Your Technology Needs a Leader, Not Just a Manager
If you're running a growing manufacturing, construction, or fabrication company, you've probably hit this wall:
Your IT is reactive, not strategic. Technology decisions happen ad-hoc. Your team is firefighting instead of innovating. And you're making six-figure technology investments without a clear roadmap.
Someone on your leadership team is playing CIO—and they shouldn't be. Maybe it's you (the CEO or COO), your CFO, or your operations manager. They're smart, capable people—but IT strategy isn't their expertise, and it's pulling them away from what they do best.
Your IT manager is technically solid but needs strategic oversight. They can keep the lights on, but they're not equipped to align technology with business goals, manage vendors strategically, or present to the board with confidence.
Your MSP says they provide "vCIO services"—but it feels like they're selling, not advising. Their recommendations always seem to involve buying more from them. You're not sure if you're getting strategic guidance or just a well-packaged sales pitch.
Sound familiar?
You don't need another vendor. You need a strategic technology leader who works for you—someone with CIO-level experience who understands manufacturing operations and can guide your IT investments without the cost of a full-time executive.
That's exactly what a Fractional CIO provides.
Strategic IT Leadership, On Your Terms
A Fractional CIO is a seasoned technology executive who serves in a part-time, strategic capacity—typically 10-20 hours per month. You get the expertise, perspective, and leadership of a full-time CIO at a fraction of the cost.
Here's what makes Fractional CIO services different from other IT support:
Bottom line: You get executive-level strategic guidance without the overhead, politics, or long-term commitment of a full-time hire.
Is Fractional CIO Right for Your Company?
Our Fractional CIO services are ideal for manufacturing, construction, and fabrication companies in these situations:
Scenario 1: You Don't Have IT Leadership At All
Your IT is managed by your MSP, an office manager, or whoever "knows computers." Technology decisions are reactive, budgets are unpredictable, and you have no strategic IT roadmap.
What a Fractional CIO provides: Strategic planning, vendor accountability, budget development, and a clear technology roadmap aligned with business goals.
Scenario 2: You Have an IT Manager Who Needs Strategic Oversight
Your IT manager is technically competent and keeps things running—but they're not equipped to think strategically, manage large projects, or advise the leadership team on technology investments.
What a Fractional CIO provides: Executive-level guidance for your IT manager, vendor negotiation support, board-level reporting, and strategic direction they can execute on.
Scenario 3: Leadership Is Playing CIO (And Shouldn't Be)
The CEO, COO, or CFO is making IT decisions because someone has to—but it's taking time away from their core responsibilities, and they don't have deep technology expertise.
What a Fractional CIO provides: Takes IT strategy off leadership's plate while keeping them informed. You stay in control without being in the weeds.
Scenario 4: You're Facing a Major IT Initiative
You're implementing a new ERP system, going through M&A, opening new locations, or undergoing digital transformation. These are high-stakes, high-cost initiatives that need experienced leadership.
What a Fractional CIO provides: Project oversight, risk mitigation, vendor management, and executive accountability to ensure success.
Scenario 5: Your MSP Relationship Needs Adult Supervision
Your MSP might be good at what they do—but you're not sure if their recommendations are in your best interest or theirs. You need an independent advisor who works for you, not the vendor.
What a Fractional CIO provides: Objective evaluation of MSP performance, contract negotiation, vendor accountability, and strategic oversight to ensure you're getting value.
If any of these scenarios sound familiar, let's talk.
Strategic IT Leadership Across Every Critical Area
When you engage us as your Fractional CIO, here's what you get:
Strategic IT Planning & Roadmapping
-
- Develop 1-3 year technology roadmaps aligned with business goals
-
- Assess current technology stack and identify gaps, redundancies, and risks
-
- Prioritize initiatives based on ROI, risk, and strategic impact
-
- Present technology strategy to leadership and board with confidence
Vendor Management & Negotiation
-
- Evaluate and select technology vendors objectively (we have no skin in the game)
-
- Negotiate contracts and renewals to ensure fair pricing and terms
-
- Hold vendors accountable for performance and SLAs
-
- Manage MSP relationships strategically, not transactionally​
IT Team Development & Leadership
-
- Provide mentorship and strategic guidance to your IT manager or team
-
- Help with hiring decisions, role definitions, and compensation benchmarking
-
- Develop career paths and professional development plans for IT staff
-
- Build a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and alignment with business goals​
Project Oversight & Execution
-
- Oversee large IT initiatives (ERP, CRM, infrastructure upgrades, etc.)
-
- Manage project timelines, budgets, and vendor deliverables
-
- Mitigate risk and avoid costly mistakes
-
- Ensure successful implementations that deliver expected ROI​
IT Budget Development & Oversight
-
- Build accurate, defensible IT budgets with clear business justification
-
- Track spending against budget and identify cost optimization opportunities
-
- Evaluate capital vs. operational expense trade-offs
-
- Provide financial transparency through KPI dashboards
Technology Stack Optimization
-
- Assess whether your current systems support business goals or hold you back
-
- Identify opportunities to consolidate, upgrade, or replace underperforming tools
-
- Evaluate cloud vs. on-premise strategies
-
- Ensure integrations and data flow support operational efficiency​
Cybersecurity & Risk Management
-
- Conduct security assessments and identify vulnerabilities
-
- Develop incident response plans and disaster recovery strategies
-
- Ensure compliance with industry regulations and standards
-
- Implement governance frameworks that balance security with operational needs​
Board-Level Reporting & Communication
-
- Present technology strategy and performance to leadership and board members
-
- Translate technical complexity into business impact
-
- Provide executive dashboards with meaningful KPIs
-
- Build confidence that IT is a strategic asset, not a cost center​
Flexible, Transparent, Results-Driven
We structure Fractional CIO engagements to fit your specific needs—not a one-size-fits-all retainer model.
