Operations leadership
P&L oversight, workforce and capacity planning, policies and procedures, and running multiple locations as one business.
Fractional COO & CIO
Executive-level operations and technology leadership, without the full-time executive cost.
I help small and mid-size businesses perform better by re-engineering their technology and operations. For 20+ years I was COO/CIO of a multi-site, 200-person company, where I streamlined operations, grew revenue, lowered costs and positioned the firm for acquisition by a national company, all running on an ERP platform I designed.
- 40years in technology
- 20+years as COO / CIO
- Multi-Siteoffice operations
- 200staff led
Built for owners who've outgrown doing it all themselves
Your business is too big to run operations and IT from your back pocket, but not ready for a full-time COO or CIO. A fractional executive gives you that senior leadership a few days a month: someone who can set the plan, manage vendors, fix the processes, and roll up their sleeves on the systems.
Services
What I take off your plate
IT strategy & roadmap
A technology plan tied to your business goals, with a realistic budget and a clear path to adopting AI where it pays off.
Systems modernization
ERP, CRM, payroll and commission systems, plus modernizing PowerBuilder and SQL Server applications you depend on.
Vendor & technology management
Choosing the right vendors, negotiating contracts, and managing switches like telecom, cloud and software platforms.
Process improvement & automation
Redesigned workflows, integrations between your tools (CRM, payments, APIs) and AI-driven service automation.
Acquisitions & growth
Merging systems and operations after a deal, migrating data without disruption, and bringing new locations on board.
Security & continuity
Cloud infrastructure on AWS, backup and disaster recovery, and practical cybersecurity risk management.
Startup advisory
Guidance for FinTech and early-stage founders, from first product through investor readiness and pitch preparation.
How it works
Flexible ways to work together
Fractional retainer
A set number of days or hours each month as your ongoing COO/CIO: in your leadership meetings, owning the roadmap, and accountable for results.
Project
A fixed scope with a clear outcome, such as a system rollout, a modernization, a vendor transition or an acquisition integration.
Assessment
A 2–4 week review of your operations and technology that ends with a written, prioritized roadmap. A great place to start.
- 1
Discovery call
A free conversation about where you are and where you want to be.
- 2
Assessment
I learn how your business and systems actually work today.
- 3
Roadmap
A clear, prioritized plan with costs and timelines.
- 4
Hands-on leadership
I lead the work and deliver it, as your fractional executive.
About
Louis Arena, Founder
I've spent four decades at the place where operations and technology meet. I started as a systems officer and developer at Citibank, led royalty system rollouts at EMI Music and Sony Music Entertainment, and ran operations at Children's Television Workshop.
For twenty years I was COO and CIO of a multi-site, 200-person tax preparation firm. I designed and built its entire ERP platform (POS, CRM, HR, payroll, commissions and reporting) as its sole developer and database administrator, while running day-to-day operations. When the firm was acquired by a national tax services company, I led the technology and operations integration.
That combination is rare: an executive who understands the P&L, and a hands-on technologist with 30+ years of PowerBuilder and SQL Server experience. I founded Arena Business Solutions to bring both to growing businesses.
- B.S. Computer Science, St. John's University
- Startup Venture Mentorship & Investment Certification, Launchpad Greenville
- Based in Greer, South Carolina
Results
Experience you can point to
An ERP built and run end to end
Designed and launched a SaaS ERP unifying POS, CRM, HR, payroll, marketing, commissions and reporting for a multi-site firm, with integrations to payments, HubSpot and custom mobile and web apps.
A seamless acquisition
Integrated an acquired firm's technology and operations into a national company with no disruption during tax season. The acquired NYC office became the company's top revenue-generating location.
Enterprise system rollouts
Managed the rollout of a $60M music royalty system and a $10M global infrastructure program for major record labels.
Systems for real estate portfolios
Built general ledger and project management systems to run a $60M portfolio of homes and $20M in rehabilitation projects.
Let's talk about your business
Book a free discovery call. We'll talk about where operations and technology are holding you back, and whether a fractional COO/CIO is the right fit.