Confoe

General management of SaaS/Services/Smartsheet/Consulting firm.  Manage P&L and strategic business planning. Oversee product development and partner programs.

President & COO |  Consultant | GM |  Sales | PMO | Semiconductor

Established Confoe's consulting practice.  Developed/continuously evolved the product portfolio.  Ran Confoe Sales, Operations, and Service. Established software partner/re-seller/system integrator relationships with key technology partners: Software AG, Progress Software, Savvion, ServiceMax, Smartsheet

GM | COO | Consultant | Field Service/Supply Chain/Operations | Fortune 50 to SMB

Directly led client programs as (contract) VP of PMO/Project Director/Project Manager.
Clients include:  Dell, Intel, AMAT, Whole Foods Market, McKesson, Tokyo Electron America, KLA-Tencor, ASM, Novellus, Lam Research, Spansion

COO |  CIO | Software/Construction/Supply Chain | Fortune 50 to SMB

Smarter Operations

Host of the Smarter Operations blog and YouTube channel.
Sharing my passion for Smartsheet and the business results it brings. 

Business savvy, independent best practices delivered via webinars, live streams, video posts, templates, and training.

Smartsheet Evangelist | Smartsheet Solutions Consultant

Forbes Business Development Council

Forbes Business Development Council is an invitation-only community for senior-level sales and
business development executives.

I've appeared 80+ times as a contributor to Forbes Expert Panels

Forbes Contributor-Forbes Expert Panel: Business Development | Sales | COO | Consultant

Sevan Multi-Site Solutions

Confoe contract to develop an open-source document-sharing solution to support multi-site construction projects.  Technologies included: Windows Server, VMWare, Alfresco, Apache Tomcat, FTP. PMIS Components: Smartsheet, MS Project, MS Office 365; SharePoint, TeamViewer

Director Of Information Technology | IT PMO |

Progress

I became a channel partner with Progress Software after they acquired Savvion to create their new Responsive Process Management (RPM) Solution. I joined the Progress Sales team to sell RPM to Confoe clients, selling and winning a $5M+ software and services deal (beating incumbent Oracle).  

I then led an agile team to develop and deploy the RPM Solution (on premise ERP). This RPM suite combined Savvion Business Process Management, Apama Business Event Processing, Actional Business Transaction Management, Sonic Responsive Business Integration to provide transaction assurance to a global service business.

My responsibilities included:
• Program Management Services and Consulting
• Program governance and coordination across end client global organization and software provider global organization.
• Change management services
• Business Analyst Services
• Training development and delivery
• Project management of the 10-person development team
• Coordination with client IT department and business
• Agile Model-Simulate-Integrate development approach using 60-day build cycles

Project Results:  Program execution highly benchmarked.  It met time and budget in record setting time for the client.  Contract ended with Progress divestment of RPM.

VP of PMO/VP of Channel Sales | ERP Sales | ERP Implementation

Alamo SolarPV

I became the Fractional Chief Operating Officer of two early-stage clean energy start-up companies (Texas and Arizona) combining solar PV module assembly factories with utility scale solar power plants. 

I led Program Management Office (PMO) and operations to develop the start-up business structure, processes, and documentation including:
-Business plan, investor documents (pitch deck, Private Placement Memo, etc.)
-Talent acquisition, staffing, and HR management plan
-Built initial supply chain/negotiated with suppliers
-Channel partner development including customization of a Project Management and Savvion BPM software-based collaboration system for partners
-Created application submissions for Federal incentives through IRS 48C Program and E1B visa program
-Negotiated with local governments in Arizona and Texas for site selection and incentives

Technology leveraged: Savvion BPM, Primavera P6, MS Project, MS Office

After analyzing the competitive pressures from Chinese C-Si panel producers we closed the companies.  

I was cited in several clean energy industry publications including the Energy Economist, Sun & Wind Energy, and Renewable Energy World.

COO/VP of PMO | Clean Energy Start Up | Manufacturing |

Savvion

Partnered with SAAS start-up as Confoe VP of Channel Sales.  Savvion then acquired by Progress Software

VP of PMO | VP of Channel Sales | SAAS BPMS Start-Up

Intel Corporation

Confoe  Contract to support Intel to support tool re-use to China fab
•	Established PMO to Provide Program Manager, Scheduler, and Coordinator services 
•	Established a SAAS based enterprise-wide project management system
•	Coordinated the work of 26 suppliers with multiple internal departments across 300+ projects
•	Coordination and facilitation of supplier planning meetings
 PMIS Components: Primavera, MS Project, SharePoint, MS Office

Project Director | Fortune 50 Tech Company | Tool Re-Use/Supplier Management

HelioVolt PMO

Supported the Ramp of HelioVolt's first  Production Fab as Confoe VP of PMO
•	Established a Virtual Enterprise Program Management Office 
•	Provided Program Manager, Scheduler, and Engineering services
•	Coordinated the work of 15 suppliers with multiple internal departments across 45 capital projects
•	Provided engineering design and trades management services
•	Daily updates on information gathering, design and construction activity progress
•	Weekly Milestone Progress and Risk Reports

VP of PMO | Funded Solar Start-Up

Established Confoe's consulting practice. Developed/continuously evolved the product portfolio. Ran Confoe Sales, Operations, and Service.
Established software partner/re-seller/system integrator relationships with key technology partners: Software AG, Progress Software, Savvion, ServiceMax, Smartsheet
Profiled in Manager's Crossing for the Semiconductor industry.

