University of Florida Career Showcase

​Mr. Ahmed is the CEO and principal founder of DISYS. As CEO and current Chairman of the Board of Directors, focuses on continuous strategic planning, financial management, and overseeing the growing portfolio of all DISYS services.

DISYS has grown 38% annually over the last 10 years – a testament to Mr. Ahmed’s knowledge, persistence and strategic focus of industry demands and technology solutions.

Mr. Ahmed has been recognized for his leadership both regionally and nationally from: The Washington Business Journal’s 40 under 40; E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year of the Greater Washington D.C. Region, member of the YPO, a Governor’s appointment to the George Mason University Board of Visitors, a Distinguished alumni award from GMU’s School of Engineering, featured in multiple publications including The Washington Post and Wall Street Journal, as well as receiving the Entrepreneur of the Year from the Capital Region Minority Supplier Development Council. Mr. Ahmed is also one of Staffing Industry Analysts ’100 Most Influential People in the Staffing Industry.’

​Mr. Ahmed is the President of DISYS, and serves on the Board of Directors as Treasurer. He was a co-founder of SIS, Inc, a consulting firm that merged with DISYS in 1999.

Mr. Ahmed oversees DISYS’ Information Technology, Human Resources and Financial operations to insure efficiency, quality, service and cost-effective management of resources. He is responsible for managing the operational procedures, policies, standards and providing the IT infrastructure and services to keep pace with DISYS’ tremendous growth.

In 2011, Mr. Ahmed was honored in the CIO/CTO category for the first-annual SmartCXO Awards. Mr. Ahmed has promoted the company through written articles and is a member of the planning and policy-making committees.

Never stop learning. That philosophy has served Dr. Jay Cohen well throughout his entire career, as founder of Signature and as a doctor beforehand. He encourages asking the hard questions and digging deep to find answers. Continuous improvement isn’t just a buzzword concept at Signature; it is built into the culture.

Dr. Jay started Signature Consultants in 1997. With a medical degree from Cornell University, he practiced internal medicine and gastroenterology in South Florida for 20 years before finding himself increasingly drawn to the business side of the practice. He wanted to create a brand new enterprise, one that — like medicine — combined both science and compassion. IT staffing sang out to him because it not only worked to solve current technological problems, but it helped enrich people’s lives, too. To drive Signature forward, Dr. Jay steers the company's strategic vision and stays hands-on with scaling the culture to keep up with national growth. In fact, Signature recently joined forces with DISYS and became one of the top staffing providers in the world.

Beyond the office, you can find Dr. Jay spending time with his family, reading historical novels (as well as espionage and thriller novels by authors like John le Carré and Lee Child), and competing in Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournaments. In fact, he plays in the World Series of Poker every year.

One part visionary, one part lawyer, Mark manages to stay a step ahead — in business, strategy, IT staffing, you name it — while remaining utterly present when you talk to him.

As Chief Administrative Officer at Signature Consultants, Mark heralds the importance of getting to know and understand people. He leads by example. Growth mindset isn’t a buzzword for him. It’s a way of life. And he makes sure the people throughout the organization have the feedback and tools they need to learn, grow and thrive.

Mark joined Signature in 2000, following undergrad and law degrees from the University of Michigan, being senior partner at the leading law firm of Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn, and serving as EVP at premiere medical real estate development firm Rendina Companies.

He’s a passionate Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen fan (and a music lover, in general) who isn’t afraid to call on a favorite lyric to drive home his point. Mark calls Fort Lauderdale home, but makes his way across the U.S. for speaking engagements about the future of work and technology. You’ll want to meet him at your next conference.

Geoff has played a major part in helping organically grow Signature Consultants into one of the largest privately held IT staffing firms in the United States. Geoff’s values mirror that of Signature’s: integrity, hard work and treating people right. Geoff says these values were handed down from his mentors – his parents and grandfather. After joining Signature and working closely with Dr. Jay Cohen, the philosophy of “always do the right thing” has also become an important ideal that guides Geoff’s decisions.

Geoff’s aptitude for leadership can be witnessed in his open-minded approach to finding solutions. He strives to minimize risks while creating true win/win outcomes that support the interests of others. Whether focusing on business development, sales, operations, our enterprise accounts, clients or consultants, Geoff is known for his unwillingness to compromise on quality, never giving up and for always striving to “do the right thing.”

Geoff has a patient approach that values taking the time to review all options before jumping at solutions. His motto: “learn from your mistakes, always have fun and enjoy the ride.” He believes relationships are built over time through mutual respect, open and honest communication, trust and the ability to relate to and accept diverse points of view.

