Coforma

Please join us in congratulating Angela Palm Hopkins on her recent promotion to Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Coforma! An award-winning author and seasoned communications strategist, she has shaped heartfelt, human-centered narratives for diverse communities across multiple platforms with 20 years of cumulative experience as a writer, editor, communications and marketing leader, and arts community galvanizer. Prior to Coforma, she worked as the editor in chief for B2B content at Creative Side Marketing, a consultant at Boston’s Grub Street writing center, an editor at WilliamsTown Communications, and Assistant Director of Administration at the Democratic National Convention Committee, among other civic and private sector roles. Angela brings a unique experience and voice to our leadership team, guiding messaging to support a values-driven brand and weaving our collective stories together to inform, engage, and drive positive change in the communities served by our partners. “Angela’s promotion is a direct reflection of the amazing work she’s done and how she’s inspired and mentored a team to enable us to continue to tell our stories in ways that resonate with us and our values,” shares Eduardo F. Ortiz, Coforma CEO. Congrats, Angela! #Leadership #DigitalServices #GovernmentContracting #CoformaCareers

Several Cofolx attended the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs APBI Briefing at George Mason University this past week, gaining insight into the agency’s acquisition and IT transformation initiatives and objectives. We also enjoyed connecting with VA stakeholders and industry peers—including Eric Gonzales and Melinda Pitchford, pictured with us below—by sponsoring the GOVTECH CONNECTS post-briefing VA Official Summer Kick-Off Networking Social. The afternoon offered a unique opportunity to interact with VA leaders and drive discussions centered around addressing Veteran needs. Proceeds from the event helped raise funds for The Headstrong Project, a nonprofit organization that provides stigma-free mental health treatment for our military community. #VeteranServices #DigitalTransformation #CivicTech #VeteranEmployer

We are delighted to announce that Coforma has been awarded a follow-on contract with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to continue helping the agency develop Direct File. Over the next year, our team will work with the IRS as they make Direct File a permanent, free tax filing option for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.  Coforma’s contributions will include coordinating and conducting further design research with Direct File users, and continuing to develop the visual design of the tool, including content design, bilingual content development, user interface design, and accessibility. We’re honored to support the IRS in bringing this tax filing option to a broader population.  Let’s get to work! #DirectFile #IRS #Innovation #CivicTech #DigitalServices #GovernmentServices

Writing in plain language isn’t always easy. It takes time and intention to truly understand and then connect with your audience in a meaningful way. In this article, Rick Allen, Director of Content Design at Coforma, unpacks what plain language is and how to build trust by using it. He also shares several examples of organizations using plain language successfully. Whether you’re new to plain language use or interested in digging deeper with examples and additional resources, Rick’s expertise offers something for everyone seeking to improve their skills. #PlainLanguage #GovernmentServices #CivicTech #Content #ContentDesign #WebsiteContent

Meet Gretchen Raynak, Coforma’s newest Senior Product Designer! Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Gretchen’s professional journey in UX and visual design began in Portland’s outdoor recreation industry, reflecting her deep love of nature. As her career evolved, she moved toward social impact and civic tech, partnering with nonprofits, education, behavioral health, and government agencies to meet critical design needs. Gretchen is excited to join our growing product design team. “Coforma’s human-centered approach to design and focus on strong partnerships really resonated with me,” she shares. “I look forward to contributing to improving access to digital services and leveling the playing field for people benefitting from them.” In her indoor free time, Gretchen enjoys reading and cooking. Outside, she continues to draw inspiration from the mountain air in Bend, OR, where you can find her running and mountain biking on the trails. Welcome, Gretchen! #HCD #UXDesign #CivicTech #CoformaCareers