VP of Sales/Product Development

With over 25 years of experience as a Senior Service, Sales, and Operations Executive and Technology Consultant, I have consistently delivered exceptional results for leading companies across industries worldwide.

Consulting Highlights:
As a trusted Technology Consultant, I specialize in solving complex business problems with simple, effective solutions. My consulting engagements have generated significant ROI and value creation for clients, including:

$250M+ in economic value delivered across 50+ engagements across industries. Clients include Intel, AMD, Applied Materials, Tokyo Electron, Lam Research, Nikon, KLA-Tencor, Dell, McKesson, National Instruments, Brooks, and Whole Foods.

I leverage tools like Smartsheet (a favorite for 10+ years) and my broad expertise to streamline operations, drive efficiency, and enable transformational success.

Executive Highlights:
Throughout my career, I have driven substantial growth and profitability:

Global Field Operations: Led a $1.6B service business with 3,000+ engineers across 13 countries, achieving a $120M+ Gross Margin improvement through a global lean transformation.

General Manager: Managed a $50M training business with 160 staff in 8 facilities across 6 countries, delivering a $32M+ Gross Margin in 3 years. 

Also, I led a $40M service business with 100 engineers in 3 countries, generating $56M+ in gross margin over 3 years.

Diverse Leadership Background:
My career began with over ten years of military service, including leadership roles as Company Commander and aide-de-camp to a Commanding General. These experiences honed my strategic mindset, adaptability, and ability to excel in high-pressure environments.

Expertise and Projects:
I’ve successfully managed and delivered a wide range of projects, including:

PMO Establishment and Optimization
Custom Training Solution
Smartsheet Solutions
Lean Transformations
ERP Implementations
Field Service Optimization

I also share insights through writing and speaking engagements. I have over 120 media appearances, including CIO, Inc., Fast Company, Forbes, Renewable Energy World, NTD Television, Univision, and Energy Economist,

Feel free to reach out at mike@michaelfritsch.com or TEXT: 512-328-8001.
If I can’t help you, I know someone who can! 😎

PMBOK® Guide, 8th Edition Is Here

📘 Project Management Institute  just released the PMBOK® Guide – 8th Edition, and it’s a meaningful update for anyone leading projects or operations in today’s fast-moving world.

This edition leans into how work actually happens now — complex systems, rapid change, digital transformation, and teams spread across functions and geographies.

Highlights that stand out:
🔹 Principle-driven, system-oriented guidance (not rigid processes)
🔹 Modernized terminology aligned with real value delivery
🔹 A stronger focus on adaptability, collaboration, and co-creation
🔹 Systems thinking baked in to handle complexity and interdependencies
🔹 Flexible frameworks for traditional, agile, hybrid, and everything in between

In short: PMBOK® 8 feels built for the world we’re working in — dynamic, interconnected, and outcome-driven.

More to follow as I get a chance to dig into it.

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Michael (Mike) Fritsch

Smartsheet Solution Expert: Sales & Operations Leader/Business Advisor #savvycoo #saavypmo

I Solve Your Business Problems with Smartsheet.  I’ve ENJOYED +25 yrs. as a Senior Service, Sales, and Operations Executive and Technology CONSULTANT. I've been blessed to deliver results with some of the greatest companies and teams around the world and across industries. 

Executive roles (+15yrs/$192M Gross Margin):  Global Field Operations for a $1.6B service business with 3000+ engineers in 13 countries. Delivered $120M+ Gross Margin improvement from global lean transformation.  General Manager of a $50M training business with 160 staff in 8 facilities spanning 6 countries delivering $32M+ Gross Margin over 3 years. General Manager of a $40M service business with 100 engineers in 3 countries generating $56M+ in Gross Margin over 3 years.

Consulting Assignments (+13yrs/$250M ROI):  delivered $250M in economic value (ROI) from 50+ engagements, with 30+ clients, across 10+ industries spanning 100s of projects. 
Clients include Dell, Whole Foods Market,  Intel, Applied Materials, Tokyo Electron, McKesson, KLA-Tencor, Lam Research, Nikon, Novellus, Pivotal Systems, American Science & Engineering, EDF, HelioVolt, SoloPower, and others.

