Fractional CIO Advisory

CIO-level leadership, tailored to your organization

Helping organizations align technology, security, and strategy with clarity, trust, and progress. I provide executive IT leadership on a flexible, part-time basis — from short-term strategic alignment to ongoing leadership support.

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Technology Strategy

Leadership that scales with you

Not every organization needs a full-time CIO - but every organization needs CIO-level thinking. Each engagement is tailored to your needs. The goal: build clarity, capability, and confidence in how your teams use technology.

Services designed for flexibility

Example hours and deliverables are per month. Think of these as starting points. We’ll tailor the right mix of advisory, strategic, and leadership support for your needs.

Example Plan & Pricing

Advisor Plan

Strategic Guidance When You Need It

$1,500/month

~4–6 hrs/month
  • 1× strategy call (60–90 mins)
  • IT roadmap or vendor/proposal review (1 per month)
  • Light-touch email support (up to ~2 hrs/month)
  • Staff mentoring & leadership coaching
View Overview PDF
Example Plan & Pricing

Partner Plan

Hands-On Leadership for Measurable Progress

$3,000/month

~10–12 hrs/month
  • 2× strategy sessions (60–90 mins each)
  • Rolling IT roadmap updates & risk reviews
  • Budget & vendor management support
  • Staff mentoring & leadership coaching
View Overview PDF
Example Plan & Pricing

Virtual CIO Plan

Full Executive Partnership Without the Overhead

$5,000–$7,500/month

~20–25 hrs/month
  • Weekly executive/board meeting presence
  • IT strategy & budget ownership
  • Risk & compliance leadership
  • Staff mentoring & succession planning
View Overview PDF

All plans are examples and can be tailored to your organization’s priorities. Additional hours available at $200/hr with approval.

Innovation with purpose

Much of my recent work has been helping organizations understand where AI truly fits — aligning innovation with ethics, governance, and measurable business outcomes. The goal isn’t just to “add AI,” but to ensure it adds business value.

Fractional CIO Services FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about fractional CIO services and how we can help your business.

A fractional CIO provides executive-level technology leadership on a part-time or contract basis. You get the strategic expertise of a Chief Information Officer without the cost of a full-time executive salary and benefits. This flexible approach allows growing businesses to access C-suite technology guidance exactly when they need it.

We have 25+ years of experience across finance, healthcare, semiconductor, supercomputing, e-commerce, and technology companies. Our expertise applies to any growing business needing strategic IT leadership, regardless of industry. We understand the unique challenges each sector faces and tailor our approach accordingly.

Yes! While based in Portland, Oregon, we serve clients nationwide through virtual meetings and on-site visits as needed. Modern collaboration tools make it easy to provide strategic guidance regardless of location. We've successfully partnered with organizations across the United States.

We specialize in helping growing businesses and mid-sized organizations that need C-level technology expertise but aren't ready for a full-time CIO. Whether you're scaling rapidly, navigating digital transformation, or facing complex technology decisions, fractional leadership provides the expertise you need at the right time.

Contact us via phone at (408) 781-0088, email at steve@fractionalcioadvisory.com, or through our contact form below. We'll schedule an initial consultation to discuss your technology challenges and explore how fractional CIO services can help your organization achieve its goals.

"Great leadership isn't about control — it's about clarity, trust, and growth."

Let's lead together

Every organization's needs are different. Let's explore how Fractional CIO leadership can help yours move forward.

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Steve Shead

Veteran C-suite technology and security executive with 25+ years guiding digital transformation at Finance, Healthcare, Super Computer, Semi Conductor, e-commerce (and more) companies.

Steve Shead, Fractional CIO and technology executive

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"Great leadership isn't about control — it's about clarity, trust, and growth."