In his “downtime,” this 30-year staffing industry veteran can be found on the golf course, volunteering in support of the Charlotte Region, or spending time with family and friends. Geoff is a graduate of East Carolina University and UNC-Charlotte where he studied Political Science.

John Stolberg is a catalyst for fusing technology with modern business methodologies. Never one to shy away from a good joke or some fun teasing, he fosters Signature’s continuous growth and development with a relationship-focused mindset and a mischievous grin.

John holds a B.A. from Boston College and has worked with Signature for over 24 years in roles including Business Development Manager, Strategist and Executive Branch Level Liaison. John credits his instincts and a never-ending curiosity and desire to understand people as his drivers in shaping and building Signature’s technology prowess.

John is a big fan of mentoring, another secret of Signature’s success, “I carry the impact of everyone I’ve partnered with in this company; each one has shaped my thinking.” He lists colleagues Henry Suarez, Brad Rosen, Jay Cohen, Mark Nussbaum, Geoff Gray and Pat Palmer among his greats.

John’s passion for learning from others goes home with him, too. He never tires of learning what makes people tic and how to connect with them. “My three daughters and wife are my greatest mentors. I learn something from them every day.”

​Brad Rosen is among a small group of individuals, who alongside Signature’s founder Dr. Jay Cohen, started laying the bricks that would become the foundation of Signature Consultants.

Brad began as a Recruiter and worked in many roles across the enterprise, all the while holding his vision of embedding professional and personal development within Signature’s culture. When Brad joined the Training and Development team in 2011, it was the beginning of something big. Signature quickly became known among international organizations and talent innovators from all industries. The Association for Talent Development (ADT) has since recognized the company among the Top 125 Training Organizations in the U.S. many times over.

Signature’s culture is a source of company pride. It’s renowned for being highly collaborative, cohesive, and supportive of individual growth. Brad’s unmatched energy, innovative mindset and insight to all aspects of the business are a big part of the reason why Signature thrives.

Many see Brad’s passion and integrity as rocket fuel for company growth, as well as daily sustenance for Signature’s team members. Meanwhile, he sees the flip side, “It’s the superstars around me that make me better every day.”

At the end of the workday, the University of Florida grad burns any residual energy by working out or joining friends for golf, staying involved with charitable work and spending time with his wife Brooke, sons Reese and Cooper, and Goldendoodle Murphey.

​As a teacher, lawyer, former U.S. government compliance office, and HR professional, Candace Whitaker is an advocate for growth and development. After becoming Signature’s eighth employee in 2004, she put her insatiable intellectual curiosity and problem-solving acumen to work, and built the company’s HR department from the ground up.

Signature’s friends-first approach meshed well with her gift of embracing the individual and connecting them to something bigger. Growing up, Candace’s family sought out foreign countries and cultures, and she attributes her exposure to and appreciation of cultural diversity with providing her resources for problem-solving and developing forward-looking programs and policies. Her mantra: “Keep evolving your thinking.”

Candace has been instrumental in how employee talent blossoms into shared strength on a team, and in making meaningful relationships part of the Signature way. “I thrive by understanding what makes individuals unique and exploring topics outside my box,” she says.

Candace’s passion for witnessing the expression of talent doesn’t end with her job duties. This Wayne State Law School and Michigan State University graduate is a fan of art, theatre, comedy, dance, and poetry. She dabbles in various arts and crafts, and on occasion, her creativity bubbles up as doodles in the margins of her meeting notes.

Chris Tyrell brings an extensive understanding of IT and business from decades of working with government contractors and technology staffing firms. He’s known for his analytical approach to projects and problems, and has a keen ability to simplify issues, find the root cause, and formulate a plan address it.

Chris studied computer information systems at Texas State University and went on to earn an M.B.A. from Pennsylvania State University. Chris leads the charge in discovering and mapping out enterprise-wide IT solutions and works alongside a relentless team of innovators who share his passion for providing staff, consultants and clients with a reliable technology framework. Technology implementation is impossible without an understanding of the people using the system, and Chris has an innate relatability that connects the user to the technology through communication, clear instruction, and a good sense of humor.

When he’s not investigating new technology, Chris can be found shooting hoops or kicking a soccer ball with his sons, Colin and Connor. He also likes to strum the guitar and serenade his wife Valerie and his dog Gigi.

Kip Havel’s approach to marketing is simple – stay focused, stay curious and work hard to drive results. As an adventure-seeker, traveler and all around outdoor enthusiast, Kip fuses his enthusiasm for growth and exploration with his passion for uncovering how things work (or don’t) and discovering ways to make them even better.

