Service 1: FRACTIONAL COO SERVICES

 
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For firms ready to scale but operationally stretched

You need this if:

  • You're turning down work because you can't manage more projects

  • Financial reports sit in drawers because you don't know what they mean

  • Your BD efforts are reactive—you network but lack a systematic approach

  • You're unclear which market sectors align with your strengths

  • You're spending more time putting out fires than designing

  • Your leadership team needs structure and accountability

  • You're growing (or want to) but systems aren't keeping pace

What we do together:

Operations & Financial Management:

  • Firm Financial Management

  • Monthly financial forecasting and performance tracking

  • Resource planning and capacity analysis

  • Operations optimization and systems development

  • Career Tracks and Org Charts

  • Performance metrics and KPI tracking

  • On-demand HR and operational support

Business Development & Strategic Growth:

  • Market sector strategy and target client identification

  • BD process development and pipeline management

  • Brand positioning aligned with growth objectives

  • Relationship cultivation and outreach planning

  • Proposal strategy and win-rate improvement

Leadership & Strategic Planning:

  • Quarterly strategic planning sessions

  • Leadership team alignment and accountability

  • Decision-making frameworks and priority setting

Why This Works:

In successful A+D firms, operations, finance, and business development aren't siloed—they're interconnected. Your financial health determines what work you can pursue. Your operational capacity determines what you should pursue. Your brand and BD strategy determine who knows you can deliver. I help you manage all of it with the strategic clarity that comes from 25+ years inside the business.

Engagement Model:

Executive Operations Partner: (15-20 hours)

  • Full-spectrum support: finance, operations, BD strategy

  • Monthly strategic sessions + on-demand access

  • Best for: Firms with $5M-$15M revenue ready to scale

Strategic Operations Advisor: (10-12 hours)

  • Focused support on 2-3 priority areas

  • Monthly check-ins + quarterly planning

  • Best for: Firms with $3M-$8M revenue building infrastructure

Executive Coaching & Advisory: (2 hours)

  • Two 1-hour sessions per month

  • Email support between sessions

  • Best for: Principals/leadership needing ongoing strategic guidance without full operational support

  • Focus areas: leadership development, strategic decision-making, navigating specific challenges

6-month minimum commitment, then month-to-month

 
 

Service 2: OWNERSHIP TRANSITION PLANNING

 
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For founding principals planning their next chapter

You need this if:

  • You're 5-10 years from retirement but don't have a plan

  • You want to step back but don't know how to structure it

  • You need to understand what your firm is worth

  • Your leadership team isn't ready to take over

  • You're worried about losing what you've built

  • You want to preserve firm culture through transition

What we do together:

  • Comprehensive firm valuation

  • 3-7 year succession roadmap

  • Financial restructuring for transition

  • Leadership team development and readiness assessment

  • Culture preservation strategy

  • Equity transfer planning

  • Communication planning (staff, clients, industry)

The Process: We start with a comprehensive assessment of your firm's current state, your vision for transition, and your leadership team's readiness. Then we build a detailed roadmap with clear milestones, financial structures, and accountability measures. This isn't a theoretical plan—it's a practical guide for executing a successful transition over 3-7 years.

Engagement Model:

  • Fixed project fee

  • 3-6 month timeline

  • Includes retreat facilitation and leadership team sessions

  • Optional ongoing advisory support after plan completion

 
 

Service 3: STRATEGIC RETREATS & LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

 
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For firms investing in their leadership bench

You need this if:

  • Your strategic plan is 3+ years old (or non-existent)

  • Leadership team isn't aligned on direction

  • You're promoting principals but they're not ready to lead

  • Annual planning feels reactive rather than strategic

  • Firm culture is drifting as you grow

  • You need to make major decisions but lack clarity

What we do together:

  • Full-day or multi-day strategic planning facilitation

  • Leadership team alignment workshops

  • Individual executive coaching

  • "Blueprint for Success" planning intensive

  • Culture and vision development sessions

  • Business development strategy workshops

  • Financial planning and goal-setting retreats

Popular Workshop Topics:

  • Annual strategic planning and goal-setting

  • Business development and market positioning strategy

  • Ownership structure and equity planning

  • Leadership team effectiveness and communication

  • Financial performance and profitability planning

  • Firm culture definition and preservation

Engagement Model:

Full-day retreat:

  • Single topic deep-dive with leadership team

  • Pre-work and follow-up action planning included

Multi-day intensive:

  • Comprehensive planning covering multiple topics

  • Includes preparation, facilitation, and implementation roadmap

Individual executive coaching:

  • One-on-one coaching for principals and emerging leaders

  • 2 sessions per month + email support

  • Ideal for principals navigating leadership transitions, major decisions, or developing their leadership capacity

  • Flexible focus based on your current priorities: strategic thinking, team dynamics, business development, ownership planning

 
 

Service 4: ALSO AVAILABLE

 
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BD & BRAND STRATEGY CONSULTING

Not ready for ongoing COO support but need to sharpen your BD approach? I offer project-based engagements focused specifically on business development and strategic positioning.

