Our Values

At The Design Firm, we believe building technology should reduce stress and make projects smoother. Too often, systems are brought in too late, leading to rushed decisions, costly revisions, and rework that can consume thousands of hours and millions of dollars. We wish that were an exaggeration! That is why we exist to prevent it. When systems are planned early and coordinated clearly, teams experience less stress, fewer surprises, and better outcomes. In many cases, thoughtful early planning helps projects stay on schedule and even come in under budget.

We believe technology should support the way people actually use a building. When systems are designed properly, workplaces function more smoothly, facilities operate more reliably, and communities benefit from environments that simply work the way they should. Because at the end of the day, great design is not about systems. It is about the people those systems serve.

Meet the Team

  • Larry Stephen

    Sales Director

    “Alignment at the start prevents conflict at the finish.”

    Larry leads sales and client partnerships, fostering strong relationships and guiding early conversations that set projects up for clarity, coordination, and long-term success.

  • Lillian Gerbers

    Marketing Coordinator

    “Visibility creates opportunity, but trust closes it.”

    Lillian leads marketing and business development, supporting industry relationships and early project engagement while reinforcing TDF’s design-first philosophy across the AEC community.

  • Jan Knapik

    Senior Technology Systems Designer

    “Technology should support the space, not compete with it.”

    Jan leads detailed systems design, ensuring technology is thoughtfully engineered, clearly documented, and aligned with how each space will function.

  • Bill Gingras

    General Manager

    “I believe early planning is the difference between smooth construction and expensive rework.”

    Bill leads technology systems design, partnering closely with project teams to deliver coordinated, well-integrated systems from the start.