Deborah Gordon

About

Operations/people-ops leader who helped an industrial fabrication company (Carlucci) scale through a major contract by standardizing operations, rolling out iPad + barcode workflows, and building workforce planning/onboarding/succession systems—doubling headcount. Uses a structured 100-day diagnostic and KPI-driven operating cadence (dashboards, AOP, goal deployment, 9-box, DISC) and mentors founders/executives by translating operational detail into strategic decision-making.

Experience

Education

Key Strengths

• Built standardized operations and HR infrastructure during rapid expansion at Carlucci
• Implemented iPad + barcode workflows for fabrication/field and drove adoption through hands-on training
• Doubled headcount via strategic workforce planning, onboarding, and succession strategies
• End-to-end HR operations ownership (recruiting, onboarding, benefits, payroll, performance) integrated into a cohesive framework
• Structured operational assessment approach using a 100-day plan, KPI/data review, stakeholder interviews, and system audits
• Aligns strategy to execution via goal deployment, annual operating plans, and KPI cascades (business → operational → individual) with incentives
• Effective at mentoring non-ops founders/executives by translating ops into strategic, data-driven insights (multi-line dashboards)

Reference Highlights

• very good at process improvement (procedural and people aspects)
• expert in performance metrics
• expert in process redesign
• strong at influencing people
• effective at managing consultants to meet goals
• drives measurable results (achieved monthly hours billed goals)
• effective strategic facilitator (SWOT process)
• strong follow-through and execution (managed implementation of action items)
• effective executive coach
• balances empathy with prioritization to drive action
• effective advisor across different audiences
• recommended for fast-growing startup operations advisory
• improved utilization from 85% to 93%
• strong impact on bottom line
• exceptional at managing many consultants and active projects
• implemented formal operational frameworks (KPIs, SWOT, 9-box, reporting)
• built organizational structure that enabled future leadership
• identified leadership potential and developed leaders
• effective mentor; helped leaders and employees grow
• reads people well and works at their level
• direct and candid; not a 'yes' person
• adaptable when leadership chooses a different direction
• thrives on transformation
• transformed company into a well-oiled machine
• helped grow company to a successful sale
• diverse experience across engineering consulting and manufacturing