# Applied Development

> Applied Development is a Maryland-based federal and corporate services firm that combines communication access, digital accessibility, strategic communications, and specialist staffing. Founded in 2011 by Kimberly Citizen and Biffrey Braxton, it began as an IT company before narrowing its mission to helping people of all abilities participate at work - a shift now expressed through a nationwide network of more than 200 certified interpreters, a reported 99% assignment fill rate, Section 508 work, CART captioning, and direct video communication.

- **Founded:** 2011
- **Headquarters:** Riverdale Park, United States
- **Founders:** Kimberly Citizen (Co-Founder and CEO), Biffrey Braxton (Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board)
- **Products:** American Sign Language Interpreting, Communication Access Real-Time Translation, Section 508 Compliance, Strategic Communications, Applied Direct Connect
- **Notable:** Built a network of more than 200 nationally certified interpreters and reports a 99% fill rate for ASL assignments., Won a five-year USAID ASL, CART, and notetaking contract in 2022 with a $15.36 million ceiling; public contract data reports about $10.6 million obligated., Selected for the EY Entrepreneurs Access Network 2022 cohort.

## Products & services

- **American Sign Language Interpreting** — On-site and remote ASL interpreting delivered through a network of more than 200 nationally certified interpreters, using a Best Match process for skills, certifications, context, and customer needs.
- **Communication Access Real-Time Translation** — Instant English transcription for meetings, presentations, and remote assignments, with trained CART providers and equipment when required.
- **Section 508 Compliance** — Accessibility assessments, document and content remediation, testing, training, program evaluation, and policy support for federal digital content and information technology.
- **Strategic Communications** — Brand strategy, executive messaging, digital content, outreach campaigns, workflow design, and event support for government and commercial organizations.
- **Applied Direct Connect** — An FCC-approved direct video communication solution connecting Deaf and hard-of-hearing customers with ASL-fluent support agents without a third-party relay interpreter.
- **ADEPT** — Ethical and professional training for ASL-English interpreters built around case work, simulations, peer learning, and ethical decision-making.
- **Specialist Staffing** — Recruitment, onboarding, retention support, and security-cleared staffing for government, technology, telecommunications, hospitality, and global projects.

## Achievements

- Built a network of more than 200 nationally certified interpreters and reports a 99% fill rate for ASL assignments.
- Won a five-year USAID ASL, CART, and notetaking contract in 2022 with a $15.36 million ceiling; public contract data reports about $10.6 million obligated.
- Selected for the EY Entrepreneurs Access Network 2022 cohort.
- Kimberly Citizen selected for the EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women North America Class of 2023.
- Won a place in 2018 on the Department of Veterans Affairs VECTOR multiple-award contract for training and analysis services.
- Maintains a GSA Multiple Award Schedule contract with a current option period through October 2028.
- Recognized as number 20 on the Baltimore Business Journal's 2018 list of the largest veteran-owned businesses in Greater Baltimore.

## Latest updates

- **2025-10** — Applied Development expanded its published capabilities around universal design, CART, strategic communications, and staffing.
- **2025-07** — The company introduced Applied Direct Connect, an FCC-approved direct video communication service for Deaf and hard-of-hearing customers.
- **2024-03** — The company published a federal Section 508 improvement agenda spanning training, audits, shared practices, and accessible technology investment.
- **2023-09** — Kimberly Citizen joined the EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women North America Class of 2023.

## Links

- Website: https://applied-dev.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/applied-development-llc
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/applieddev
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AppliedDevelopmentllc

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/applied-development
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-21