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Best Fractional COO Services in Detroit
Top Outsourced COO Services & Fractional Chief Operating Officers (COOs) in Detroit
Detroit is a city of resilience, transformation, and reinvention. As the Motor City continues to redefine itself as a center for mobility, manufacturing innovation, entrepreneurship, and social impact, so too do its business needs evolve. A growing number of startups, mission-led organizations, and scaling companies across Detroit and Southeast Michigan are turning to fractional Chief Operating Officers (COOs) to help them drive growth with focus and flexibility.
These fractional COOs bring executive-level operations expertise on a part-time or interim basis. They help companies build scalable systems, guide strategic execution, and align people with process—without the commitment or cost of a full-time executive.
At Digital Reference, we believe that operational excellence should be visible, verifiable, and portable. We’re building a platform for modern professionals to document impact, share references, and build trust across a transparent talent ecosystem. This blog continues our work in spotlighting the professionals powering real outcomes behind the scenes.
Our Methodology - How We Selected the Best Interim, Outsourced, and Fractional COO Services in Detroit
To compile this curated list of fractional COOs in Detroit and Southeast Michigan, we used a framework that included:
- Geographic Focus: Based in or actively serving clients in Detroit and surrounding regions (Ann Arbor, Novi, Ypsilanti, Southfield, etc.)
- Engagement Model: Offering fractional, part-time, or interim COO or operations advisory services
- Professional Visibility: Active on public platforms (LinkedIn, websites) and accessible for contact
- Proven Experience: Demonstrated history of operational leadership across industries (tech, nonprofit, service, etc.)
- Digital Reference Alignment: Professionals who match our mission—authentic, reputation-first operators delivering clear value
The result is a list of leaders with deep local knowledge and operational muscle—operators who are making things happen across Detroit’s rebirth.
Meet The Best Fractional COO & Outsourced COO Services in Detroit
Nadia Dehkordi
Nadia Dehkordi is a fractional COO who helps mission-driven and founder-led organizations turn vision into operational reality. Based in Detroit, she specializes in aligning people, systems, and strategy to drive scalable growth and innovation across sectors including tech, health, civic innovation, automotive, and nonprofits.
Highlights:
🏢 Program design, AI product strategy, and system-level innovation
📑 People-focused yet process-savvy operational leadership
💬 Expertise in translating vision into operational clarity and actionable systems
Nadia enables teams to scale thoughtfully, balancing operational rigor with human-centered design to grow without losing heart or agility.
Shawn O’Brien
Shawn O’Brien brings fractional COO support to small and mid-size organizations, focusing on supply chain, logistics, and operational efficiency. He transforms tactical inefficiencies into structured, metrics-driven systems that drive performance.
Highlights:
🏢 Automotive, manufacturing, and distribution operations
📑 Logistics-focused workflow design and operational improvement
💬 Metrics-driven and results-focused operational leadership
Shawn enables teams in mobility, production, and B2B services to scale operations efficiently while reducing waste and increasing predictability.
Nick Salvatore
Nick Salvatore provides fractional COO services with a focus on operational finance, systems architecture, and executive operations. Based in Southeast Michigan, he helps companies professionalize operations using data, dashboards, and performance tools.
Highlights:
🏢 Integrated finance, technology, and operations systems
📑 Dashboard creation, process automation, and OKR alignment
💬 Provides executives with clarity and actionable insights
Nick enables organizations to leverage data for scalable, informed decision-making and operational maturity.
Greta Bossenbroek
A people-first operator with cross-sector experience, Greta Bossenbroek offers fractional COO services rooted in strategy, empathy, and execution. Her work spans nonprofits, startups, and growth-focused teams across Southeast Michigan.
Why She Stands Out:
- Specializes in team design, systems implementation, and founder enablement
- Passionate about purpose-driven leadership and cultural alignment
- Known for creating clarity during transition and complexity
Greta is the ideal operational partner for teams who want to grow while staying anchored to values and vision.
Jeff Wojcik
With a background in finance, operations, and growth-stage startups, Jeff Wojcik delivers fractional COO services to high-potential companies in Southeast Michigan. He’s known for his structured, systems-led approach to business maturity.
Why He Stands Out:
- Expertise in forecasting, KPI management, and operational scale
- Experience working with VC-backed and family-owned businesses
- Brings a calm, methodical style to organizations in fast-changing environments
Jeff is a go-to leader for companies that need scalable processes, financial rigor, and internal stability.
Rick Beer
Founder, Business Chiropractics
Rick Beer offers fractional COO services through a “business health” lens, identifying misalignments and realigning operations for clarity, efficiency, and profitability. He works with small businesses, family-owned firms, and scaling service organizations.
Highlights:
🏢 Organizational diagnostics, process redesign, and operational optimization
📑 Designs lean, high-impact systems to improve clarity and performance
💬 Helps owners reclaim time, focus their teams, and drive growth
Rick enables organizations to operate more efficiently, creating space for strategic focus and sustainable success.
Nadeem Mumal
Nadeem Mumal partners with founders and teams across Michigan to build internal capacity and scale operations intentionally. With experience in product, people, and growth strategy, he helps organizations structure processes and systems for clarity and efficiency.
