AI won't fix your business.

Understanding your business will…
and I've spent 28 years learning both.

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The gap

You were told AI would change everything. So far it's just changed your budget.

You bought the tools. Sent the team to the webinars. Maybe even hired a consultant. And you still can't answer the only question that matters: did any of it make us money? Is our marketing generating more leads?

You're not alone. MIT found 95% of corporate AI projects return nothing. Not because the tech is broken, but because it gets aimed at the wrong problem by people who don't understand the business underneath it. Meanwhile the clock runs, competitors inch ahead, and "AI" quietly becomes a line item you'd rather not explain.

Solution

That's the gap I close.

I'm not a technologist selling software. I'm an operator who's built and run twelve companies across every department there is, and went deep on AI the day it arrived. I start with your business, find the one or two places AI actually moves profit, and prove the return. No science projects. No hype. You stop guessing at AI and start getting paid by it.

Proof

Real engagements.
Real numbers.

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12–20150–200

Weekly sales leads per office

HiLine Homes · Three-year engagement

$3M$11M

Annual revenue

Stanbrooke Custom Homes · Under three years

45

Days to resolve a full contractor shortage

Stanbrooke Custom Homes · Creative recruiting campaign

Benefits

Three things no agency, advisor, or full-time hire can match.

You start in the right place, not the expensive place.

Most AI money gets burned on the wrong problem. I read your whole business first, then point AI at the one or two spots where it actually moves profit. No science projects.

You get an operator, not an advisor who disappears.

I've run twelve companies. I don't hand you a slide deck and leave. I sit on your side of the table, put the tools to work, and stay until they're earning their keep.

You get judgment across the whole business, not just one corner.

Finance, operations, marketing, sales, HR, manufacturing. I've owned every square on the board. That's why I can tell what AI should touch, what it shouldn't, and prove the return either way.

Senior leadership, not another vendor. One person who owns the outcome.

Services

Three ways to engage.

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Fractional AI Advisor

AI leadership for owners who are done experimenting. I bring senior business judgment to the one question most consultants can't answer: where AI actually belongs in your business. Working across every function, finance, operations, marketing, sales, HR, I find the highest-payoff place to start, put AI to work, and prove the return. Not a technologist. An operator who's run twelve companies and knows what moves profit.

  • Business-wide AI opportunity mapping
  • Practical implementation, not slide decks
  • Measurable return, not hype
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Fractional Marketing Director

An experienced marketing leader who sets strategy and also oversees execution, systems, and day-to-day marketing operations, on a fractional basis. You get senior leadership closer to the operational work, without the cost, delay, or risk of a full-time hire.

  • Executive leadership without full-time cost
  • Team and vendor direction
  • Performance tracking and optimization
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Fractional CMO

Board-level marketing leadership: strategy, direction, and accountability at the executive table. A Fractional CMO works at the highest strategic level, involved in leadership discussions and long-term brand and growth strategy, without the cost of a full-time hire.

  • Executive leadership without full-time cost
  • Team and vendor direction
  • Performance tracking and optimization
Explore How We Help
What clients say

What clients say when the work is done.

Jerry Suhrstedt
About

28 years of running businesses. Not advising about them.

28 years of experience as an entrepreneur, marketing leader, and business consultant, helping established businesses develop and execute high-impact marketing strategies without the commitment of a full-time hire.

About Jerry →
What's Included

One engagement. The whole marketing function.

Fractional CMO Leadership
Funnel And Conversion Review
Marketing Strategy And Roadmap
CRM And Marketing System Optimization
Brand And Messaging Alignment
AI And Automation Opportunity Mapping
Agency And Vendor Oversight
Weekly Or Biweekly Leadership Cadence
KPI Definition And Reporting
FAQs

Common questions.

How is this different from hiring a full-time Director of Marketing or CMO?
A full-time CMO costs $150,000–$300,000 per year before benefits and overhead, plus 6–9 months before they're fully productive. With SumoLab, you get the same senior-level leadership at a fraction of the cost, with no long-term payroll commitment. I'm productive from week one. If your needs grow, we scale the engagement. If priorities shift, there's no severance conversation.
Who is this for?
Established businesses generating $5M–$50M in revenue that have outgrown tactical marketing but aren't ready — or don't need — a full-time marketing executive. You likely have a marketing coordinator or an agency vendor, but no one owning the strategy. That's the gap I close.
Is this the same as hiring an agency?
No. Agencies execute deliverables — content, ads, websites. I own the strategy that tells the agency what to build and holds them accountable for results. Most agency relationships fail because no one connects their output to your business goals. I am that connection.
Will you do the work or just advise?
Both, in proportion to what's needed. I lead the strategy, make the decisions, and own the outcomes. I also step in on systems, CRM, and content when execution is the constraint. The goal is progress, not slide decks.
How quickly will I see results?
Most clients get strategic clarity within the first 30 days — clear positioning, aligned messaging, and a prioritized roadmap. Revenue impact from lead generation and campaigns typically shows up in 60–90 days, depending on your sales cycle. The first conversation is free, and I'll tell you honestly if this is the right fit.

Ready to stop spending on activity and start investing in results?

Book a Strategy Call →