You need this if:

  • You're relying on word-of-mouth but growth has plateaued

  • Your BD efforts feel random rather than systematic

  • You want to enter new markets or sectors but don't have a plan

  • Your brand doesn't reflect where the firm is going

  • Principals are spending too much time chasing work

  • You need to differentiate in a crowded market

What we do together:

  • Strategic brand positioning aligned with your vision and capabilities

  • Market sector analysis and target client identification

  • BD process development and pipeline management systems

  • Relationship cultivation strategies and outreach planning

  • Proposal and interview approach refinement

  • Marketing and communications strategy

  • BD team structure and accountability systems

What This Looks Like: Together we'll answer: Who are you trying to reach? What story are you telling? How do you systematically cultivate relationships? What does your BD process look like? How do you track and manage your pipeline? What role does each principal play in BD? How do you measure success?

This isn't about creating marketing collateral—it's about building the strategic framework and systematic processes that drive sustainable growth and position your firm for the work you want.

Engagement Model:

  • Strategic Planning Project:

    • Comprehensive BD strategy development

    • 2-3 month timeline

    • Includes market analysis, process design, implementation roadmap

  • BD Strategy Workshop:

    • Full-day intensive with leadership team

    • Focused on immediate strategy and action planning

  • Ongoing BD Advisory: fixed fee/month

    • Strategy implementation support

    • Monthly check-ins and pipeline review

    • Best for firms executing new BD strategies

This works well for firms with solid operations who specifically need BD expertise, or as a starting point before a broader engagement.

ONGOING EXECUTIVE ADVISORY

For leaders who need strategic counsel, not full operational support

You're managing operations well enough, but you'd benefit from a trusted advisor in your corner—someone who knows architecture firms inside and out, who can be your thinking partner on tough decisions, and who's available when you need guidance.

What You Get:

  • Two 1-hour sessions monthly scheduled flexibly around your priorities

  • Email support between sessions for time-sensitive questions and decisions

  • Strategic guidance on leadership, operations, BD, or transitions

  • Accountability on key initiatives and goals

Investment: Fixed monthly cost | 6-month minimum commitment

This Is For You If:

  • You have operational capacity but need strategic counsel

  • You're navigating a specific challenge (transition, growth, team dynamics)

  • You want expert guidance without committing to full Fractional COO services

  • You're an emerging principal developing your leadership capacity

  • You value having a trusted advisor available between intensive engagements

 
 

Service 5: ON DEMAND ADVISORY


 
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Need expert guidance but not ready for ongoing intense engagement?

Hourly consulting available at fixed hourly rate for:

  • Specific questions or strategic decisions

  • Document review (proposals, organizational charts, financial reports)

  • Second opinion on major initiatives

  • Short-term project support [like hiring of staff]

NOT SURE WHICH FITS?

Every firm's situation is unique. Schedule a 30-minute discovery call to discuss your specific needs and determine the right engagement model.

Schedule Discovery Call

CURRENT FOCUS AREAS:

Based on 8 years of client work, here's how my engagements typically break down:

60-70% – Operations & Financial Management (ongoing fractional COO support)

15-20% – Ownership Transition Planning (project-based succession planning)

10-15% – Business Development & Brand Strategy (both integrated and standalone)

5% – Leadership Coaching & Development (individual and team)

This reflects the reality that most growing A+D firms need comprehensive operational support that includes financial management, systematic business development, and strategic planning—not just one isolated service.

READY TO BUILD A STRONGER PRACTICE?

Whether you need full-spectrum operational support, a focused BD strategy, or help planning your transition, let's talk about what would serve your firm best. Schedule a 30-minute discovery call to discuss your firm's specific needs here.

 
 

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP: "Having Elisabeth available for monthly check-ins and email questions has been invaluable. She helps me think through decisions I'd otherwise make in isolation, and her perspective has saved me from several costly mistakes."

– Cathy Merrill, Merrill Morris Partners

 
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