Kforce Employee Spotlight: Todd Lowry
Todd Lowry, strategic relationship director, has been with Kforce for two decades and has dominated in every role he's held. This dedicated husband and dad of four has one sole purpose in life: to provide for his family. Learn about Todd’s greatest motivators, mentors and the advice that helped him achieve success.
How did you get your start at Kforce?
I started my career at Source Services/Romac International, later renamed Kforce, as a customer service representative. I was looking for a career in recruitment, but there weren’t any open recruiting positions at the time.
What other roles have you held in your 20 years at Kforce?
I’ve been blessed to have held multiple positions within Kforce. After being a customer service representative, I transitioned to the finance and accounting flex team. As I became more comfortable with the industry, I moved into a market manager role. I managed a team and placed finance and accounting staff accountants, controllers and CFOs.
Down the line, an opportunity on the technology recruitment side presented itself. It was only in the last few years that I moved into a strategic director role. I currently serve in that capacity.
If you could give one piece of advice to yourself when you first started here at Kforce, what would it be?
I would have been humbler about my accomplishments, and reminded myself that my success wasn’t solely a result of my efforts alone. I had so much support from all my teammates and the great people behind the scenes, like the operations team that worked tirelessly to ensure our candidates were paid on time and our clients invoiced correctly. 
How did you grow to become our Strategic Relationship Director?
I put in a ton of “sweat equity.” I always try my best to do the right thing when no one else is watching. It’s critical to have an open line of communication with your clients, candidates, and co-workers. Without this, you will not succeed. You must have the ability to self-regulate and take initiative. These are character traits that will take you a long way not only at work, but in other aspects of your life, as well.
What’s the best part of your role and why?
I get the opportunity to serve my clients and candidates daily. The work we do matters and changes lives. It’s a privilege to serve them.
On occasion, I catch myself looking back and reflecting on the employees that I’ve managed in the past, who have moved on to take on leadership roles. I hope that they take something positive from the time they worked with me and implement those best practices within their teams. I hope they say that I was a good mentor, both by example and by coaching, and that I cared about them on a personal level.
Kforce’s COO Kye Mitchell would always tell us, “The more leaders you can develop, the stronger the business will be, and the less you will have to worry about how the business is operating.”
What’s your favorite Kforce memory?
My favorite memory is working with the late Angie Coleman. I had the opportunity to impact her life as a mentor and she was like a sister to me. Every time she saw my wife and kids, she would tell us that she loved us and appreciated all we did for her.
She was our receptionist here in the DC Metro Area and the voice of the office for more than 15 years. Angie had a heart condition and passed away last year.
Kye Mitchell created an Angie Coleman Award to ensure we keep her spirit and memory alive in our hearts. We are all better people because we had her in our lives.
What has been the most rewarding responsibility in your role?
Having the ability to serve my clients and candidates and see the impact my support has on their lives is the most rewarding. Often, I will get an email or messages on LinkedIn from former clients and candidates keeping me up to date on the new milestones happening in their lives, like the birth of their child, weddings and school graduations. It makes me feel honored to have made an impact in their lives.
Do you have any mentors or role models? If so, who are they and why did you choose them?
Kye Mitchell is one of my role models. Growing up, I never had parents that I could look up to, and I never had an opportunity to see what true leadership looked like until Kye came into my life.
When I first started with the Firm, I tried to do everything on my own and had a nearsighted perspective on life. I thought I could be successful on my own and judged others too quickly. Kye sat me down and went over all the things that I needed to work on, challenged me to be a better person and more team-oriented. She didn’t care if I was a top performer. She challenged me to think of others before myself. This was the turning point in my career. She helped me take off and flourish. I owe all my success to her advice and leadership.
You’ve been on every PIP trip in the last 19 years. Which one was your favorite and why?
My wife Susan was put in my life at the same time I started working at Kforce. I wasn’t certain that staffing was for me and thought about resigning within the first two months. Susan convinced me to stay, and I went on to have a great first year, qualifying for my first PIP trip. It will always be my favorite because it still reminds me of how Kforce has changed our lives forever.
What keeps you motivated?
I have a photo of my family next to my bed. Every day when I wake up, I take a moment to glance at the photo. It reminds me that I have four children and a wife that depend on me to be at my best. I want them to have the greatest life possible, and it’s not hard to be motivated when you have that much responsibility and opportunity in your life.
What’s the best part of your day?
The best part of my day is with my family in the evening when things calm down. Susan and I ask the kids about their day, and I love hearing about what's going on in their lives at school. I always tell them that I love them, and I am proud to be their dad. It’s my time to collect kisses and hugs – the fuel that keeps me centered and focused in my life.
You have four children – what’s your favorite part of fatherhood?
I cannot put into words how special being a father to my children is, and what it means to me. They are my heartbeat and one of my true enjoyments in life. I would not trade a single day of it. My kids keep me young and challenge me to bring my A-game all the time. Often, I remind myself of the responsibility parenting brings, because we play such a key role in shaping their values and lives. I enjoy seeing them succeed at things they felt they couldn’t do.
You also coach their basketball, lacrosse and football teams. Which is your favorite to coach and why?
I don’t have a favorite because each of my kids has different talents. I make a conscious effort to tell them after every game how much joy it brings me to see them compete.
Coaching their teams gives me the opportunity to give back to the community and to be a role model for other kids on the team that don’t have parents. Coaching is a way to reach the kids and give them hope. A coach’s influence will stick with these kids long after the season has ended, which relates back to my professional life as a leader.
Your son is going to start college this year. What career advice do you share with him?
I told him to find a career he will enjoy getting up and going to each day, and to give it his all. I tell him, “Go to your supervisor with solutions, not problems, and become a great listener. Kindness matters.”
What advice would you give to recruiters that are looking to grow within Kforce?
Surround yourself with great people. Don’t worry about the things you can’t control. Pick up the phone, call your clients and candidates and make sure you always create win-win scenarios. Don’t keep score, and be willing to walk away from a deal that isn’t right for all parties involved. If you have a deficiency in your staffing or sales game, acknowledge them and work to make them become your strengths.
For those struggling to push forward, what advice would you give?
Think long and hard for a few days, and ask yourself if this industry and career is what you’re truly passionate about. If you are, plan your days to ensure success and reach out to peers for help.
It’s a process and success doesn’t happen overnight. Conduct research, ask questions and be resourceful. Look for the positive in every problem.