Military Service (+10yrs): active and reserve assignments including Company Commander, Commanding General aide-de-camp, BN S-4 (Logistics), and multiple Field Artillery Officer positions.

Projects delivered: Smartsheet Solutions, Lean Transformations, ERP Implementations,  Factory/Fab Ramps, Software/Vendor Selection, Field Service Optimization, Sales Enablement, Factory Workflows, Spares/Reverse Logistics, New Product Development/Introduction, Executive Dashboards/Visibility, Training/On-Boarding, Strategic Alignment, and more.
 
Writing/Speaking: 
58+ TV, Radio, and Print appearances including Fast Company, NTD TV (China in Focus), KLBJ NewsRadio, Forbes, Inc., The Economist, CIO, U.S. News & World Report, Profit, Sun & Wind Energy, The Energy Economist, Construction Dive, Human Resources Executive, Associated Press, Outsourcing Pharma, and more.

34+ conference, speaking, and webcast appearances include Interphex, Field Service International, NanoTX, Progress Revolution, The Performance Conference (International Society for Performance Improvement), and more.

Contact me:
mike@michaelfritsch.us
512-328-8001

Project Management Institute

🚀 Smartsheet + AI Systems for Sales, Operations, & Project Management Leadership | West Point Grad | Army Vet | “Old Dog, New Tricks, Big Results” | Semiconductors, Manufacturing & Field Service

Daniele Pinto

Smartsheet just made project scheduling dramatically easier.

Table view now lets you manage task dependencies directly in the sheet — including duration, date ranges, and predecessor relationships — without jumping between views or hunting for settings.

And the real magic?
Smartsheet now auto-suggests predecessors based on row placement and provides clear visual cues for advanced constraints like:
   Finish → Start (FS)
   Start → Start (SS)
   Finish → Finish (FF)
   Start → Finish (SF)

This helps you spot downstream impacts early, tighten up your schedules, and reduce the “unknown unknowns” that derail execution.
For PMOs, manufacturing projects, and service operations, this is the kind of upgrade that makes schedule management smoother and more predictable.

Follow me for more industry insight: https://buff.ly/3RIECRl

Smartsheet

Ashley Karam, PMP

I’m happy to share that I’ve obtained a new certification: Smartsheet Aligned Certified Sales Professional from Smartsheet!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.  An Austin tradition, the 35th Anniversary Turkey Trot...

Two Weeks, Two Events, One Big Shift: Smartsheet’s AI-Powered Future of Work

The last two weeks have been a whirlwind. It started at Smartsheet ENGAGE, where Day 1 unveiled one of the most significant shifts in modern work execution. It ended at the Project Management Institute Global Summit, where I grabbed a seat for "The Rise of the AI-Powered PMO" session by Tyson Brown of Smartsheet.

Together, these bookends tell a clear story: AI isn’t just a buzzword—it’s redefining how we plan, execute, and scale work.

Smartsheet is stepping fully into Intelligent Work Management, uniting people, data, and AI to eliminate silos and help organizations operate at the velocity of change.

AI That Works With You: A Unified, AI-First Platform
🔹 Smart Assist — create workspaces and automations from a simple outline
🔹 Smart Flows — natural-language, multi-step automated workflows
🔹 Smart Columns — AI that categorizes, labels, summarizes, and translates data
🔹 Smart Agents — digital coworkers that monitor progress, flag risk, and recommend improvements
All powered by the Smartsheet Knowledge Graph, delivering contextual, personalized guidance across the platform.

Building for Unified Work: Enterprise-Grade Scale Capabilities
🔹 Scenario Planning — explore “what-if” options safely without touching production
🔹 Portfolios — standardized, scalable project creation and portfolio reporting
🔹 Dynamic Dropdowns — consistent, connected data at scale
🔹 Security Score — measure and improve your security posture
🔹 Multi-Factor Authentication — stronger baseline login security for every user

These additions strengthen what enterprises need most: speed, governance, trust, and alignment between strategy and execution.

👉 Which of these innovations would make the biggest impact in your organization?

#smartsheetengage #pmiglobalsummit #AI #IntelligentWorkManagement
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🚨 Friday Funny 🚨
 “Apparently, the software has been bullying him.”
Some tools really do feel like they’re judging you. Miss one update and suddenly it’s sending passive-aggressive reminders, flashing red cells, and acting like you’re the problem. 😅

But Smartsheet’s new Intelligent Work Management approach?
That’s a whole different story — because the AI actually helps instead of harassing you.

What we learned at Smartsheet Engage this month:
✅ Smart Assist — creates workspaces and projects from a simple outline, helps you activate automations, and answers project questions in real time. (No guilt-tripping included.)
✅ Smart Agents — continually monitor progress, keep teams on task, and proactively flag and prioritize risks… without sounding like your old software overlord.
✅ Smart Flows — streamline multi-step workflows with natural-language prompts, eliminating manual work that slows teams. (Goodbye busywork!)

