The Kforce Story: 50 Plus Years of Great People Delivering Great Results

A Very Special “Thank You” Revenues the first year after going public were $35 million. The Tampa Tribune-Times reported in their May 12, 1996, edition that Romac International’s stock had jumped from $12.50 in August of 1995 to $30.75 by the following March making it “the best performing IPO in the West Central Florida area.” Romac issued a second stock offering on June 5, 1996, and the November 1996 issue of Forbes recognized Dave Dunkel as CEO of one of the best small companies in America. Dave decided it was time to show his parents how deeply grateful he was, not just for the opportunity they’d given him, but as he says, “for giving me a world to conquer.” For starters, he presented his parents with a new car. Al Dunkel, a World War II veteran, refused the fancy foreign cars Dave suggested, opting instead for a new Sebring convertible, which Dave delivered along with his sons Mat and Dave, Jr. Then, working with a travel agent, Dave arranged the trip of a lifetime for his parents. A limousine picked them up and drove them to New York City where they boarded the Concorde for a flight to London. Security was a great deal more lax in those days, and as they approached London, the captain invited Al Dunkel to ride in the cockpit during the landing at Heathrow Airport, just as Dave had arranged it. As Al jumped up to make his way to the cockpit, a man sitting across from Dave’s mother commented at how excited he was. Later, the stewardess told Patricia Dunkel that the friendly fellow across the aisle from her was none other than Pete Townshend of The Who. In typical motherly fashion, Patricia replied, “Oh. I think my son likes those guys.” “They had the trip of their lives,” Dave said. “I just wanted to take the opportunity to bless them.”

Romac International made Forbes 200 Best Companies list in 1996.

Patricia and Al Dunkel with Dave’s daughter Kristen.

Buddies and brothers, Dave Jr. and Mat Dunkel fishing on Gordon Tunstall’s boat.

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