Fixers & Founders

Forrest Derr and Tony Lilja
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  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Biweekly

Fixers & Founders is a podcast about the partnership between visionary founders and the fractional executives who help them bring structure, clarity, and scale. Each episode features candid conversations with founders and the operators who steady the ship—highlighting how ideas get fueled, how systems get fixed, and how businesses move forward when vision and execution finally meet.

  1. 5d ago

    Marketing Isn't a Gumball Machine | Building Revenue Systems

    In this episode of Fixers & Founders, Tony and Forrest are joined by Patrick Elliott, founder of Four Cross GTM, fractional CMO, and go-to-market strategist with more than two decades of experience spanning SaaS, healthcare, investing, technology, and business development. Patrick shares lessons from launching billion-dollar brands, leading revenue teams, and helping growth-minded companies align marketing, sales, customer service, and operations around a single goal: sustainable revenue growth. We pull back the curtain on why traditional lead generation thinking is breaking down, how customer service can become a revenue driver, and what founders need to understand about buyer behavior in an AI-powered world. In this conversation, we explore: Marketing Isn't a Gumball Machine: Why lead generation alone is no longer enough. The Four Cross Framework: Aligning marketing, sales, customer service, and operations around revenue. The Value Economy: How AI and modern buyer behavior are changing go-to-market strategy. Differentiated Point of View: Why businesses must clearly communicate what makes them worth choosing. If your growth feels stalled, your marketing feels disconnected from revenue, or your team is struggling to align around a common objective, this conversation is for you. Connect with Patrick Elliott: LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/pfelliott Website: https://www.fourcrossgtm.com Intro & Outro Music: “Which One Is the Jellyfish?” by Aunt Cynthia’s Cabin Used with permission under a non-exclusive license. Bandcamp: https://auntcynthiascabin.bandcamp.com Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/artist/5XoG0H2D0vY58n32W8xI2K Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/auntcynthiascabin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auntcynthiascabin

    25 min

  2. Jun 3

    Return on Invested Time | Leading With Intention

    In this episode of Fixers & Founders, Tony and Forrest are joined by Dusty Holcomb, former CEO of Red Stag Fulfillment, endurance athlete, board leader, and founder of The Arcqus Group, where he helps growth-minded executives turn clarity into traction. Dusty shares lessons from scaling businesses, completing Ironmans, and coaching leaders through the realities of growth, discipline, and self leadership. From operational execution to personal alignment, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom for founders and operators trying to scale without losing themselves in the process. We pull back the curtain on what leadership actually requires when the stakes get bigger, the discipline needed to manage time intentionally, and why saying no is often the most important growth strategy of all. In this conversation, we explore:Return on Invested Time: Why your calendar reflects your leadership priorities.Leadership Starts Within: What self leadership actually looks like in practice.Scaling Through Simplicity: Why founders need fewer priorities, not more.The Ironman Mindset: How endurance training translates directly into business discipline. If you’re trying to lead with more clarity, scale with more focus, or build a business without burning yourself out, this conversation is for you. Connect with Dusty Holcomb: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustyholcomb Website: https://www.arcqusgroup.com Intro & Outro Music: “Which One Is the Jellyfish?” by Aunt Cynthia’s CabinUsed with permission under a non-exclusive license. Bandcamp: https://auntcynthiascabin.bandcamp.com Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/artist/5XoG0H2D0vY58n32W8xI2K Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/auntcynthiascabin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auntcynthiascabin