Typical Engagement Structure:
Time Commitment: 10-20 hours per month (typically 15 hours for most clients)
Engagement Options:
- On-site presence: One full day per month (8 hours) or two half-days (4 hours each) for face-to-face leadership meetings, team collaboration, and relationship building
- Remote strategic work: Remaining hours dedicated to planning, vendor meetings, documentation, and ongoing advisory
Billing Model: Hourly-based Statement of Work (SOW)
- We track hours transparently and bill based on actual time invested
- No surprise fees, no hidden costs
- You see exactly what you're paying for and what we're delivering
Engagement Length:
- Initial engagement: Typically 12 months to establish strategy, build systems, and create momentum
- After 12 months: Either transition to your internal team (if you're ready to hire full-time) or continue fractional long-term if the model is working well
Project-Based Option:
If you have a specific initiative (ERP implementation, M&A IT due diligence, vendor evaluation, cybersecurity assessment), we can structure a project-based SOW with defined scope, timeline, and deliverables.
Best for: Companies that need strategic leadership for a specific initiative, not ongoing advisory.
Not sure which model fits? That's what the discovery call is for. We'll assess your situation and recommend the right approach.
Experience, Objectivity, and Operational Credibility
Here's what sets us apart from other Fractional CIO providers, IT consultants, and MSP vCIOs:
Real CIO Experience—Not Just Consulting
We've served as CIO at companies totaling over $500M in revenue. We've built IT strategies, managed budgets, led teams, and delivered results in real operational environments. This isn't theory—it's proven experience.
Industry Specialization in Manufacturing & Construction
We understand your world. Shop floor operations. Supply chain complexity. Compliance requirements. Project-based workflows. We speak your language, not generic IT jargon.
Complete Objectivity—We Work for You, Not Vendors
Unlike MSP vCIOs, we have no financial incentive to sell you specific products or services. Our only goal is to help you make the best technology decisions for your business. If your current MSP is great, we'll help you maximize that relationship. If they're not, we'll help you find a better fit.
People-First Philosophy
We believe technology exists to empower people, not replace them. Our goal is never to "cut IT headcount by 10%." It's to help your team do more, work smarter, and drive revenue growth. We build IT cultures that attract and retain talent.
Proven Frameworks, Customized Execution
We bring structure and methodology (strategic planning, KPI development, governance frameworks) but customize everything to your specific needs, culture, and operational realities.
Cost-Effective Access to Executive Talent
Hiring a full-time CIO costs $150K-$250K+ in salary alone—plus benefits, equity, and overhead. Our Fractional CIO services deliver the same strategic value at 70-85% less cost, with the flexibility to scale up or down as your needs change.
Questions We Hear from Leaders Like You
Q: "We're too small to need a CIO."
A: Size doesn't determine whether you need strategic IT leadership—complexity and growth trajectory do. If you're making technology investments, managing vendors, or relying on IT to run operations, you need someone thinking strategically about it. The Fractional model makes CIO-level expertise accessible to companies that couldn't justify a full-time hire.
Q: "Our IT manager has it covered."
A: Your IT manager might be excellent at keeping systems running and solving technical problems—but that's different from strategic leadership. A Fractional CIO doesn't replace your IT manager; we empower them. We provide the strategic oversight, vendor negotiation experience, and executive-level guidance they need to be even more effective.
Q: "Isn't this what our MSP should be doing?"
A: Many MSPs offer "vCIO services," but there's a fundamental conflict of interest: their recommendations often benefit their bottom line, not yours. A true Fractional CIO works exclusively for you, with no incentive to sell specific products or services. We hold your MSP accountable and ensure you're getting value—or help you find a better partner if you're not.
Q: "How can you understand our business if you're only here part-time?"
A: We invest significant time upfront to understand your operations, culture, goals, and challenges. Our on-site presence (1-2 days per month) ensures we stay connected to your team and leadership. And because we specialize in manufacturing and construction, we already understand the operational realities of your industry. Most full-time CIOs spend significant time on administrative tasks and internal politics—we focus exclusively on strategic value.
Q: "What happens after 12 months?"
A: That depends on your goals. Some companies use our Fractional CIO services as a bridge until they're ready to hire a full-time CIO—and we help them recruit, onboard, and transition successfully. Other companies realize the Fractional model works perfectly for their needs and continue the engagement long-term. We're flexible and focused on what's best for your business, not what's best for us.
Q: "Can we start with a smaller engagement to test the fit?"
A: Absolutely. We can structure a 3-6 month initial engagement or a specific project-based SOW to demonstrate value before committing to a longer-term relationship. Our goal is to earn your trust through results, not lock you into a contract.