottery wheel. Welcome, Monika! We’re excited to make an impact together. #CoformaCareers #GovernmentServices #CivicTech #HealthPolicy

We’re pleased to introduce John Shahbazian, our new Senior Site Reliability Engineer! A lifelong software engineer who’s moved from desktop applications to backend servers to the cloud, John has decades of experience in all operating systems, multiple development ecosystems, and ever-evolving technology. He’s worked for a wide range of companies, including a university, a multinational bank, an insurance company, a startup, and now, Coforma. “I enjoy automation and problem-solving, so DevOps and Site Reliability were natural progressions for me,” John shares. “I look forward to using and expanding my knowledge here while doing impactful work that serves the public good.” John joins our remote team from sunny Tampa, FL, where he enjoys playing with his two cats and researching AI and machine learning. Welcome to the team, John!

Join us in extending a warm welcome to Ashley Askew, Coforma’s new Payroll and Benefits Coordinator! Ashley began her career in accounting at the Four Seasons St. Louis and then helped open the hotel’s new location at Walt Disney World, where she got her start in HR, payroll, and compensation. She then moved across the country to work at the Beverly Wilshire and now joins us from sunny Los Angeles, CA. Ashley is excited to expand her skill set in a new industry at Coforma. “After my initial meeting with the team, I knew the company culture would be a perfect fit,” she shares. “I’m excited about the company’s growth and hope to help implement a robust, efficient, and accurate payroll processing system.” Outside of work, Ashley loves scuba diving. “Each dive is a unique experience offering new opportunities to explore the ocean,” she shares. “It always leaves me eager to see more.” We’re thrilled you’ve joined the team, Ashley! #Finance #Careers #WFH #CivicTech

Unplanned medical expenses can represent a major disruption to a person’s financial stability at a time when their health should be their number one priority. Unfortunately, many patients in the US have received surprise medical bills, often from out-of-network providers in situations beyond their control. The average costs of these bills range from $750 to $2,600 per event. The No Surprises Act was a major step forward to protect patients from these unexpected expenses. Passed in 2020 and implemented in 2022, the policy established patient protections, creating the opportunity to address medical bill affordability, improve the patient experience, and end surprise medical bills. Tasked with turning policy into practice, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) partnered with Coforma to help people understand and act on their new No Surprises Act protections. Through extensive user research and observational studies, our team identified the real-life challenges people faced in interpreting and navigating the new law. These insights guided the creation of actionable recommendations and the design of a bilingual, mobile-first, accessible website, which is linked in the comments. Key features like the “Find an action plan” tool and integrated forms on the website equip patients to better understand their protections under the new policy. By translating a complex policy into practical, digestible, and actionable information, we helped CMS deliver a modernized customer experience that directly addressed a major pain point for the American public. The result is a site that makes the No Surprises Act protections more relevant, inclusive, and impactful for the people they were designed to serve. #DigitalTransformation #HCD #Healthcare #CivicTech #PolicyImplementation

Meet Jerome Brodie, Coforma’s newly-arrived IT Specialist! Jerome forged his early career path in information technology at the Apple Genius bar. “A friend of mine worked there and thought I had the personality for it,” he shares. “I became a ‘genius’ within my first year and never looked back.” After receiving his information systems degree, Jerome got his start in civic tech, providing desktop support at the National Institute of Health (NIH) before being promoted to a Mac systems engineer. He was a solutions engineer at Kandji before joining our IT team. “I’m excited to continue to grow here—both professionally and personally—and be a part of Coforma’s inclusive, people-first culture,” he says.  Jerome joins us from Silver Spring, MD, where he enjoys spending time with his family, gardening, and pursuing his passion for DIY projects. Welcome aboard, Jerome. We’re happy to have you! #Technology #Careers #GovernmentContracting #RemoteJobs