Fractional COOs in Washington DC Making Things Happen in 2025

DC & DMV Area Interim Chief Operating Officers to Know

The Washington DC metro area—encompassing the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV)—has long been a hub for mission-driven organizations, high-impact startups, nonprofits, and complex institutions. What many of these organizations have in common is a need for sophisticated operations leadership—without the overhead of a full-time executive. That’s where fractional COOs come in.

These highly skilled operators step in on a part-time or interim basis to bring clarity, structure, and momentum to growing organizations. From setting up scalable systems and aligning cross-functional teams to supporting founders through high-growth transitions, fractional Chief Operating Officers (COOs) are quietly driving results behind the scenes.

At Digital Reference, we’re here to pull back the curtain on talent. We believe that great work deserves to be seen, verified, and remembered—especially for fractional leaders who build impact across industries, but often remain behind the spotlight. This guide is part of our ongoing mission to create a more transparent, human-centric, and efficient talent ecosystem.

Below is our curated list of DC-area fractional COOs who are making things happen in government-adjacent sectors, tech, nonprofit work, consulting, and more.

Our Methodology

To curate this list, we considered:

• Location: Each executive is based in or actively serving organizations within the DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region
• Role: Each professional offers fractional, part-time, or interim COO services
• Visibility: Evaluated based on public profiles, portfolios, or firm affiliations
• Alignment: Chosen for their alignment with Digital Reference’s values—transparency, reputation-based credibility, and practical impact

All of these leaders operate independently or through boutique consultancies. They are hired for their ability to bring structure to complexity and growth to mission.

Meet the Fractional COOs in the DMV Region

Lindsey Englerth

The Digital Reference team was able to catch up with Lindsey face-to-face for a brief interview. We learned that her approach is rooted in systems thinking, people operations, and strategic prioritization. She emphasizes the importance of being a “second brain” for founders—translating vision into operations and freeing them to lead externally. Lindsey also shared how the DC ecosystem benefits from fractional leaders, especially in mission-driven or highly dynamic organizations that aren’t quite ready for full-time executive hires but urgently need structure and operational clarity.

Lindsey Englerth is a seasoned operations leader who has worked with National Geographic, PBS, and purpose-driven startups. Her fractional COO work is rooted in strategy execution, people operations, and program scaling. Lindsey "helps her clients get where they want to go". Her primary focus is on clients in the $2M-$10M range and between 5 and 25 employees.

‍Why She Stands Out:

• Background in strategic planning, impact measurement, and stakeholder management
• Combines process design with talent development and team coaching
• Comfortable working across sectors—including education, health, and community development

A Few Notable Quotes from Lindsey Englerth for more insight into her approach:

1. On the value of fractional leadership:
   
   “What a founder really needs is someone who can see around corners with them—and then operationalize what’s coming. That’s where I come in.”
   
   
2. On her relationship with founders:
   
   “I always say, I’m your second brain. My job is to help you keep your eyes on the horizon while I help manage the moving pieces behind the scenes.”
   
   
3. On the DC startup ecosystem:
   
   “DC has this really interesting mix of mission and momentum. Founders here aren’t just building to scale—they’re building with purpose. And they need partners who can match that energy.”
   
   
4. On when to bring in a fractional COO:
   
   “If you’re waking up thinking, ‘I don’t know how we’re going to get through next quarter,’ but you’re not ready for a full-time COO—you’re exactly the kind of team I work with.”

Lindsey is the partner you want when you're growing fast but need to ensure alignment, sustainability, and team resilience.

Rachel Nazhand

A cross-sector operations leader and social entrepreneur, Rachel Nazhand brings a bold, inclusive approach to fractional COO work. Her career spans public health, policy, and nonprofit operations—with a strong lens on equity and team empowerment.

Why She Stands Out:

• Focused on organizational design, inclusive leadership, and operational strategy
• Trusted advisor to social impact orgs and civic tech startups
• Brings a systems-thinking approach infused with empathy and justice

Rachel is ideal for mission-driven teams that need an operational leader who understands both the “why” and the “how” of organizational growth.

Ije Jemie Nwabueze

As founder of Dreamcatchers Performance LLC, Ije Jemie Nwabueze offers fractional COO and performance coaching services tailored to organizations that are building with both impact and intention. Her background includes leadership development, process improvement, and nonprofit strategy.

