Growth Operating Partner · Application only · Capped roster Request a fit conversation →
Application-only strategic partnership

One operator. Inside the business.

Growth Operating Partner is not an Automation Suite tier. It is a separate, bespoke relationship for established owners who want Chris directly involved in strategy, creative direction, and the decisions that shape growth.

Request a fit conversationContact Chris →
  • Direct with Chris
  • Standing cadence
  • Capped capacity
Chris Westlund, founder of Minnesota Marketing in Bemidji, Minnesota
Chris WestlundFounder and marketing operator · Bemidji, Minnesota
Two different engagements

Choose the level of involvement the problem requires.

Most businesses need the system installed. A much smaller group needs Chris in the strategy seat.

Core offer · Start with the Pressure Test

Automation Suite

A productized 14-day install for local and regional businesses losing opportunities between the first call and the final follow-up.

  • Lead capture, CRM, SMS, email, reviews, and reporting
  • Defined implementation scope and monthly optimization
  • Built for repeatable delivery without a strategy retainer
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Separate relationship · Application only

Growth Operating Partner

Direct strategic involvement from Chris across the decisions, campaigns, and priorities that shape the whole growth engine.

  • Quarterly planning and scheduled strategy sessions
  • Offer, creative, acquisition, and conversion leadership
  • Written responsibilities, cadence, term, and investment
Request a fit conversation
What Chris owns

Strategic depth without the agency relay race.

The exact scope is written around the business. These are the areas where Chris is most often brought in to lead.

01

Growth strategy

Priorities, channel mix, quarterly planning, budgets, and the decisions that keep work tied to the business.

02

Offers & conversion

Positioning, offer design, landing pages, funnels, and the path from interest to a qualified opportunity.

03

Creative direction

Messaging, campaign concepts, video direction, and review of the assets that have to perform in market.

04

Acquisition

Paid search, paid social, content, and lead-generation systems selected around the economics of the business.

05

Lifecycle growth

Email, reactivation, follow-up, reviews, and retention work that creates more value from existing demand.

06

Decision support

Live dashboards and an experienced outside operator for hires, pivots, partnerships, and high-stakes choices.

How it runs

The rhythm is part of the work.

Deep involvement works when expectations are visible and the calendar is protected. Every engagement has a defined operating cadence before it begins.

PlanQuarterly prioritiesChoose the few initiatives that deserve resources and define how progress will be measured.
WorkScheduled strategy and review windowsMake decisions, review creative, and keep campaigns moving without relying on random availability.
SeeLive reportingLead flow, pipeline, and key operating signals remain visible between conversations.
EscalateA direct path for true urgencyOutages, lead-routing failures, and platform issues have a clear escalation route.
Fit before scope

Built for established businesses ready to act.

Strong fit

An owner-led business with proven demand, a clear decision-maker, operational capacity, and a willingness to run against a plan.

Usually not a fit

One-off production requests, early-stage ideas still looking for demand, or teams seeking unlimited on-call access without a working cadence.

Ecommerce, by exception

Established DTC and B2B brands may fit through a legacy or strategic relationship. Ecommerce is not the core Automation Suite market and is evaluated individually.

Common questions

Before you apply.

The fit conversation comes first. If the business, needs, and available capacity line up, you receive the responsibilities, operating cadence, term, and complete investment in writing before either side commits.
The Automation Suite is a defined implementation that fixes lead response and follow-up. Growth Operating Partner is a separate strategic relationship in which Chris is involved across the broader growth engine.
Every client has a live dashboard, a direct request path with clear timing, scheduled review windows, and a true escalation route for issues that cannot wait.
If the fit is strong, Chris may offer a place on the waitlist. If the immediate problem is better served by the Automation Suite or another operator, he will say so directly.
Selectively. Current ecommerce work reflects established, often long-running creative or strategic relationships. New ecommerce opportunities are evaluated individually and are not positioned as standard Automation Suite installs.
Application only

Bring the business. Chris will tell you the right path.

The first conversation is about fit, not closing. If Growth Operating Partner is more depth than the problem requires, expect an honest recommendation.

Request a fit conversation