Why Build a Business?

No one starts a business just to manage payroll, put out fires, or spend Sunday night catching up on emails.

You start with something bigger in mind—freedom, purpose, possibility.
To build something that reflects who you are. To have control over your time. To create the life you couldn’t find inside someone else’s org chart.

But somewhere along the way, the mission gets buried under meetings. The freedom gets buried under 60-hour weeks. And the business starts to feel less like a vehicle—and more like a trap.

That’s why we do what we do.
Because a business should be a tool to live better—not a reason you miss dinner with your family.

“I didn’t start my business to become its most overworked employee. I started it to build a better life—and somewhere along the way, I forgot that.”
— Co-Founder, Exec Ops Pro

You’re Not Alone

Founders and owners often work more hours and experience higher personal stress than their employees—especially in the first 10 years.
Source: Harvard Business Review – What Makes Entrepreneurs Burn Out
70% of small business owners say they feel “trapped” by their operations, unable to plan for the future due to daily demands.
Source: Xero – Small Business Insights Special Reports
80% of business owners will never sell their business—because it’s too dependent on them.
Source: Exit Planning Institute – State of Owner Readiness

The mission was never just to build a business.
It was to build a life with more freedom, impact, and clarity.

We haven’t forgotten that. And we’re here to help you remember it too.

Our Story

We’ve built businesses with barely enough budget to buy coffee—and we’ve managed billion-dollar initiatives with layers of teams, tools, and timelines. From coast to coast, we’ve helped founders go from “stuck in the grind” to scaling with purpose.

We’re Builders by Nature

We’ve built systems that work, processes that stick, and strategies that don’t just sit in decks—they drive real outcomes. Whether it’s automating a pipeline, fighting bloated spreadsheets, managing a national campaign, or leading an ops overhaul, we’ve been in the trenches.

We’ve led multimillion-dollar operations, launched scrappy startups, and guided growing businesses through their most pivotal moments.

Between us, we’ve:

Launched direct-to-consumer brands that scaled from kitchen tables to national shelves.
Turned chaotic sales teams into structured, repeatable revenue engines.
Built internal systems that replaced 27-tab spreadsheets with one-click clarity.
Run global marketing campaigns across multiple time zones and languages.
Led digital transformations for companies that didn’t know where to start.
Advised venture-backed startups on how to scale without breaking their culture.
Helped legacy businesses modernize operations without losing what made them special.

But no matter the size of the budget or the boldness of the vision, we’ve learned one thing:

Your business should support your life—not consume it.

We’re practical. We’re strategic. And we’re honest. We don’t promise easy. We promise real.

We created Exec Ops Pro for the doers. The founders. The owners who are great at what they do—but know they need help running the show behind the scenes. We bring real-world experience, practical systems, and executive-level thinking to make your business smoother, smarter, and ready for what’s next.

Because we’ve been where you are—and we know what it takes to move forward without burning out.

Strategy meets execution. Growth meets calm.

And yes, we’re bringing the pickle.

Our Vision

To redefine what businesses expect from operations and leadership—by making high-level strategy, smart systems, and sustainable growth accessible to every business.

We envision a world where founders aren’t stuck in the day-to-day, but free to lead, grow, and enjoy the business they built.

To get business owners out of the weeds and back to doing what they love.

From Chaos to Clarity. One Pickle at a Time.

Our Leadership Team

Christopher Harris

Highly experienced Chief Operating Officer with 20+ years in managing and optimizing corporate operations. Expertise in strategic planning, corporate growth scaling, strategy, and process improvement. Proven ability to increase operational efficiency, financial performance, and stakeholder satisfaction. Adept at driving a company’s transformation, organizational development, and cross-functional leadership in challenging environments. Skilled in developing strategies that align with corporate governance and deliver operational excellence. Strong communication skills with the ability to foster relationships with senior management, clients, and stakeholders.

Leo Banjo

Leo has driven business success dozens of industries across the US and in 6 countries internationally. Seasoned professional adept at managing multiple projects, leading metrics focused team development, and streamlining operations for marked productivity gains. Skilled in C-Suite/board level communication and crafting high-impact proposals and presentations. Change management expertise through human capital management to align groups to realize goals and resolve conflict.

Whether guiding startups or restructuring legacy operations, Leo delivers practical, people-first solutions that move organizations forward.

Derek Ridge

With deep experience across B2B sales, digital marketing, eCommerce, and enterprise growth strategy, Derek specializes in uncovering where the money’s being left on the table—and building systems to capture it. His approach is hands-on, data-driven, and always aligned with your business goals. Whether it’s refining your sales pipeline, sharpening your value proposition, or building a GTM strategy that actually converts, he focus on the moves that move the needle.

If you’re ready to grow smarter, close bigger, and scale faster, you’re in the right place.

Manuel Zarate

A founder of multiple companies—both for-profit and non-profit—Manuel brings over 30 years of experience in systems integration, workflow analysis, software development, strategic planning, and business development. A recognized entrepreneur and creative visionary, he has served as a senior executive on major infrastructure and technology projects across the U.S.

With a deep understanding of both public and private sectors, Manuel has led companies in more than 100 program management and design-build contracts nationwide.
Manuel is known for seeing the big picture—and building the systems to get there.

Address:

Living life in North Carolina!

Phone:

(844) 393-2677