Why She Stands Out:

• Brings a transformational leadership lens to COO engagements
• Specializes in team development, operational excellence, and strategic alignment
• Helps organizations create accountability structures that actually stick

Ije is particularly effective with purpose-driven teams navigating cultural change, burnout, or post-pandemic realignment.

Brian Becker

https://www.beckergrowthstrategy.com/

As founder of Becker Growth Strategy, Brian Becker provides fractional COO services for startups and growth-stage companies across the DMV area. His specialty is helping founder-led companies transition from early scrappy execution to structured, scalable operations.

Why He Stands Out:

• Deep experience in growth strategy, go-to-market planning, and operational execution
• Works with tech firms, service businesses, and impact ventures
• Combines the rigor of an MBA with the agility of a startup veteran

Brian is known for his ability to quickly diagnose operational roadblocks and design efficient, actionable plans that drive results.

Jeff Samford

https://www.ascendbusinesscoach.com/services-3/

At Ascend Business Coaching, Jeff Samford brings fractional COO services and business advisory to companies across Northern Virginia and the broader DMV region. His experience spans small business ownership, executive coaching, and operational execution.

Why He Stands Out:

• Offers fractional COO + coaching hybrid engagements
• Focused on process improvement, KPI tracking, and leadership accountability
• Works with both growth-stage companies and family-run businesses

Jeff’s sweet spot is helping businesses move from owner-reliant to systems-reliant, enabling sustainable growth.

Yogesh Khanna

https://www.linkedin.com/in/yogesh-khanna-6034764/

With decades of experience in IT strategy, federal contracting, and organizational transformation, Yogesh Khanna provides fractional COO services with a technology-forward approach. Based in Northern Virginia, he brings extensive knowledge of the government and defense sectors.

Why He Stands Out:

• Expertise in enterprise IT operations, digital transformation, and strategic planning
• Deep familiarity with GovTech, contracting compliance, and C-level execution
• Operates at the intersection of tech, policy, and process management

Yogesh is a top choice for organizations working in regulated environments that need structure, scale, and strategic direction.

Why DC & the DMV Region Need Fractional COOs

The DMV region is unique—home to a confluence of policy, tech, mission-driven entrepreneurship, and federal contracting. This ecosystem thrives on complexity—and that’s where fractional COOs shine.

Why fractional is a fit for DC:

• Many orgs are grant-funded, donor-funded, or contract-dependent, requiring flexible leadership
• Startups and nonprofits often need senior leadership without a full-time commitment
• Founders want to focus on vision, advocacy, and fundraising
• Growing orgs must navigate regulations, remote teams, and high accountability environments

Fractional COOs provide structure, direction, and results—without the rigidity of traditional models.

What Makes a Great Fractional COO?

Across every city we’ve studied, the best fractional COOs share these traits:

• Adaptability: They move between strategy and operations with ease
• Empathy: They build trust quickly, especially with cross-functional teams
• Clarity: They simplify the complex and design systems people actually use
• Execution: They don’t just advise—they build, implement, and improve

Great fractional COOs leave behind repeatable systems, elevated leaders, and measurable outcomes.

The Digital Reference Lens

At Digital Reference, we know that fractional professionals need more than a good LinkedIn bio. They need:

• Proof of work—structured, verifiable references from real clients
• A place to collect video testimonials and outcome-based stories
• Tools to showcase portable, authentic professional credibility

We believe the future of work is modular, mission-aligned, and built on reputation—not resumes. That’s why we build tools to support professionals like the ones featured here.

Want More Ops or Fractional Content?

If this list got your gears turning, we recommend exploring these pieces next:

• Operations Consultants & What They Actually Do?
• Fractional COOs by Region and Country
• Fractional COO or Outsourced COO - Choosing the Right Fit for Your Business

Final Thoughts

The DC area continues to grow in its complexity, connectivity, and pace. That’s why interim and fractional leaders are more vital than ever—especially operators who can support mission-driven teams, government-adjacent businesses, and fast-scaling startups.

These fractional COOs in the DMV region bring the best of what modern leadership looks like:

• Impact without ego
• Execution with empathy
• Structure without bureaucracy

Whether you're hiring your first ops lead or looking to professionalize a fast-growing team, this list is your launchpad.

Explore their services. Reach out. And when you're ready to build with credibility, transparency, and trust—start with Digital Reference.

– The Digital Reference Team

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