Helping Small Business Owners
Get Their Life Back!

Fractional Executive Solutions provides the experience and knowledge of a high powered operations professional for a fraction of the cost!

Meet David Baughman

"I help you get your life back"!

That's my pitch to a small business owner. One of the hazards of owning your business is trying to do everything yourself.

There are aspects of working on your business that are fun and exciting such as business development, exploring new markets and products as well and creating strategy. But what is not fun is making things happen to get the product or service “out the door”. The little things that have to be done can be hard. Like Operations management.

What you need is an experienced leader who enjoys doing those things. But you can't afford the cost of that leader. That’s where I can help you “get your life back”!

As a career operations executive who has led multiple operational turnarounds, I have seen so many different examples of chaos and poor performance by operations teams that nothing really stumps me. And usually, it is not the fault of the people or management. More often than not, it is systematic and process issues that holds teams back. I have seen it in many small companies and organizations. What some see as an impossible task, I see as an opportunity to have fun!

As a career operations executive who has led multiple operational turnarounds, I have seen so many different examples of chaos and poor performance by operations teams that nothing really stumps me. And usually, it is not the fault of the people or management. More often than not, it is systematic and process issues that holds teams back. I have seen it in many small companies and organizations. What some see as an impossible task, I see as an opportunity to have fun!

As a Fractional COO or Integrator, I can see what the owner may not. What is perplexing to them is an “ I got a process for that” moment for me. Because I have led organizations in both public and private companies, big and small across so many markets, I usually have a solution to most operational challenges. What I do is collaborate with the team to develop their skills and processes while creating a culture of accountability. By engaging with the owner and each manager weekly , I can get to the heart of the matter and provide immediate experienced leadership. All of this usually in one day per week. Coaching, teaching, mentoring and encouraging with my sleeves rolled up and helping do the work.

What I provide is solid experience: at a "fraction of the cost". So, you, the owner, can go to your child’s ballgame or dance recital.

More About Dave

WHAT I DO

Fractional COO

David is an accomplished Fractional COO who quickly evaluates and establishes an orderly process to ensure your operations run smoothly to allow you to do what you do best: grow your company. David provides leadership and guidance to your team to allow them to understand what it takes to provide “operational excellence” daily. With his extensive experience leading organizations across multiple markets, there are no operational challenges that David cannot help guide you and your team to accomplish your short- and long-term goals while developing and enhancing team health and execution.

Executive Coaching

There are numerous leadership coaches to choose from that work with CEOs and owners. At Fractional Executive Solutions, we offer leadership coaching for your team to ensure smooth delivery of your products or services to your customers as well as enhancing your bottom line. If you are an owner or CEO and you have an incumbent in the role of Manager, Director or even COO, we work with them exclusively to learn how to be a “pro,” while becoming a trusted advisor to you. We provide a structured and documented program that is created with your guidance and input to create goals, and skill sets to improve overall executive and leadership performance. Regular feedback is provided to you so you can see the development of your team as they start to leverage their newfound skills and help your your business thrive.

Emerging Leadership

There are numerous leadership coaches to choose from who work with CEOs and owners. At Fractional Executive Solutions, we offer Emerging Leadership Coaching for those who are about to embark on their first role as a manager or leader. For many, the first leadership role is hard because they must learn to be accountable for the performance of others as well as themselves while learning how to provide direction and guidance to a team. From learning how to manage through time constraints, difficult and often new challenges, or conducting “difficult” conversations, we help them learn the skills required to lead, manage, and hold others accountable. All in a structured process that includes a lesson plan and homework. Your new leader will appreciate the knowledge and the opportunity that they are provided to get a “head start” on their management career.

WHO I REPRESENT

Oil and Gas

Power Generation

Aerospace

Product Services

Distribution

Consumer Goods

WHAT CLIENTS SAY

Andy Vawter, MPS Acoustics

“Working with Dave Baughman from Fractional Executive Solutions has been a tremendous benefit to our organization. He has helped us with process flow, hiring, quality improvement, material procurement, cost reductions, and many other areas. Our business is much healthier and efficient due to the improvements implemented by Fractional Executive Solutions.”

Brody Hulin, Cypress Fabrication

“Our Cypress Team hired David and Fractional Executive Solutions to be our fractional COO as well as a mentor our new Operations Manager. David quickly established a great bond with our leadership team as well as providing a structured presence within our company. David has provided steady counsel for myself and allowed me to spend more time building our business as he quickly took responsibility for our operational performance. David is an extremely knowledgeable operations executive that combined extensive leadership experience along with Lean Manufacturing skills to help us take the next step in operational excellence journey. He also has become part of the Cypress Family!”

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EXPERTISE

Can a Fractional COO help my business grow?

Fractional Services

May 08, 2023•3 min read

When you hire a Fractional COO from FES, you expect them to help streamline and improve your operations. That's what we do. But did you know that they can also help you increase revenue and enhance your bottom line? In this blog post, we will explore how a Fractional COO can help your business become more profitable, productive, and grow your sales. We will also look at how the right people in the right seats can be developed to help achieve these goals.

A Fractional COO is usually an experienced Operations expert. I am a manufacturing expert across multiple markets over multiple decades. I have never been a Business Development professional nor did I want to be. But as the owner of the P&L, I had to make sure we increased our sales. What I look at is "Sustainable and profitable growth". I learned that from Ed Carpenter and Greg Milzcik, former CEOs of Barnes Group (B). They taught me growth on the top line MUST drive higher growth on the bottom line. And so, I learned that I needed to be just as good at developing sales organizations as I am with manufacturing. So, here is how a Fractional COO can help revenue growth.
1. Understanding Cost
Analyzing cost throughout the entire business- eliminate waste that the client will not pay for.
Finding the best way to deliver value to the customer - what is important to them- cost or quality / delivery. Eliminate non-value added so your Sales Department has a competitive and compelling message when they go to market.
Creating a process where the entire team has input on margin and cost. not one person.
2. Sales Organization
Understanding customer needs and buying habits - BD folks MUST understand that to help the team create a winning bid. Teach and train them to listen and learn what the customer is asking for . And can we deliver?
Providing the best price that can produce desired profit margins through market and customer intelligence. This is crucial. Train the team this process and the margins get better.
Developing a sales organization that understands customer needs and not just "pencil whipping" a bid. Your BD folks need to be able to communicate to the estimating team AND communicate to the customer to find a way to get a great order that works for both.
3. People and Culture
Creating a culture of productivity and growth across all areas of the business. We are all "owners" so Sales and Operations must be linked. It's called Sales, Inventory and Operations Planning.
Implementing strategies to ensure success - operational and sales / marketing. And stick with them.
Some may say that a Sales VP can help achieve growth strategies for a small business owner. Absolutely. I have brought in a Sales Process expert for multiple clients in conjunction with my work. Great results. However, it is more than just a Sales process. What needs to happen is process and people development across the board in synch. That's what an FES Fractional COO can do.

David Baughman

David Baughman is the consummate Operating professional, who has brought P&L leadership experience to a broad range of sectors, stages of growth, and business environments. His experience includes aerospace, automotive, industrial, and oil & gas. In every engagement, David has dramatically, and profitably accelerated the company’s growth through his deep grasp of all functions and leverage points. Equity participants see virtually immediate acceleration of the topline, gross margin improvement, and EBITDA margin gains. Those quantifiable measures are his keys to unlocking shareholder value. David is a trained Lean Champion by the Lean Enterprise Institute consulting group and holds credentials for Positive Management Leadership from the Columbia University Emerging Leadership Development program. He resides with his wife in the Fort Worth area, and enjoys reading history, working outdoors, and golf.

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