Fractional COOs in Detroit Making Things Happen in 2025

Detroit & Southeast Michigan Interim Chief Operating Officers to Know

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 for Inclusion in this Feature of Detroit-Based fCOOs

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 Fractional COOs in Detroit & Southeast Michigan

‍Nadia Dehkordi

A strategic operations leader with cross-sector and technical depth, Nadia Dehkordi provides fractional COO services to mission-driven and founder-led companies. Based in Detroit, she excels at aligning people, systems, and strategy to drive scalable growth and digital transformation.

"My experience is diverse, but my focus is simple: I find the real problem, then I fix it—with clarity and strategy." - Nadia Dehkordi

The Digital Reference Team had the opportunity to Interview Nadia and learn more about her approach to fractional work. Here's what we learned.‍

What's your typical approach to fractional engagements?

I approach every fractional engagement like entering a new country. Each company has its own culture, infrastructure, goals, and dialects—and I take the time to learn the language before I start redesigning the roads.

First, I explore whether the company’s “states” (teams, functions, systems) are aligned with its broader goals. Then I assess whether existing processes support the kind of growth, innovation, or cultural shift they’re aiming for. From there, we co-create a custom roadmap that addresses the big-picture vision and the boots-on-the-ground friction.

What type of clients are you the best fit for?

"I’m a great fit for three types of clients:

• Startups that are hitting the complexity wall and need to transition from founder-led hustle to scalable systems and role clarity.
  
  
• Larger organizations that are trying to foster innovation but don’t yet have the operational frameworks to support it.
  
  
• Leaders or teams with a clear goal—but uncertainty around how to reach it, what needs to change internally, or how to operationalize their next chapter.
  

If you’re serious about growth but stuck at the "how," we’ll be a strong match."

What type of clients are the best fit for you?

"The best clients for me are open, honest, and ready for meaningful change. I work best with leadership teams who are willing to:

• Look beneath the surface at what’s really slowing progress.
  
  
• Treat operations as a creative, strategic discipline—not a box-checking exercise.
• Embrace structure as a tool for unlocking innovation, not restricting it.
  

If they value thought partnership, experimentation, and clear follow-through—we’ll thrive together."

When it comes to Ops, what are your specialties?

"My specialties sit at the intersection of scale, innovation, and human-centered systems:

• Translating high-level vision into operational reality
  
  
• Designing operations that flex with growth—not fight it
  
  
• Building innovation pipelines—from idea capture to execution frameworks
  
  
• Cross-functional alignment across product, marketing, and growth
• Structuring environments where creativity and accountability coexist

I also have hands-on experience building products, digital systems, and operational frameworks across a range of industries—including automotive, IT, medical, behavioral health, nonprofits, and startup incubators. I combine tactical grounding, strategic foresight, and creative execution to help companies scale with clarity and resilience. At my core, I’m driven by a simple commitment: helping vision take shape in the real world—whether that means designing better systems, building new structures, or supporting organizations through their next evolution. In every engagement, I bring the mindset of both the architect and the artist—the strategist and the muse—drawing from whatever tools are needed to meet the moment."

What else should your clients know about you?

"I treat operations as both an art and a responsibility. I embed deeply, ask the questions others avoid, and build infrastructure that aligns with who the company truly is—not just where it thinks it needs to go. I create ecosystems where people, ideas, and innovation can thrive long-term. My approach is deeply holistic. I use systems thinking and philosophy as core tools—not just to design better workflows, but to create clarity, cohesion, and cultures that evolve on purpose. To me, operational design is modern-day architecture—built to support growth, hold complexity, and make room for humanity. I'm a collaborator by nature—but I'm also direct. I’ll tell you exactly what I see, what needs to change, and how to get there—clearly, respectfully, and always with your true goals in mind. If you're ready for that level of partnership, I’m all in."

Why She Stands Out to theDigital Reference Team:

• Expertise in program design, AI product strategy, and system-level innovation
• Known for being people-focused yet process-savvy
• Experience leading growth across sectors including tech, health, and civic innovation

Nadia brings grace and clarity to operational transformation—ideal for teams ready to grow without losing heart.

Ryan Stevens

Ryan is an operations, revenue, and customer experience executive. A leader that “values values” with a focus on empathy, integrity, and continuous improvement. Experienced in taking a lean approach to scaling revenue from $0 to $50M and building organizations from the ground up to 200+ employees. Professionally obsessed with online marketplace strategy, B2B ecosystems, talent development, finding operational efficiencies, and developing passionate value-driven teams.

Serving companies across Ann Arbor and Metro Detroit, Ryan Stevens blends product thinking with operational strategy. As a fractional COO, he helps startups and tech firms develop repeatable systems and growth pathways.

Why He Stands Out:

• Works with early-stage and post-revenue startups in scaling mode
• Expertise in product, people ops, and leadership enablement
• Known for combining a builder’s mindset with a strategic executive lens

Ryan is the right fit for founder-led teams that want a hands-on operator who can bridge growth and culture.

Shawn O’Brien

With a career rooted in supply chain, logistics, and strategic operations, Shawn O’Brien brings enterprise-level thinking to small and mid-size organizations across Michigan. His fractional COO work helps companies turn tactical inefficiencies into structured, performance-based systems.

Why He Stands Out:

• Background in automotive, manufacturing, and distribution operations
• Offers logistics-focused operational improvements and workflow design
• Brings a metrics-driven, results-focused approach to every engagement

Shawn is an essential asset for teams in mobility, production, or B2B services that need to scale operations and reduce waste.

Nick Salvatore

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-a-salvatore/

With deep experience in operational finance, systems architecture, and executive operations, Nick Salvatore brings fractional leadership to organizations across Southeast Michigan. He’s especially known for implementing real-time dashboards, data infrastructure, and performance tools.

Why He Stands Out:

• Combines finance, tech, and ops into integrated systems
• Designs dashboards and reporting frameworks that give executives clarity
• Experienced in process automation and OKR alignment

Nick is perfect for companies ready to professionalize their operations—and want data to drive the process.

Greta Bossenbroek

https://www.linkedin.com/in/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

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffwojcik/

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

https://www.businesschiropractics.com/

Founder of Business Chiropractics, Rick Beer delivers fractional COO support through an unconventional but highly effective lens—identifying misalignments in organizations and realigning systems for performance. With decades of business experience and a passion for diagnostics, Rick provides practical operations leadership for companies at inflection points.

Why He Stands Out:

• Offers a “business health” model to operational structure and optimization
• Works with small businesses, family-owned firms, and scaling service orgs
• Known for designing lean, high-impact systems that improve clarity and profitability

Rick is ideal for owners looking to reclaim their time, redesign their processes, and refocus their teams.

Nadeem Mumal

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadeemmumal/

A strategic thinker and operations builder, Nadeem M offers fractional COO services to founders and teams across Michigan. With experience in product, people, and growth strategy, he helps teams build internal capacity and scale intentionally.

Why He Stands Out:

• Strong in cross-functional operations, startup systems, and org design
• Brings structure to remote and hybrid teams
• Known for being a founder whisperer—turning chaos into flow

Nadeem is best for leaders who want to move fast—but don’t want to build the plane while flying it.

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?

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

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 Something Different?

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

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.

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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