Highlights:
🏢 Cross-functional operations, startup systems, and org design
📑 Structure for remote and hybrid teams
💬 Known as a “founder whisperer”—turning operational chaos into flow
Nadeem enables leaders to move fast while building the operational foundations needed for sustainable growth.
Why Fractional Leadership Works in Detroit
Detroit is a region full of dualities: legacy industries and future-forward tech; local grit and global ambition. And its companies often need leadership that’s nimble, practical, and proven—without the burden of long-term overhead.
Why fractional COOs are a great fit for Detroit:
- Founders and small businesses often can’t justify a full-time COO
- Many companies are in transition, needing structure but not bureaucracy
- Grant- and mission-funded orgs require impact without excess cost
- The region values hands-on leadership and outcomes over credentials
Fractional COOs provide just-in-time leadership—filling gaps, solving problems, and building legacies.
What Makes a Great Fractional COO in Detroit?
The best fractional COOs are:
- Systems-driven: They replace chaos with clarity
- People-minded: They build with teams, not over them
- Execution-focused: They don’t just plan—they do
- Trustworthy: They create transparency, accountability, and confidence
They blend strategy, operations, and culture in a way that leaves a lasting impact long after they’ve transitioned out.
The Digital Reference POV - Fractional Is The Future
At Digital Reference, we help professionals like these:
- Capture verified impact through structured references
- Showcase outcomes across clients and contexts
- Build trust faster through transparency and proof
Fractional COOs are no longer hidden talent. They’re essential leaders—and we’re giving them the tools to be seen.
Looking for More Fractional & Ops Content?
If this list got your gears turning, we recommend exploring these pieces next:
- Operations Consultants & What They Actually Do?
- Fractional COOs by Region and Country
- Fractional COO or Outsourced COO - Choosing the Right Fit for Your Business
Final Thoughts - Hiring the Best Fractional COO For Your Needs
Detroit is rising—and these fractional COOs are helping power that growth. They represent a new model of leadership: flexible, values-driven, and outcome-oriented. From logistics to education, tech to social enterprise, these are the quiet catalysts behind the city's resurgence.
The leaders featured are helping organizations move from idea to execution, from vision to velocity.
Check Out Our Local Directories of Fractional COO, Outsourced COO Services & Interim COOs by City
Ann Arbor, MI - Part-Time COOs & Fractional COO Services
Ann Arbor startups and research-driven firms are turning to fractional ops leaders for precision execution and growth strategy.
Atlanta, GA - Part-Time COOs & Fractional COO Services
In a city that blends enterprise and startup energy, Atlanta companies lean on COOs who can unify vision and operations.
Boston, MA - Part-Time COOs & Fractional COO Services
From biotech to B2B SaaS, Boston’s ops leaders bring structure and speed to innovation-heavy teams.
Chicago, IL - Part-Time COOs & Fractional COO Services
COOs in the Windy City are helping companies align their back-end systems with bold front-end goals.
Denver, CO - Part-Time COOs & Fractional COO Services
Denver’s scale-ups are calling in fractional execs to professionalize their operations without slowing their culture.
Detroit, MI - Part-Time COOs & Fractional COO Services
With roots in manufacturing and momentum in mobility, Detroit companies rely on fractional COOs for systems that scale.
Houston, Texas - Part-Time COOs & Fractional COO Services
Houston’s operational ecosystem is evolving fast. More startups are scaling. More nonprofits are serving complex needs.
London, United Kingdom - Part-Time COOs & Fractional COO Services
Fractional COO Services are sky-rocketing in popularity in London as labor costs go up and time to market is accelerating.
Los Angeles, CA - Part-Time COOs & Fractional COO Services
In LA, creative industries meet tech—and fractional COOs bring the operational clarity these hybrid teams need.
Philadelphia, PA - Part-Time COOs & Fractional COO Services
Fractional COO Services in Philly are ensuring East Coast startups and high growth companies have the right structure to survive.
Phoenix, AZ - Part-Time COOs & Fractional COO Services
Phoenix-based COOs help founders transition from hustle to structured scale with systems that grow.
San Francisco, CA - Part-Time COOs & Fractional COO Services
Bay Area COOs are stepping in to help tech companies streamline, automate, and stabilize post-funding growth.
Seattle, WA - Part-Time COOs & Fractional COO Services
In Seattle’s product-driven landscape, ops leaders drive alignment between engineering, GTM, and finance.
Sydney, Australia - Part-Time COOs & Fractional COO Services
Home to Canva, growing base of purpose-led enterprises, and increasing demand for agile executive leadership, Sydney has become a hotbed for operational talent that doesn’t require a full-time seat.
Toronto, Canada - Part-Time COOs & Fractional COO Services
Toronto doesn’t just build startups—it builds systems. It’s a city where public meets private, where the startup ecosystem is growing alongside government programs, universities, and a rising impact economy. But for all its innovation, hiring executive talent in Toronto has always come with nuance.
Washington, DC (DMV Area) - Part-Time COOs & Fractional COO Services
DC-area operators bring rigor and regulatory awareness—perfect for mission-driven orgs and gov-adjacent teams.
Explore their work. Reach out. And when you’re ready to scale with structure and tell your own story with clarity—start with Digital Reference.
– The Digital Reference Team
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