A construction-fluent tech leader on retainer — keeping adoption on track, preventing expensive mistakes, and guiding the roadmap month to month.
You don't need a full-time tech person. You need someone in the room when leadership is debating whether to renew Buildertrend, whether to add a scheduling tool, or how to onboard the 12 people you just hired.
The Fractional Technology Officer engagement is a monthly retainer — you get a construction-operations-fluent technology leader for the calls that actually matter, without paying a $120K+ salary plus benefits.
What you get
Monthly strategy sessions
60–90 minute working sessions with leadership. Roadmap reviews, vendor decisions, hiring input, budget allocation.
On-call decisions
A vendor is pitching you something. A platform just announced a 40% price increase. A new tool launched. You text me, I tell you what to do.
Quarterly tech-stack reviews
Every 90 days we re-evaluate what's working and what isn't. Tools come and go. Spending creeps. We catch it before it bites.
Vendor management
Renewal negotiations, RFP response reviews, getting the price down on the next quote. Vendors negotiate harder when you have a third party in the room.
Light implementation
Small changes (a new dashboard, a tweak to an existing workflow) — included up to a few hours per month. Larger projects scope out separately under Implementation & Training.
How a retainer works
Kickoff2-day on-site (Portland metro / I-5 corridor) or extended remote workshop. Map the current stack, identify the top decisions on deck.
Monthly strategy sessionRecurring 60–90 minute working session with leadership. Pre-agenda, takeaways logged, action items tracked.
Quarterly roadmap reviewStep back from the month-to-month and re-evaluate the 12-month plan.
Continuous as-needed supportText or email for fast decisions. Light implementation included.
What the retainer covers
Strategic technology roadmap (12-month, refreshed quarterly)Vendor selection, contract review, and renewal negotiationBuild-vs-buy decisions for specific workflow problemsTechnology budget allocation and ROI trackingHiring input for tech-adjacent roles (operations lead, project controls, etc.)Post-merger or post-leadership-change tech consolidationQuarterly tech-stack reviews with leadership
Best fit
$5M–$50M revenue contractor without a dedicated technology leader
Companies that keep buying software no one asked for
Leadership teams making technology decisions in the dark
Companies post-Assessment who need ongoing strategic guidance to execute the roadmap
Not for you if
Under $3M revenue — wait until the ROI is there
Over $50M revenue — you're probably ready for a full-time technology hire (I can help recruit)
You want someone to do the implementation work themselves — that's the Implementation & Training engagement
Cadence3-month minimum (so the kickoff is worth doing), then month-to-month. Most engagements run 6–24 months before the company's ready for a full-time hire.
What it costsMonthly retainer; contact for pricing. Typically a fraction of a full-time CTO's loaded cost, designed for $5M–$50M-revenue contractors who need strategic guidance but not a full-time hire.
FAQ
How many hours per month do I get?
Scoped per company. Most fractional engagements are 8–15 hours/month of synchronous time (calls, working sessions) plus async availability for quick decisions. Light implementation work is included; larger projects scope separately.
How long am I committed for?
3-month minimum to make the kickoff worthwhile. After that, month-to-month — you can end the engagement any time.
How is this different from a fractional CIO/CTO firm?
You get me, not "a person from the firm." I know construction operations because I came from there. Most fractional CIO firms are staffed by retired enterprise IT executives — different domain, different instincts.
Can the retainer expand into a full implementation?
Yes — when a project is big enough that it needs dedicated focus, it spins out as a separately scoped Implementation & Training engagement, billed hourly, while the retainer continues.