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Fractional COOs in Washington DC Making Things Happen in 2025
DC & DMV Area Interim Chief Operating Officers to Know
The Washington DC metro area—encompassing the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV)—has long been a hub for mission-driven organizations, high-impact startups, nonprofits, and complex institutions. What many of these organizations have in common is a need for sophisticated operations leadership—without the overhead of a full-time executive. That’s where fractional COOs come in.
These highly skilled operators step in on a part-time or interim basis to bring clarity, structure, and momentum to growing organizations. From setting up scalable systems and aligning cross-functional teams to supporting founders through high-growth transitions, fractional Chief Operating Officers (COOs) are quietly driving results behind the scenes.
At Digital Reference, we’re here to pull back the curtain on talent. We believe that great work deserves to be seen, verified, and remembered—especially for fractional leaders who build impact across industries, but often remain behind the spotlight. This guide is part of our ongoing mission to create a more transparent, human-centric, and efficient talent ecosystem.
Below is our curated list of DC-area fractional COOs who are making things happen in government-adjacent sectors, tech, nonprofit work, consulting, and more.
Our Methodology on evaluating DC-Based fCOOs
To curate this list, we considered:
- Location: Each executive is based in or actively serving organizations within the DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region
- Role: Each professional offers fractional, part-time, or interim COO services
- Visibility: Evaluated based on public profiles, portfolios, or firm affiliations
- Alignment: Chosen for their alignment with Digital Reference’s values—transparency, reputation-based credibility, and practical impact
All of these leaders operate independently or through boutique consultancies. They are hired for their ability to bring structure to complexity and growth to mission.
Meet the Fractional COOs in the DMV Region
Lindsey Englerth
The Digital Reference team was able to catch up with Lindsey face-to-face for a brief interview. We learned that her approach is rooted in systems thinking, people operations, and strategic prioritization. She emphasizes the importance of being a “second brain” for founders—translating vision into operations and freeing them to lead externally. Lindsey also shared how the DC ecosystem benefits from fractional leaders, especially in mission-driven or highly dynamic organizations that aren’t quite ready for full-time executive hires but urgently need structure and operational clarity.
Lindsey Englerth is a seasoned operations leader who has worked with National Geographic, PBS, and purpose-driven startups. Her fractional COO work is rooted in strategy execution, people operations, and program scaling. Lindsey "helps her clients get where they want to go". Her primary focus is on clients in the $2M-$10M range and between 5 and 25 employees.
Why She Stands Out:
- Background in strategic planning, impact measurement, and stakeholder management
- Combines process design with talent development and team coaching
- Comfortable working across sectors—including education, health, and community development
A Few Notable Quotes from Lindsey Englerth for more insight into her approach:
- On the value of fractional leadership:
“What a founder really needs is someone who can see around corners with them—and then operationalize what’s coming. That’s where I come in.” - On her relationship with founders:
“I always say, I’m your second brain. My job is to help you keep your eyes on the horizon while I help manage the moving pieces behind the scenes.” - On the DC startup ecosystem:
“DC has this really interesting mix of mission and momentum. Founders here aren’t just building to scale—they’re building with purpose. And they need partners who can match that energy.” - On when to bring in a fractional COO:
“If you’re waking up thinking, ‘I don’t know how we’re going to get through next quarter,’ but you’re not ready for a full-time COO—you’re exactly the kind of team I work with.”
Lindsey is the partner you want when you're growing fast but need to ensure alignment, sustainability, and team resilience.
Ije Jemie Nwabueze
As founder of Dreamcatchers Performance LLC, Ije Jemie Nwabueze offers fractional COO and executive team accelerator services tailored to organizations that are building with both impact and intention. Her background includes leadership development, process improvement, and digital strategy. Ije align efforts with outcomes for fast-scaling orgs, including fintech, healthtech, cybersecurity, digital media, edtech, foundations and nonprofits.
Ije's clients have this to say about her:
"Before Ije, we were in constant firefighting mode. After? We could finally breathe, focus, and scale. She brought sanity back and gave us a way forward that actually stuck.”— CEO, $30M Edtech business
The Digital Reference team had the opportunity to interview Ije. Here is what we learned.
Ije, thank you for the time - to kick us off, what’s your typical approach to fractional engagements?
"We embed quickly, listen deeply and help client's C-Suite make better decisions faster, especially during crisis, conflict or major change."
What type of clients are you the best fit for?
"Founders and Senior Executives of 8- to 10-figure organizations scaling toward 2–3x growth in the next few years. You’ve either added new leaders, taken on bigger bets, or hit a wall. The game is too big to play in silos now. You need your leaders moving as one unit."
What type of clients are the best fit for you?
"Visionaries who still believe in the mission, even when things get messy. You’re scaling with purpose, but the struggle is real. You’re done with bandaids and small gains. You want big transformational wins. That’s where we thrive."
When it comes to Ops, what are your specialties?
