Meet Our Team
DIANA FORD
Principal, Co-Founder
Diana Ford is Principal and Co-Founder of The Ford Agency. For over three decades, Diana has worked with leading D.C. businesses, helping match their unique needs with Washington’s top talent. Today, Diana is still integrally involved in the business as a recruiter, placing quality candidates in a variety of business settings. As principal, she also works regularly with clients to learn about their unique needs to ensure that prospective employees will exceed expectations. Since the company’s founding, her commitment to customer service “for the duration” has guided the Ford philosophy. By operating only at the highest standards of service, her vision has earned the company respect and recognition as a leader in the D.C. staffing industry. She attributes her proudest “Ford moment” to the company’s 30-year anniversary and the relationships she has built with clients who have remained with The Ford Agency since its founding.
Outside the company, Diana is an active supporter of the theater and arts, and remains closely involved with charitable organizations including the Make a Wish Foundation. She is also a member of The National Association of Women Business Owners and holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland. Diana lives in Potomac, MD with her husband and three children; Brett, a 2005 graduate of Villanova University, currently employed with the NHL in New York; Devin, a 2007 graduate of Boston College, now working as a Portfolio Analyst in Bethesda, MD; and Amanda, a Communications student at the University of Richmond.
BARBARA PISARRA
Principal, Co-Founder
As Principal and Co-Founder of The Ford Agency, Barbara Pisarra is also an active recruiter for the company with over 30 years of staffing experience. Barbara’s personalized approach to building client and candidate relationships is a hallmark of The Ford Agency. Barbara’s personal touch also allows her to better understand the dynamic corporate cultures, goals and needs of Ford Agency clients. In addition to career recruitment, Barbara oversees quality of service and ongoing client and candidate satisfaction. Barbara’s proudest “Ford moment” began in April of 1978, when she and Diana first opened the company’s doors, starting with only two phones, two pads of paper and two pens. Since that day, Barbara has taken pride in watching the business evolve while retaining the same values and enthusiasm present at its founding.
Barbara spends her free time volunteering for the Whitman Walker Clinic and the American Heart and Cancer Society, where she participates in many of their fundraising programs. She is also a member of the National Association of Women Business Owners. Barbara is a native Washingtonian and lives in Chevy Chase, MD with her family.
JESSICA DAVIS
Manager of Temporary Services
Jessica Davis joined The Ford Agency in 1999 as a recruiter for the Temporary Division. She is responsible for managing the temporary department where she focuses on client relations, as well as all temporary recruitment and placement services. Drawing from a decade of experience in the staffing industry, she works with both clients and applicants alike to find the perfect match for their individual strengths, needs and goals. Jessica holds a BS in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland at College Park. Jessica is a Washington area native and currently resides in the District with her husband.
TRICIA PLACIDO
Recruiter, Temporary Services
Tricia Placido joined The Ford Agency in 2005 as a recruiter for Ford’s Temporary Services division. Dedicated to staffing temporary and temp-to-hire positions, Tricia works closely with prospective candidates geared toward legal, corporate and non-profit job opportunities. Prior to joining The Ford Agency, Tricia spent several years working for leading D.C. law firms, where she gained expertise in legal staffing, human resources and attorney recruiting. Tricia holds a BA in English Literature and Early Modern European History from Skidmore College and she resides in Washington, D.C.
ANN REILING
Recruiter, Permanent Placement
Ann Reiling has been with The Ford Agency since 2005, serving as a recruiter for the company’s Permanent Placement division. In addition to her daily work matching job opportunities with qualified professionals, Ann also leads areas of business development, client relations and special events coordination for The Ford Agency. In her previous employment, Ann held several management positions in the retail industry, as well as an internship for a local music production company, where she worked in graphic design and grassroots marketing. Ann received a BA in Communications and Rhetoric from the University of Maryland College Park.
MEGAN LAYTON
Recruiter, Permanent Placement
Megan Layton joined The Ford Agency in October 2009, as a recruiter in the Permanent Placement division. Megan is committed to learning the unique recruiting style that is specific to the success of The Ford Agency. While attending Smith College Megan worked in the admissions office, helping prospective students better understand the breadth of opportunities and culture at the college. Megan’s education and natural insight continue to help her develop the skill and understanding needed to create successful, long lasting placements. She seeks to understand the needs of each client and candidate in order to create valuable lasting relationships. Megan is specializing in entry level administrative positions. Megan received a BA in Economics from Smith College. She hails from St. Croix in the Virgin Islands, and currently lives in Washington, DC.
ELIZABETH NELSON
Office Coordinator
Elizabeth joined The Ford Agency in the spring of 2008. In her role as Office Coordinator, Elizabeth manages office operations and provides logistical and technical support for both the temporary and permanent divisions. As the window to The Ford Agency, Elizabeth is the first point of contact for candidates regarding job opportunities and the application process. Before joining The Ford Agency, Elizabeth worked for the University of Minnesota as Publicity Director, where she coordinated advertising and promotions for special events throughout campus. Elizabeth is currently completing her Pre-Medicine requirements from the University of Minnesota with an emphasis in Psychology and Communications.
“Due to the size of their agency and the fact that they all work in an open office environment, I have found that their level of communication is much better amongst their recruiters. This helps both the candidates and the employers because they constantly share new openings and resumes with one another. The overall feeling is team-oriented as opposed to competitive in nature.”
--Satisfied Client
“I have worked with The Ford Agency for the past four years, both as a candidate seeking employment and an employer seeking administrative support. Working with The Ford Agency feels as if you're working with an extension of your family. They are passionate about their clients (both the candidates and the employers) and share in your excitement when you land a job or fill a position.”
--Satisfied Client