Kip arrived at Signature after earning national recognition for his integrated marketing expertise and best communication practices. These accolades include being among the American Marketing Association’s “4 Under 40” Emerging Leaders, a recipient of PR Week’s “Rising Star,” and Ragan and PR Daily’s “Ace Communicator.” His 20-year career journey includes experiences across staffing, healthcare, and insurance, previously working in senior leadership roles at Aflac, Randstad US, Cross Country Healthcare and SFN Group.  

Kip’s focus lies in developing and implementing strategies that better connect the Signature brand and its teams to the audiences they serve. His endless curiosity is fueled by the latest data and trends and contributes to the overall growth and development of Signature’s brand and services nationwide.

When the work week winds down, you’ll find Kip balancing his work-hard ethic with play-hard time. Whether it be a weekend spent sailing or kayaking, hiking or camping, you can always count on a good story, an album of photos and plans for his next trip come Monday morning.

Lydia started her career as a recruiter and shortly thereafter transitioned into sales and then management. Passionate about the world of work, she has spent the last two decades in employment.

Working in staffing, permanent search, Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO), Managed Service Provider (MSP) and Vendor Management System (VMS), she has helped Fortune 1000 companies drive their contingent workforce strategy both nationally and globally.  

One of SIA’s “Top 100 Women in Staffing,” she works in and outside the industry to make the world of work more inclusive for all. Passionate about mentorship, diversity, inclusion and empowerment, Lydia’s current role is collaborating to help craft and execute Signature Consultants’ growth strategy. At the center of that strategy is the reason Lydia chose Signature – preservation of a set of values that are foundational to the success of the company. The promise to Do No Harm, Do the Right Thing and interact with everyone you encounter as a friend first directly aligns with her focus and personal values.

If you haven’t met Lydia she believes in a good belly laugh a day. She is a bit of a thrill seeker and has been skydiving and flown an airplane in a “Top Gun” dog flight. On the slower side, Lydia likes photography, walking, the beach and spending time with her family.  

Lydia has been married for 35 years to her husband Tom. They have two adult daughters and a bulldog named Bo. Tom and Lydia reside in the San Francisco Bay Area.

When Philip Monti stepped into his role at Signature, he had already built a broad base of experience in accounting and finance. With a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from University of Florida and a Master of Science in Accounting from the University of North Florida, his career began at Arthur Andersen as an Audit Senior, then moved to MPS Group/Adecco and Acosta. His responsibilities spanned accounting, financial forecasting and reporting, M&A, SEC Compliance, FP&A, risk management and tax and treasury.

Philip’s expertise lies in reading the story told by the numbers, understanding the relationship between them, and providing actionable information. And while his analytical mind fuels his ability to identify and articulate, he balances this with a focus on emotional awareness, especially in situations that challenge teams or require organizations and customers to adapt.

When Philip isn’t working to prepare the organization for success in any economic environment, you can find him rooting for his favorite football team (Go Gators!), running, reading, and spending as much time as he can with his family.

A Boston Suffolk University Law School Graduate, Robert “Bobby” Brown began his career in public service in the District Attorney’s office. After a short stint with a small firm working in business litigation, he found his calling as in-house attorney in the staffing and consulting industry.  

Bobby found success that led to him being a moderator and expert panelist for many discussions on staffing industry topics including compliance, legal issues, legislation, business operations, technology, finance, and sales. Staffing Industry Analyst listed him among “40 under 40” and he was featured as an “Emerging Leader” by the Boston Business Journal.

Before joining Signature in 2018, the marathon runner and obstacle course racer served as an SVP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for one of the world’s largest law firms. He continues to use his knowledge to guide Signature’s growth and position as a leader in the industry. He regularly lobbies on the issues at state and federal levels. He is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts, First Circuit Court of Appeals and Federal District Court, District of Massachusetts and is also a licensed real estate broker.

Bobby loves to travel with his wife, Erica, their three children and their English Black Lab, Oakley. A big sports fan, Bobby spends his time coaching his sons’ flag football and baseball teams and supporting his favorite New England teams.

​As Signature's recruiting leader, Pat supports the goals of our Enterprise Delivery Team. That means building lasting relationships with our consultants and recruiting team across the nation. Pat listens to candidates' and consultants' needs, making every interaction with our company a great experience. He takes great pride in helping our recruiting teams find the right fit between candidates and clients. With a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of New Hampshire, and more than 20 years in the staffing industry, Pat has learned to build high-performing teams through hard work, mentorship and leading by example. He helped start the Signature Boston office in 1999 and has contributed to the growth of Signature’s delivery capabilities ever since.