AI was the number one topic at the recent HIMSS 2024 global health IT conference, but Coforma CEO Eduardo F. Ortiz went beyond the buzz in an interview with healthcare technology leaders. “I think AI in the healthcare context is not the number one topic, and it might not even be the number two topic,” he shared with Grayson Miller of Health IT Today. “The number one and number two topics (and number three and four and five) should continue to be the delivery of proper care to patients and . . . services and capabilities to clinicians and caregivers to continue to provide care. I think changing from that position is a disservice to the whole industry.” Watch the full interview to glean more insights from industry leaders on today’s most pressing health IT priorities: https://lnkd.in/gCuvwFTJ #Leadership #HealthIT #TechForGood #CivicTech

Join us in welcoming Naomi Eke CSM, SAFe® 6, ICP-ATF, PMP, our newest Project Manager at Coforma. Naomi brings nearly a decade of experience in enterprise project delivery across the finance, IT, and healthcare fields. She excels in managing cross-functional teams, stakeholder expectations, and optimizing processes for successful project outcomes. Naomi holds a Master of Arts in Economic and Social History from The University of Glasgow, where she honed her analytical skills and developed a keen interest in social and economic issues. She is a certified Scrum Master, SAFe Agilist, and ICP-ATF, with extensive expertise in modern development methodologies. Naomi gravitated to Coforma because of our commitment to creating purposeful digital solutions that benefit underserved areas of society. “I was attracted to the company’s strong values, including a commitment to delivering ethical products and services,” she shares. “I hope to positively impact the project delivery space by helping align project management delivery and execution processes to ensure timely delivery and high-quality outcomes on project deliverables.” Naomi joins our remote team from San Antonio, TX. She enjoys exploring the city with her family, trying out new restaurants and shops, attending cultural events, and learning about local history and culture. We’re very pleased to have you on the team, Naomi! #RemoteWork #ProjectManagement #CoformaCareers #CivicTech

Through the VA.gov Product Teams - Forms effort, Veterans will be able to access, complete, and submit forms online which are currently only available on paper or as non-fillable PDFs. The task order was issued as part of the Customer Experience, DevOps, Agile Releases (CEDAR) IDIQ and supports the implementation of the 21st Century IDEA (Act). We are thrilled to join Oddball in this effort, supporting the continued modernization of systems and processes at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and providing time-saving, accessible ways for Veterans to request and receive services and benefits. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ek2bP3Yx.  #VeteranServices #Veterans #DigitalServices #GovernmentModernization

Welcome to Andrea Mehlhorn-Marshall, our new Contracts Director at Coforma! With 24 years of experience in government contracting, Andrea specialized in acquisition, fielding of equipment, and deployment of personnel at the Department of Defense, Communications and Electronics Command (CECOM) Program Management offices. She’s spent the last 11 years managing government contracts and subcontracts. Andrea was impressed by our team’s integrity, values, and mission of doing work that truly matters. “I truly believe Coforma embodies the sentiment of leaving things a little bit better than you found it,” she shares. “My goal in this role is to build on creating a collaborative environment where the contracts department educates, supports, and ensures our team has the contractual foundation needed to allow Coforma to continue to grow. This will ultimately allow us a larger platform to continue doing the work that will truly make a difference in the quality of people’s lives.” Andrea is a self-professed “Jersey Girl,” raised and residing in Long Branch, NJ. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, attending concerts, and riding e-bikes by the beach with her husband. She’s the proud mom of a soon-to-be college freshman. We’re excited to have you on the team, Andrea! #WFH #SocialImpact #GovCon #CoformaCareers #EmployeeExperience

Congratulations to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on making Direct File a permanent, free tax filing option, with all 50 states and the District of Columbia invited to participate next year. This first-of-its-kind service is a gamechanger; users reported saving time and money while benefiting from a top-notch customer experience. Coforma was honored to support the IRS in designing the Direct File pilot over the past year. We look forward to continuing to improve this public interest service alongside our IRS partners as they expand its use! https://lnkd.in/daFBBCXJ #DirectFile #IRS #Innovation #CivicTech #DigitalServices #GovernmentServices