Kiralfy C. Forte, entrepreneur, author, and
investor, is a native of Eufaula,
Alabama where she was born on January 1, 1963 the seventh
child born to the late Preston and
Annie L. Forte. She attended
elementary school at Clayton Elementary and High School at Rebecca
Comer.
Kiralfy’s parents
were Christians that instilled in her the power and goodness of God’s
mercy early on in life.
As a
child, she attended the Rocky
Mt.
Baptist
Church
where she was baptized, sang in the choir with her parents, was church
clerk, and participated in many other auxiliaries.
She later united with The First Baptist Church of Merrifield in
Falls Church,
Virginia
where she currently works in the stewardship, budget, guild, and music
ministries.
Growing up on a 165-acre farm, Kiralfy learned quickly
the value of hard work and commitment.
Upon completing high school, Ms. Forte completed a B.S. Degree in
English at Tuskegee
University
with a minor in music where she sang with the Tuskegee Golden Voices concert
choir for four years. While at
Tuskegee
she won first place in the President’s essay contest in which the then
disabled Governor George C. Wallace was the key-note speaker.
Kiralfy’s additional degrees include a M.Ed. in Education from
Howard University, a M.A. in Management from
National-Louis
University,
and an Associates Degree in Computer Information Systems from Northern
Virginia
Community College.
She is currently pursuing a P.HD in Organizational Leadership from
Walden
University.
Kiralfy also pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. while enrolled
in graduate studies, was a member of Phi Delta Kappa Education Honor
Society, and a member of Gamma Sigma Sigma service sorority.
Kiralfy moved to northern
Virginia
in 1985 upon completion of her under graduate
degree in the teaching profession at Tuskegee
University.
Her teaching experience includes English for Fairfax
County
Public Schools, Upward Bound at
Howard
University,
Basic Studies for
Britannica
Learning
Centers, English at Pyramid Communications, and
General Studies for the National Education Centers.
At the turn of her career into a technical tract,
Kiralfy began working for MCI Telecommunications as a technical editor,
Unisys Corporation as a technical writer and then training manager, Research
Analysis and Maintenance, Inc. as an instructor, and Computer Sciences
Corporation as a training manager. She also worked as a volunteer
videographer and producer for the Jones Inter-cable Public Access station
where she honorably had the opportunity to meet and interview Mrs. Rosa
Parks.
But while Ms. Forte was
enjoying the experiences that these jobs afforded her, she always knew she
was destined for a higher calling.
In June
1992, Kiralfy started a small business as a result of being asked to manage
a small training company owned by someone else.
Kiralfy’s responsibility was to coordinate trainers to go onsite and
facilitate technical training classes.
Kiralfy did this part-time while she continued to work her full-time
job.
While coordinating
theses classes, Kiralfy took on the responsibility of coordinating another
small business training contracts and her pool of instructors soon grew to
eight.
Initially, the monthly
staff meetings were held in Kiralfy’s two bedroom condo which continued to
grow smaller and smaller.
Throughout the remainder of 1992 and
1993, Kiralfy became more and more overwhelmed working a full-time job and
coordinating the assignments of eight instructors.
In September 1992, Kiralfy decided on a company name for her training
coordination.
She thought of the
name Technical Solutions and Maintenance, Inc.
The TSM, Inc. acronym looked and sounded right to her and she also
added the phrase: “Where Quality Ensures Success”.
On
August
4, 1994 Kiralfy planned the opening celebration of
a new office for
TSM and
her commitment to work the business full-time.
She organized a two-day Grand Opening ceremony to inform and engage
the community, other small businesses, and her new family of
investors in what she was doing.
Oliver North, while running for senate, cut the
ribbon.
Kiralfy received three new training contracts during the two-day
event.
TSM continued to grow
from training to more high-end consulting, and in July 2002, the evolution
of the Alabama
office began.
In July 2002, Kiralfy decided that she wanted to
establish a business base in her hometown to provide technical job
opportunities for residents who were seeking a career in technology but were
not able to relocate to where most of the opportunities were.
While visiting her
hometown, she passed a building that had a “ For Sale By Owner” sign on it.
Kiralfy called the phone number on the sign and a whole new endeavor for TSM
began: a commitment to helping create job opportunities and economic
development for Kiralfy’s hometown.
In September 2003, Kiralfy purchased another property
in Eufaula and that property is now the LaMarr
Civic
Center named in honor of
her mother, Annie Lou LaMarr Forte and uncle, Moses LaMarr.
Both were great singers and entertainers.
Uncle Moses went on to have a staring role the broadway musical,
“Porggy and Bess”.
He performed
with other stars like Sophia Lorean, Humprey Bogart and Sammy Davis, Jr.
Mother Annie was a resounding voice all across the state of
Alabama singing Alto at numerous churches.
The LaMarr
Civic
Center is schedule to open
after renovations in December 2010.
The facility will be used for event planning, advertising,
entertainment, and social activities.
While Kiralfy spends most of her time
managing three offices, she still finds time to accomplish other
civic-related endeavors such as authoring a series of motivational books
published by Xlibris Publishing Company, a summer computer camp for kids
that ran for six years, a summer intern program for college students,
establishment of a mentoring program for small businesses located in the
city of Alexandria, and acquisition of a 7-acre facility for a community
events located in Eufaula, Alabama. She also coordinates a
two-day community yard sale in Eufaula, AL.
Special recognition and awards Ms. Forte has received
includes the following: Career Day recognition from Arlington County Public
Schools and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., National Register’s Who’s Who,
America’s Registry of Outstanding Professionals, International Who’s Who of
Information Technology, Strathmore’s Who’s Who, Top Leaders of America,
National Register’s Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals, recognition
from the National Women’s Business Center, Inc., City of Alexandria Small
Woman in Business award, recognition from the Alexandria Economic
Development Partnership, Inc. and the City of Alexandria Small and Minority
Business Task Force, Speaker on the topic of Small Business for the City of
Alexandria, and the Defense Information Systems Agency, panelist for the
National Association of Black Procurement Professionals on the topic “How to
Survive and Prosper in Today’s Changing Procurement Environment”, Newt Gingrich's Job Task Force.
Last,
but certainly not least an award from the Forte Family for coordinating the
family reunion and research and publication of the family tree.
Among Ms. Forte’s greatest joys is her son Kyle
Bishop Forte, and her commitment to helping others understand and appreciate
life.
Kiralfy has worked
diligently to help change the lives of many women by motivating, inspiring,
and encouraging them to overcome constant challenges in life. Kiralfy has
provided countless speeches, written numerous publications, and worked
diligently on forums to change the face of women and the small business
community.
She also tutors at
the Luther
Jackson
Middle
School in
Falls
Church, VA from 2007 to 2009.
Kiralfy is currently enjoying taking music lessons
weekly where her desire is to play by "notes" and "chords" as she composes
her music.
.