Fractional COO & Strategic Advisor | Scaling, Operations & Business Process
**"Turning Vision into Value. The ACF Advantage."**
Profile Overview
Are you a visionary founder juggling product, sales, marketing, and operations? Are you so busy building the plane while flying it that you can't install the systems needed for a smooth, sustainable flight?
At Adams Consulting Firm (ACF), I act as your operational co-pilot. Stepping in as your hands-on Fractional COO/Chief of Staff, I bridge the gap between your big-picture vision and day-to-day execution. I translate your brilliant ideas into clear, actionable strategies and build the powerful, streamlined systems that allow your business to scale—without relying solely on you.
My mission is simple: to give you back your most valuable asset—your time—so you can focus on product, vision, and strategic growth.
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My Approach: The Founder's Flight Plan
I adapt the same principles of operational excellence that power global leaders like Google, Mayo Clinic, and top-tier healthcare networks into a practical, agile framework for startups and scaling businesses. We fortify your foundation across four key pillars:
- Clarifying Your Vision: Aligning your strategic growth plan to ensure the entire organization is rowing in the same direction.
- Building Your Team: Fostering a culture of empowerment, accountability, and high performance.
- Creating Smart Systems: Implementing right-sized business processes (from project management to customer onboarding) so nothing falls through the cracks.
- Strengthening Your Foundation: Getting your operations investor-ready with clear metrics, sound financials, and a scalable infrastructure.
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How I Drive Value (Core Services)
- Fractional COO / Chief of Staff: Hands-on operational leadership and executive integration.
- Strategic Growth & Consulting: Navigating market entry, scaling hurdles, and turnaround management.
- Operations & Business Process: Process creation, automation, and continuous improvement.
- Project Management: Leading complex capital projects, product launches, and strategic partnerships.
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Featured Case Studies & Proven Results
1. Healthcare Network Scaling & Integration (Qualderm)
- Client Context: A rapidly expanding healthcare organization requiring streamlined operations and standardized processes to support an aggressive clinic expansion strategy.
- My Role: Built the foundational operational playbook for launching new clinics, optimizing business processes, and aligning clinical and administrative workflows to ensure scalable, repeatable execution.
- Result: Successfully positioned the organization to capitalize on a $100 million growth opportunity, creating a robust operational infrastructure that accelerated new clinic launches and enhanced network-wide efficiency.
2. Startup Scaling: From 6 to 300+ Employees (EXOS)
- Client Context: A high-potential human performance startup needing the operational backbone to support explosive customer demand.
- My Role: Architected the company's first scalable systems for hiring, training, and service delivery.
- Result: Enabled hyper-growth from a 6-person team to an industry leader of 300+, serving giants like Google, Intel, and the NFL Players' Association.
3. From Idea to Profitable Launch (Mayo Clinic)
- Client Context: A world-class healthcare organization looking to enter a new market, effectively operating as an internal startup.
- My Role: Led the end-to-end launch process, from initial strategy and team-building to execution and project management.
- Result: The division achieved a 98th percentile national score for patient/staff satisfaction and generated $25M in profit, proving that structured launch plans de-risk new ventures.
4. Business Turnaround: Creating Profit from Crisis
- Client Context: A four-company retail group on the brink of bankruptcy, facing overwhelming operational and financial challenges.
- My Role: Executed complete operational triage, simplified processes, implemented financial controls, and realigned the team.
- Result: Successfully navigated the enterprise out of bankruptcy and into multi-million-dollar profitability in just 18 months.
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Core Skills
`Fractional COO` `Chief of Staff (COS)` `Strategic Growth` `Business Process Improvement` `Project Management` `Startup Consulting` `Scaling` `Turnaround Management` `Fundraising Readiness` `Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)` `Change Management` `Healthcare Innovation`
Ready to scale? Click 'Invite to Job' to schedule a brief, complimentary strategy call so we can discuss your biggest operational challenges and map out your next phase of growth.
Executive Coaching
Business Planning & Strategy
Career Coaching
Business Coaching
Startup Consulting
Business Consulting
Business Analysis
Business Strategy
Operations Management Software
Operational Planning
Strategic Planning
Sales Leadership
Business Innovation
Brand Consulting
Melissa J.
Phoenix, Arizona
$75/hr
5.0
6 jobs
Melissa Joy Dalton, MBA, (Mel) is a certified master coach. With over 20 years of experience in talent management, leadership development, learning and development, succession planning, and recruiting, our Talent Executive brings a wealth of expertise to any organization. Combining a deep understanding of human resources strategies with a passion for cultivating high-performing teams, they have consistently delivered impactful results throughout their career. Their track record includes designing and implementing comprehensive leadership development programs, driving learning initiatives that align with organizational goals, and spearheading effective succession planning efforts. Additionally, their extensive experience in recruiting top-tier talent ensures that they can identify and attract the right candidates to fuel an organization's growth and success. A trusted advisor to senior executives, this Talent Executive is adept at navigating complex organizational dynamics and collaborating across departments to create a culture of talent excellence. With a strategic mindset and a focus on driving tangible outcomes, they are poised to make a lasting impact on any organization's talent strategy and help shape its future success.
Leadership Development
HR & Business Services
Life Coaching
Strategic Plan
Business Management
Human Resources Consulting
Training & Development
Corporate Communications
Communications
People
Human Resource Management
Leadership Coaching
Event Planning
Recruiting
Training Design
Delisa T.
Phoenix, Arizona
$175/hr
5.0
16 jobs
Most businesses don’t have a strategy problem.
They have an execution problem.
That’s where I come in.
I work directly with founders and leadership teams to bring clarity, structure, and momentum to businesses that are:
Stuck in chaos or constant firefighting
Scaling without the systems to support it
Losing revenue due to operational gaps
Overwhelmed with tools, teams, or disconnected processes
I don’t just “manage projects.”
I step in as a Fractional COO / Executive Operator to:
Identify what’s actually broken (fast)
Align people, systems, and priorities
Install operational frameworks that drive results
Ensure execution actually happens
What I Do Best
Operational Strategy + Execution
Turn scattered ideas into clear, executable plans
Build 30-60-90 day roadmaps that actually get followed
System & Process Design
Clean up messy tech stacks (CRM, automation, workflows)
Build systems that reduce manual work and errors
Project & Team Leadership
Lead cross-functional teams without adding overhead
Hold teams accountable without creating friction
Revenue & Growth Operations
Identify where money is being lost
Improve conversion, follow-up, and client experience
AI + Automation (Practical, Not Hype)
Help businesses apply AI in ways that save time and increase output
No fluff—only what actually works in real operations
Who I Work With
I’m best suited for:
Founder-led businesses
Companies doing $1M–$20M+
Teams that need structure, not theory
Leaders who are serious about results
Not a fit for:
Early-stage idea phase startups
DIY or low-budget task management
How I Work
I move fast and get to the root of problems quickly
I communicate clearly and directly
I focus on outcomes—not activity
If you’re looking for someone to just “take tasks,” I’m not the right fit.
If you need someone to bring order, clarity, and execution to your business, we should talk.
Call to Action
Send me a message with:
What’s currently not working in your business
Where you feel stuck or overwhelmed
What you’ve already tried
I’ll quickly tell you if I can help—and how.
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