    21 min

  3. May 20

    Revenue Is a Team Sport | Aligning Sales and Marketing

    In this episode of Fixers & Founders, Tony and Forrest are joined by Rayne Palmer, Chief Revenue Officer at Next Level Revenue and a national community leader with ENRG, the growing EOS-powered network of entrepreneurs, integrators, and operators. Rayne shares her unconventional journey from marine biology and oyster restoration into the world of marketing, sales strategy, and revenue operations — and why curiosity, systems, and community have become the foundation of her work. We pull back the curtain on why sales and marketing should never operate in silos, how founders create traction by asking for help, and what actually makes peer-driven communities valuable in a world full of transactional networking. In this conversation, we explore: The Revenue Room: Why sales and marketing need aligned language and shared systems. Help First Leadership: What makes communities like ENRG actually work. The Scientific Method of Growth: How testing, iteration, and curiosity drive better revenue decisions. Wearing Too Many Hats: Why founders grow faster when they stop trying to do everything alone. If you’re building a business, a team, or a community and trying to create sustainable growth without burning yourself out, this conversation is for you. Connect with Rayne Palmer: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rayne-n-palmer Website: https://readyforthenextlevel.com ENRG: https://enrg.life Intro & Outro Music: “Which One Is the Jellyfish?” by Aunt Cynthia’s Cabin Used with permission under a non-exclusive license. Bandcamp: https://auntcynthiascabin.bandcamp.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/66kb7d5jDmTkMSs1XcOXTQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/auntcynthiascabin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auntcynthiascabin

    24 min

  4. May 6

    The Founder Bottleneck | Why Growth Stalls Without Systems

    In this episode of Fixers & Founders, Tony and Forrest are joined by Corey Robinson, founder of Crossroads Operating Partners and a fractional COO helping early-stage companies get unstuck and scale with intention. Corey shares his journey from corporate leadership at John Deere to buying and operating multiple businesses, and the hard realization that success can quickly turn into chaos when everything still runs through the owner. We pull back the curtain on the real reason most businesses stall: not a lack of opportunity, but a lack of systems — and a founder who hasn’t stepped out of the middle. In this conversation, we explore: The Founder Bottleneck: Why growth slows when everything still depends on you. Revenue vs. Delivery: How businesses break when sales outpace operations. Systems That Scale: Why 70% done and repeatable beats perfect and delayed. Clarity Breaks: How stepping away from the business drives better decisions. If your business feels heavier than it should — or like everything still depends on you — this is a practical playbook for building the machine that actually scales. Connect with Corey Robinson: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corey-robinson Intro & Outro Music: “Which One Is the Jellyfish?” by Aunt Cynthia’s Cabin Used with permission under a non-exclusive license. Bandcamp: https://auntcynthiascabin.bandcamp.com/ Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/artist/5XoG0H2D0vY58n32W8xI2K Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/auntcynthiascabin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auntcynthiascabin

    21 min

  5. Apr 22

    The Camp Counselor | The Emotional Weight of the COO

    In this episode of Fixers & Founders, Tony and Forrest are joined by Chuck Orzechowski, CEO of the COO Forum and a self-described “recovering COO.” Chuck shares his journey from the factory floor to the executive suite, pulling back the curtain on why the number two seat is the toughest—and most misunderstood—position in business today. We dive into the reality of the COO as the “Camp Counselor” of the organization: the fixer who carries the emotional weight of the team while bridging the gap between a visionary’s speed and a company’s capacity. In this conversation, we explore: The Camp Counselor Reality: Why empathy is the most underrated skill in operations. Winning vs. Freedom: How to align with a Visionary’s psychology to get things done. The Career-Ending Pivot: A raw look at a high-stakes leadership mistake and the "Sage Advice" that followed. Leading from the Middle: Why it’s better to have a great question than a great answer. If you’ve ever felt like you’re holding it all together while trying to lead through the "snow globe" of rapid change, this masterclass in execution and empathy is for you. Connect with Chuck Orzechowski: Email: chuck@cooforum.net LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-orzechowski Website: https://cooforum.org Intro & Outro Music: “Which One Is the Jellyfish?” by Aunt Cynthia’s Cabin Used with permission under a non-exclusive license. Bandcamp: https://auntcynthiascabin.bandcamp.com Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/artist/5XoG0H2D0vY58n32W8xI2K Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/auntcynthiascabin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auntcynthiascabin

