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 H&R Block, 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 leading operations and technology in banking, media, entertainment, real estate and financial services. I began my career at Citibank, went on to lead enterprise system rollouts at EMI Music and Sony Music Entertainment, and ran operations at Children's Television Workshop.
In real estate, I was COO of Principal Residential Services in Queens, NY, where I also served as CIO and interim CFO. I managed a $60M book of business in single-family homes, running it on a general ledger system with integrated project tracking that I designed, so every property's costs and progress were visible in one place. Before that, as CIO of Ascend Residential Properties, I did the same for $20M in home rehabilitation projects.
For more than twenty years I was COO and CIO of R&G Brenner Income Tax, a multi-site, 200-person tax preparation firm, overseeing IT, HR, finance, accounting and facilities. I designed the ERP platform that ran the business, covering point of sale, CRM, HR, payroll, commissions and reporting. When H&R Block acquired R&G Brenner, I led the technology and operations integration, and the acquired New York City office became H&R Block's top revenue-generating location.
What sets me apart is that I understand both the P&L and the systems behind it. I don't just hand over a strategy. I make sure the technology and the processes actually deliver it. I started Arena Business Solutions in 2001 to bring that leadership 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 R&G Brenner Income Tax, with integrations to payments, HubSpot and custom mobile and web apps.
A seamless acquisition
Integrated R&G Brenner's technology and operations into H&R Block with no disruption during tax season. The acquired NYC office became H&R Block'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 single-family homes and $20M in home 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.