Part-time, fractional CIOs can help growing companies scale their technology and information technology services without the cost and risk of hiring a full-time CIO.
May 16, 2023, Cincinnati, OH — Growing companies often struggle to scale technology in today’s always-changing business environment. According to Paul Gelter, coordinator of Centric Consulting’s Chief Information Officer (CIO) Services team, fractional chief information officers can be the solution for many companies.
Gelter will explore the value fractional CIOs can add and how to choose the right one as part of a May 23 panel discussion, “Building Your Company’s C-Suite with Fractional Advisors.” Presented by VonLehman & Co, an accounting and advisory firm, panelists will address various types of fractional advisors. In addition to fractional CIOs, other speakers will describe fractional chief financial officers, chief marketing officers, general counsel and HR officers.
Unlike traditional C-suite executives, fractional advisors work for businesses part-time or temporarily. They can be especially helpful for smaller businesses that cannot afford to add new C-level positions.
“The most obvious benefit of fractional CIOs is cost, but they have many other benefits, too,” said Gelter, the former Chief Administrative Officer of Cincinnati’s Christ Hospital Health Network and a business leader with more than 35 years of experience.
“Fractional CIOs also deliver experience at a flexible pace, which is helpful when growing businesses need to scale up or down quickly,” he added.
However, Gelter noted that not all fractional CIOs are equal. He recommended looking for potential advisors who will work with clients as fellow team members, include IT strategy very early in the engagement, and deliver ready-to-go tools and templates.
“Teamwork is especially important,” Gelter explained. “In our CIO Services practice at Centric, we work with the IT team that is already in place. Our goal is to build them up and give them a voice. That way, they become participants in creating and achieving the company’s IT strategy.”
The panel discussion will be held May 23, 2023, from 3:30-5:00 p.m. EDT at the offices of Frost Todd Brown Attorneys in Cincinnati. Click here for more information.