Brian Harmsen

Founder

Brian Harmsen is the founder of Designworks Talent and a strategic talent acquisition leader with over 20 years of experience designing scalable hiring and workforce planning solutions. His background spans Fortune 100 companies, startups, and global remote teams across media, technology, financial services, and nonprofits.

Brian has held senior roles at Disney, Fox Interactive Media/News Corp, and ABC Television, where he advised C-level leaders and led data-driven recruiting strategies—including building the first-ever digital media team to stream on-demand video content. He combines creative problem-solving with strategic insight to help clients attract and retain high-impact talent.

Brian holds a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Development and a Master’s in Public Administration/HR Leadership from Arizona State University.

Maureen Pankotai 

talent acquisition director

Maureen Pankotai is a seasoned talent acquisition consultant and Director at Designworks Talent. She specializes in scalable recruiting operations, systems optimization, and high-impact hiring across executive and technical roles. With nearly two decades of experience, she supports companies in building data-driven processes, optimizing Applicant Tracking Systems, creating tactical dashboards and C-Suite/ Board level reporting.

Maureen also brings expertise in managing offshore recruiting vendors and, over the past five years, has specialized in data science and technical hiring for AI startups.

Maureen holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Manitoba and an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario, including a semester at the London Business School

Jerry Cooksey

TALENT ACQUISITION & Marketing

Jerry Cooksey is the Director of Marketing and Client Engagement and has more than 25 years of experience in marketing and business development, and has built a career at the intersection of strategy, growth, and relationship-building. He has a proven track record of helping organizations expand their market presence, strengthen client relationships, and drive sustainable revenue growth across diverse industries.

Jerry’s expertise spans brand development, strategic partnerships, executive-level client engagement, and the creation of innovative go-to-market strategies.

Jerry holds a Bachelor of Arts, Communications with Emphasis in Public Relations from Brigham Young University, Provo