    19 min

  6. Apr 8

    How to Be Second | Leading from the Right Angle

    In this episode of Fixers & Founders, Tony and Forrest sit down with Nathan Young — fractional COO, operator, and author of How to Be Second — to explore what it really means to lead from the right-hand seat. Nathan breaks down the identity of a “Second” — not just as a role, but as a way of operating — and why the people behind the scenes are often the ones who turn vision into reality. From navigating crisis moments where 95% of revenue disappears overnight…to simplifying operations down to the fundamentals of get work, do work, get paid…to redefining process as agreement, not documentation… This conversation is a masterclass in clarity, execution, and the work behind the work. If you’re building something that’s growing fast — but needs structure to scale — this one’s for you. Connect with Nathan Young Website: https://howtobesecond.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-s-young Intro & Outro Music: “Which One Is the Jellyfish?” by Aunt Cynthia’s Cabin Used with permission under a non-exclusive license. Bandcamp: ⁠⁠⁠https://auntcynthiascabin.bandcamp.com⁠/⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/artist/66kb7d5jDmTkMSs1XcOXTQ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/auntcynthiascabin Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/auntcynthiascabin

    24 min

  7. Mar 25

    From Gut to Guidance | Building Financial Systems That Scale

    Most founders don’t lose momentum because of bad strategy —they lose it because finance can’t keep up. In this episode of Fixers & Founders, Tony and Forrest sit down with Nelson Tepfer, co-founder of ProCFO Partners, to unpack what strategic finance really means for scaling businesses. From companies waiting weeks to send invoices…to founders running multimillion-dollar operations on gut instinct…Nelson shares how financial clarity becomes a growth lever — not just a reporting function. They dive into when to upgrade systems, why titles like “fractional CFO” can be misleading, and how aligning finance with strategy changes everything. If you’re scaling and the numbers are getting noisy — this conversation will help you move with confidence. Intro & Outro Music: “Which One Is the Jellyfish?” by Aunt Cynthia’s Cabin Used with permission under a non-exclusive license. Bandcamp: ⁠⁠⁠https://auntcynthiascabin.bandcamp.com⁠/⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/artist/66kb7d5jDmTkMSs1XcOXTQ?si=H_3OTdXYStClILHdYiydmw⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/auntcynthiascabin/⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/auntcynthiascabin/

    20 min

  8. Feb 25

    Get Work. Do Work. Support Work. | The Founder’s Growth Fix

    🎧 Shane Sloan on Operational Maturity, EOS, and Founder Therapy In this episode of Fixers & Founders, U.S. Army veteran and EOS integrator Shane Sloan joins us to break down what actually causes businesses to stall—and how to fix it. From serving as a Black Hawk crew chief to building operational engines inside 30–100 person companies, Shane shares the framework he uses to diagnose chaos, restore calm, and help founders finally let go. We cover his operational maturity model, why every business must master “Get Work, Do Work, Support Work,” and how to modernize systems without over-engineering them. If your company feels stuck in firefighting mode—or your founder still manages everything—this one’s for you. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Intro to Shane Sloan 02:20 From Military to Fractional Integrator 06:37 Signs a Business Is Running on Fumes 10:04 Get Work. Do Work. Support Work. 12:15 KISS Methodology in Tech & Ops 15:00 Breaking Out of the Stall 18:48 When to Take Work Off the Founder’s Plate 20:52 Career Myth: Working Your Way Up 22:31 Military Training & Business Leadership 23:49 Outro Intro & Outro Music: “Which One Is the Jellyfish?” by Aunt Cynthia’s Cabin Used with permission under a non-exclusive license. Bandcamp: ⁠⁠https://auntcynthiascabin.bandcamp.com⁠/⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/artist/66kb7d5jDmTkMSs1XcOXTQ?si=H_3OTdXYStClILHdYiydmw⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/auntcynthiascabin/⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/auntcynthiascabin/

    25 min
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About

Fixers & Founders is a podcast about the partnership between visionary founders and the fractional executives who help them bring structure, clarity, and scale. Each episode features candid conversations with founders and the operators who steady the ship—highlighting how ideas get fueled, how systems get fixed, and how businesses move forward when vision and execution finally meet.

Information

  • Creator
    Forrest Derr and Tony Lilja
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Forrest Derr and Tony Lilja
  • Show Website
    Fixers & Founders