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

Introduction There are as many variations on the American success story as there are businesses. Large or small, each one has its own interesting twists and turns, and everyone who has founded a business or been part of growing one believes that somehow their story is unique; that it reveals some fundamental truth about the nature of business in America. They are right. Every story involving a dream or vision and the risk and hard work it takes to realize that vision deserves to be told. Too often, however, they are told in terms of numbers: employees, buildings, production units, and, of course, the numbers associated with the all-important bottom line. While these are key to the success of a business and merit our attention, they seldom get to the heart of the story. They make up the “how” without ever answering the “why.” Once in a great while, the great American success story honestly and authentically focuses on the people involved. The story behind Kforce is one of those. Yes, it has its own twists and turns and like most corporations, the trajectory of its success is by no means a straight line. But what you will discover as you read it, is that, while the “how’s” of Kforce’s story can be discussed and debated, the “why” has never been in doubt. The reason the people at Kforce do what they do and do it exceptionally well, is their level of commitment—to customers, leadership, the stockholders, and to each other. Above all else, their commitment to the ethics and core values that have guided them since the very beginning provides both their “why” and their “how.” It is what makes the Kforce story exceptional and it has been my privilege to help tell it.

Pat Swinger

9 Introduction