When your tools support you instead of bullying you, work actually feels lighter — and your software stops needing its own therapist.

Want to learn more about Intelligent Work Management? Want to see more Friday Funnies?

Follow: https://buff.ly/3RIECRl

#ProjectManagement #Smartsheet #IntelligentWorkManagement #IWM #AI #FutureOfWork #FridayFunny #SmartsheetEngage

🚨 Deploying AI? Start with people—not just tech.🚨

Whether you're using AI to support operations, sales, or service delivery, adoption only works when humans are part of the loop.
🤔 Have you rolled out AI in your team or business? What helped—or hurt—adoption?

In this Forbes Business Development Council Expert Panel, I shared the one factor that can make or break enterprise AI success:

👉 My Tip: Discover How AI Can Advance Business Strategy
 “Before deploying an AI agent, define how it advances your strategy and supports your people. AI should extend human capability, not just efficiency. Set clear guardrails, train teams to use the tool with purpose, and measure results. When AI is aligned with goals and grounded in trust, it elevates performance across the board.”
 — Michael (Mike) Fritsch, Confoe | Intelligent Work Management for Manufacturing & Field Service

📣 Great contributions from my Forbes Business Development Council colleagues, who provided great insights across the board!
✔️ Javier Fervienza ✔️ Ali Faizan Rizvi ✔️ Ashu Goel ✔️ Ruchir Nath  ✔️ Mustansir Paliwala  ✔️ Alexey Kachalov ✔️ Bryce Welker ✔️ Julie Thomas ✔️ Jani Hirvonen, NACD.DC® ✔️ Angelica Kopec ✔️ Rahul Saluja ✔️ Scotty Elliott ✔️ Doug Fuehne  ✔️ Matt Bartels

Six of my favorite insights from the article:
🧩 Train Teams To Clearly Understand AI Fundamentals
 If teams don’t trust the tool, adoption fails—start by removing friction, not replacing judgment.
 — Javier Fervienza, Accenture
🧠 Examine How AI Integration Enhances UX
 Tie AI deployment to ROI and how it complements human interaction and customer experience.
 — Karn Srivastava, Amdocs
👁️ Allow Humans To Guide The AI Decision-Making Process
 Keep a “human in the loop” to ensure quality, ethics, and context aren’t lost.
 — Doug Fuehne, Pricefx
📍 Define AI Roles, Boundaries And Handoffs
 Clarity about what AI automates and when it escalates is the key to trust.
 — Ashu Goel, WinWire
✅ Assess The AI Agent's Accuracy
 If AI is inaccurate, trust crumbles. Precision matters more than promises.
 — Ruchir Nath, Dell Technologies
🛡️ Build Psychological Safety Among Staff
 Before rollout, ensure your people feel safe using the tools—not judged by them.
 — Bryce Welker, The CPA Exam Guy

📍Read the full article on my Forbes Council profile (see first comment).

Have you rolled out AI in your team or business? What helped—or hurt—adoption? 👇 

#ForbesBusinessDevelopmentCouncil #IntelligentWorkManagement #AIAdoption #ChangeLeadership #HumanInTheLoop #DigitalTransformation #TrustBeforeTech #AIAugmentation

Getting ready for the opening keynote at Project Management Institute Global Summit 2025. Looking forward to hearing from Pierre Le Manh, President & CEO of PMI.
#pmiglobalsummit

Service profitability isn’t about working harder — it’s about seeing the right data. 📊(60-second video below and link to the Forbes Article in first comment)

In my latest Forbes Business Development Council article, I argue that internal bill rate is a far better foundation for profitability than utilization.

What do you use to measure performance — utilization, internal cost, or something else? 🤔
Tell me in the comments below 👇 

#serviceprofitability #fieldservice #operations #intelligentworkmanagement #ForbesBusinessDevelopmentCouncil

What a night at the Project Management Institute Awards Ceremony + Reception.

Big energy, great conversations, and a dance floor that refused to slow down as we wrapped up Day 2.

Huge congrats to all the PMI Award winners — incredible work and well-deserved recognition. Nights like this say a lot about this community. 

We handle the hard stuff during the day and still manage to fill a room, swap ideas, and have some fun along the way.

On to Day 3.

Follow me for more: https://buff.ly/3RIECRl

#PMIGlobalSummit #ProjectManagement #PMI #Leadership #Community #Operations #Events

Just grabbed my seat for The Rise of the AI Powered PMO session by Tyson Brown of Smartsheet .

I can't think of a better way to wrap up Friday at the Project Management Institute Global Summit!

#smartsheet #pmiglobalsummit #intelligentworkmanagement

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