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Fractional CTO/CIO Services for Growing Businesses

Technology Leadership, Without the Full-Time Cost

Every growing business eventually faces technology decisions that carry real financial and strategic weight, from a system migration to a security gap, an acquisition, or a question about where AI actually fits. Most companies at this stage can't justify a full-time Chief Technology Officer (CTO) or Chief Information Officer (CIO). But they still need someone with that level of judgment in the room.

That's the gap Forward OnQ fills: senior technology leadership engaged on your terms, whether part-time, project-based, or on an as-needed advisory basis, so technology decisions get made with real experience behind them, not guesswork.

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What Is a Fractional CTO/CIO?

Growing businesses often reach a point where technology decisions get too big for a founder or office manager to handle alone, but not big enough (yet) to justify a full-time executive salary and benefits.

That's where a fractional CTO/CIO comes in: senior technology leadership, engaged part-time or on a project basis, to set direction, reduce risk, and keep your technology working for your business instead of against it.

Most small and growing businesses don't need to know whether they're looking for a CTO or a CIO. They just know something needs attention. I bring both perspectives, so you don't have to figure out which title fits before getting help.

If Your Business Is Facing This, I Can Help

  • We're about to make a major technology investment and I'm not confident we're making the right call.

    I evaluate the options, the vendors, and the real cost before you commit budget you can't easily walk back.

  • Everyone's talking about AI, and I don't know what's real versus hype for a business like mine.

    I look at how your business actually runs day to day, find where AI can quickly take over the busywork, and build the adoption framework to make it stick.

  • Our technology costs keep climbing and I don't know why.

    I dig into vendor contracts, infrastructure spend, and budget allocation to find where money is being wasted, and where it should be spent instead.

  • We're growing fast and our systems/processes haven't kept up.

    I help you modernize without a full ground-up rebuild, using practical, sequenced improvements that match your growth stage.

  • We need custom software, but hiring a development team isn't realistic yet.

    I design and build custom applications using modern AI-driven development, the same approach I use building my own consumer apps.

  • We don't have anyone in-house who can push back on a vendor or a big technical decision.

    I sit at the table as an experienced, objective voice, someone who can ask the hard questions and translate the answers into plain business terms.

  • We're going through (or considering) an acquisition, merger, or sale.

    I've personally led the technical integration of multiple organizations pre & post-M&A, aligning systems, tools, and teams into one functioning whole.

Most businesses don't need a full-time technology executive. They need someone fractional who's already done it at scale.

How I Help

  • Technology Strategy & Roadmap

    Align technology decisions with where the business is actually headed.

  • Cost Optimization & Budgeting

    Full visibility into technology spend, and a clear plan to reduce waste.

  • AI Adoption & Modernization

    Practical guidance on automating manual work and streamlining existing processes, not just adding another tool.

  • Custom Application Development

    AI-powered development of internal and customer-facing tools and apps tailored to your business needs.

  • Vendor Evaluation & Management

    Objective assessment of vendors, contracts, and technology partners.

  • Technical Execution Oversight

    Making sure initiatives actually ship, on time and on budget.

  • M&A Technology Integration

    Due diligence, systems consolidation, and team integration for acquisitions, mergers, or sales.

  • Team & Process Guidance

    Bring structure and clarity to how technology work gets done, even without an internal tech team yet.

Who This Is For

Forward OnQ works best with small and growing businesses that need experienced technology leadership but aren't ready for, or don't want, a full-time executive hire. Based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, working with businesses locally and remotely across the country.

Backed by Real Experience

Jason Poquette

Before founding Forward OnQ, I led Platform Engineering for a healthcare technology company at national scale: 125+ engineers around the globe, $70M+ in combined budgets, and 30M+ users. I bring that same rigor and judgment to businesses at a fraction of the size, and a fraction of the cost.

Read my full background

  • 125+Engineers led
  • $70M+Combined budgets
  • 30M+Users supported

A Foundation in Financial & Operational Leadership

Beyond the technology itself, I bring deep experience in the financial side of running technology: budgeting and forecasting, cost reduction initiatives, and the financial complexities of pre- and post-M&A integration. Technology decisions are business decisions, and I bring both lenses to the table.

Let's Talk

If technology decisions are happening in your business, with or without the right expertise in the room, let's have a conversation.

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Download the Overview (PDF)