Arena Operating Partners

Arena Operating Partners are executive-level operators who advise leadership, design operating systems, and drive execution inside your business.

Arena Operating Partners engage as hands-on operators and/or executive advisors. Services offered by each partner are outlined within their profile. Pricing is custom based on project scope and the operating partner.

Mark Fleming

Founder & Operator

Founder and CEO of Signature Closers

7× Inc. 5000 honoree (peak rank #140)

Led sale to NYSE-listed buyer; senior exec post-acquisition

Columbus Business First "40 under 40" in 2015

Engagement Modes:

Hands-On Strategy + Execution | Strategic Advisor | Board Member

Operating Approach:

Mark works alongside founders who have proven demand but lack the repeatable systems required to scale. Having built and operated a high-volume business end-to-end, he helps leadership teams design and implement scalable sales and operations—replacing ad-hoc execution with structure, technology, and accountability that supports durable growth.

Focus Areas:

Integrated growth strategy and operating model design

Sales and operations strategy, systems, and processes

Automation, AI, and technology-enabled scaling

Exit readiness and value creation initiatives

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Will Cordes

Founder & Finance Executive

Founder and CEO of KPI Sense

Investment Banker at KeyBanc and Wells Fargo

Director of M&A at Market Track and Infogix, Inc.

Builds more accountable busineses through financial modeling and KPI dashboards

Engagement Modes:

Hands-On Strategy + Execution | Strategic Advisor

Operating Approach:

Will is a seasoned executive and financial strategist with decades of leadership experience across regulated and high-growth industries. Known for his discipline, operational insight, and commitment to sustainable value creation, Will brings deep expertise in governance, audit, and financial stewardship.

Focus Areas:

Financial reporting, forecasting, and management cadence

KPI frameworks that drive accountability and measurable performance

Scalable finance and control processes for growing organizations

Exit readiness, governance, and investor-grade financial discipline

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Scott Leese

Founder & Operator

6x Sales Leader with 15 exits and 12 unicorns ($1+ billion valuations)

3x best-selling author

SVP of Sales at Qualia (valued over $1b) and VP of Sales at Main Street Hub (sold to GoDaddy in 2018)

Founder of the Surf & Sales Podcast and Summit Conference

Engagement Modes:

Hands-On Strategy + Execution | Strategic Advisor | Executive Coaching

Operating Approach:

Scott is one of the most respected voices in modern revenue leadership. He helps growth-oriented companies build the systems, structure, and culture required for scalable sales success. His experience leading high-velocity teams and transforming go-to-market strategy has led to a LinkedIn following of 125,000+ followers and created 15 exits including 12 companies with $1+ billion valuations.

Focus Areas:

Go-to-market strategy, messaging, and playbook development

Revenue operations (RevOps) process design and scaling

Sales leadership coaching and team performance optimization

Recruiting, team building, and scalable sales execution frameworks

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Lori Kaiser

Founder & Board Executive

Founder and CEO of Kaiser Consulting (95+ employees)

Led sale to Private Equity (Pine Tree Equity)

Licensed CPA, CGMA, and MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business

MBA Lecturer at The Ohio State University and De Novo founder of one of only 15 women-owned banks in the US (Fortuna Bank)

Engagement Modes:

Strategic Advisor | Executive Coaching | Board Member

Operating Approach:

Lori brings more than 30 years of experience helping organizations clarify strategy and scale through strong processes and systems. She works closely as an advisor for leaders to build accountable teams, coach effective decision-making, and evaluate risk and growth paths—ensuring execution keeps pace with ambition as organizations evolve.

Focus Areas:

Risk assessment, decision support, and growth trade-off analysis

Strategic planning and growth pathway evaluation

Coaching leaders to build accountable, high-performing teams

Mentor to women-owned businesses

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Greg Lehman

Founder & Operator

Founder and CEO of Watershed Distillery

Led sale to international acquirer (Marussia Beverages)

Successfully integrated the business as an executive post-acquisition

Columbus CEO Magazine's CEO of the Year in 2015

Engagement Modes:

Strategic Advisor | Board Member | Executive Coaching

Operating Approach:

Greg brings a founder-operator perspective shaped by building and leading a high-growth consumer brand from inception through sale. He works closely with leadership teams to clarify strategy, strengthen operating discipline, and navigate key growth and transition moments. Drawing on his experience as a CEO, Greg emphasizes sound decision-making, accountability, and sustainable execution—helping organizations align ambition with systems that support long-term value creation.

Focus Areas:

Founder-led growth and leadership transition

Brand strategy and consumer-driven value creation

Capital strategy, governance, and board leadership

Navigating growth inflection points and liquidity readiness

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Dave Knox

Founder & Marketing Executive

Chief Marketing Officer of Rockfish (7x revenue growth in 5 years)

Helped lead the strategic sale of Rockfish to WPP

Co-Founder of The Brandery, a premier start-up accelerator in Cincinnati

Best-selling author with over 3 dozen keynote speeches given and advisory engagements with Fortune 500 clients

Engagement Modes:

Strategic Advisor | Executive Coaching | Board Member

Operating Approach:

Dave works with founders, executives, and boards to build brands and growth strategies that hold up as organizations scale. Drawing on his advisory work across startups, venture ecosystems, and large Fortune 500 enterprises, he brings a practical lens to go-to-market decisions, leadership alignment, and innovation—helping teams translate vision into execution while navigating the complexity that comes with growth.

Focus Areas:

Brand and go-to-market strategy at scale

Executive and leadership team alignment

Growth strategy, innovation, and market positioning

Board-level advisory and executive coaching

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