"Unclear roles, misaligned priorities, and stalled progress that impact results and morale. We help clients reset how the team operates so they can move at the speed growth demands, without burning out your people or compromising quality. We do this by building their data capacity, clarifying roles, and strengthening the systems and relationships that keep their leadership team aligned when it matters most."
What else should your clients know about you?
"We’ve helped a media giant protect $120M during a cybersecurity crisis, guided a coalition of 150+ organizations through leadership realignment, and turned operational confusion into clarity in under 60 days. We lead with human connection—but deliver like a mission-critical operator."
Why Ije Stands Out to the Digital Reference team:
- Brings a transformational leadership lens to COO engagements
- Specializes in team development, operational excellence, and strategic alignment
- Helps organizations create accountability structures that actually stick
Ije is particularly effective with purpose-driven teams navigating cultural change, burnout, or post-pandemic realignment.
Rachel Nazhand
A cross-sector operations leader and social entrepreneur, Rachel Nazhand brings a bold, inclusive approach to fractional COO work. Her career spans public health, policy, and nonprofit operations—with a strong lens on equity and team empowerment.
Why She Stands Out:
- Focused on organizational design, inclusive leadership, and operational strategy
- Trusted advisor to social impact orgs and civic tech startups
- Brings a systems-thinking approach infused with empathy and justice
Rachel is ideal for mission-driven teams that need an operational leader who understands both the “why” and the “how” of organizational growth.
Brian Becker
https://www.beckergrowthstrategy.com/
As founder of Becker Growth Strategy, Brian Becker provides fractional COO services for startups and growth-stage companies across the DMV area. His specialty is helping founder-led companies transition from early scrappy execution to structured, scalable operations.
Why He Stands Out:
- Deep experience in growth strategy, go-to-market planning, and operational execution
- Works with tech firms, service businesses, and impact ventures
- Combines the rigor of an MBA with the agility of a startup veteran
Brian is known for his ability to quickly diagnose operational roadblocks and design efficient, actionable plans that drive results.
Jeff Samford
https://www.ascendbusinesscoach.com/services-3/
At Ascend Business Coaching, Jeff Samford brings fractional COO services and business advisory to companies across Northern Virginia and the broader DMV region. His experience spans small business ownership, executive coaching, and operational execution.
Why He Stands Out:
- Offers fractional COO + coaching hybrid engagements
- Focused on process improvement, KPI tracking, and leadership accountability
- Works with both growth-stage companies and family-run businesses
Jeff’s sweet spot is helping businesses move from owner-reliant to systems-reliant, enabling sustainable growth.
Why DC & the DMV Region Need Fractional COOs
The DMV region is unique—home to a confluence of policy, tech, mission-driven entrepreneurship, and federal contracting. This ecosystem thrives on complexity—and that’s where fractional COOs shine.
Why fractional is a fit for DC:
- Many orgs are grant-funded, donor-funded, or contract-dependent, requiring flexible leadership
- Startups and nonprofits often need senior leadership without a full-time commitment
- Founders want to focus on vision, advocacy, and fundraising
- Growing orgs must navigate regulations, remote teams, and high accountability environments
Fractional COOs provide structure, direction, and results—without the rigidity of traditional models.
What Makes a Great Fractional COO?
Across every city we’ve studied, the best fractional COOs share these traits:
- Adaptability: They move between strategy and operations with ease
- Empathy: They build trust quickly, especially with cross-functional teams
- Clarity: They simplify the complex and design systems people actually use
- Execution: They don’t just advise—they build, implement, and improve
Great fractional COOs leave behind repeatable systems, elevated leaders, and measurable outcomes.
The Digital Reference Lens
At Digital Reference, we know that fractional professionals need more than a good LinkedIn bio. They need:
- Proof of work—structured, verifiable references from real clients
- A place to collect video testimonials and outcome-based stories
- Tools to showcase portable, authentic professional credibility
We believe the future of work is modular, mission-aligned, and built on reputation—not resumes. That’s why we build tools to support professionals like the ones featured here.
Want More Ops or Fractional 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
The DC area continues to grow in its complexity, connectivity, and pace. That’s why interim and fractional leaders are more vital than ever—especially operators who can support mission-driven teams, government-adjacent businesses, and fast-scaling startups.
These fractional COOs in the DMV region bring the best of what modern leadership looks like:
- Impact without ego
- Execution with empathy
- Structure without bureaucracy
Whether you're hiring your first ops lead or looking to professionalize a fast-growing team, this list is your launchpad.
Check Out Our Local Directories of Fractional & Part-Time 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.
New York City, NY - Part-Time COOs & Fractional COO Services
NYC’s pace demands results. These operators know how to navigate fast-moving startups and scaling giants alike.
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.
Explore their services. Reach out. And when you're ready to build with credibility, transparency, and trust—start with Digital Reference.
– The Digital Reference Team
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