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Cleveland, OH, USA

Charles H.

Fractional COO | Operations Execution Architect — Helping service companies build accountability, execution discipline, and scalable operating systems.

I’m Charles Hughes. With 25+ years in service organizations—from Supervisor to COO and EOS Integrator—I founded Aligned Growth Solutions to help companies turn vision into measurable results. I believe growth doesn’t create problems; it exposes them. Fixing those problems before scale makes execution repeatable and profitable. My approach is direct: clear standards create accountability; accountability creates consistency; consistency creates scale. I work with CEOs and leadership teams to install the structure, discipline and operating systems that drive margin, quality, and both customer and employee satisfaction. Core services: building scalable operating models for onsite, distributed and hybrid delivery; EOS integration (self‑implement or with implementor); execution and accountability systems driven by data and KPIs; leadership alignment; and hybrid workforce strategies (W2, 1099, partner ecosystems). Selected outcomes: helped scale organizations from $18M to $60M; reduced operating costs by $35M (41%) while improving service levels; improved quote‑to‑cash by 24%; and built delivery systems supporting hundreds of technicians globally. Best fit: field service and distributed operations, multi‑location or partner-driven models, organizations hitting growth pain, compressed margins, or leadership teams stuck in reactive mode. If growth is outpacing execution, let’s connect and discuss how to make your operations reliable and scalable.
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Charles H.

Testimonials

Charles who builds trust and consistency, particularly where there is change, instability, or a lack of structure. He brings clarity, establishes expectations, and creates accountability without losing sight of the people involved. Just as importantly, he understands that strong organizations are not built just by managing employees one at a time—but by intentionally creating a culture where people understand what is expected, leaders lead consistently, and teams can perform and thrive.
LE
Leah EggersDirector, Human Resources, Acuative
One of Charles’s greatest strengths is his ability to connect strategy with execution. He is comfortable holding people accountable, building systems and structure, working across functional boundaries, and stepping into customer or sales situations when needed. He also understands that sustainable growth requires more than simply increasing revenue; the organization must be capable of delivering on what the sales team commits to.
DS
Don SchmidtEVP Sales, High Wire Networks
“Our customer sat was never higher, it went straight up from the moment Charles started. That as costs continued to go down. His formula, enthusiasm, and management style works and should be spread out”
JA
John AndrewsVice President IT, Walgreens
“I Highly recommend working with Charles! Having worked with him, I can attest that Operational Drift is real. One thing that always stood out was his ability to identify where growth was exposing weaknesses in process, accountability, and communication before they became major problems. Too many organizations mistake revenue growth for operational health.”
DD
Damon DeMarcoDirector, Project Management Office, Acuative
Charles was the Director of Field Services, a newly created position in the company. When he came on board he not only dug into how his team worked and needed to improve, but he took the time to understand the team's around him, including mine. I conducted part of his training and was impressed by questions he asked and how quickly he understood the processes. I saw his team improve in leaps and bounds under his leadership. He was always eager to share knowledge and provide coaching to anyone in the company. I always found his support and business advice very helpful. He helped me improve my team's performance as well as his own.
PF
Peggy FowlerManager Client Success Manager

Work

Enterprise Field Services Transformation

GF_Case_Study_Enterprise_Transformation.docx
Enterprise Field Services Transformation

I led a multi‑year transformation of a 750‑person national IT Field Services organization supporting 8,300+ locations, redesigning a highly decentralized operating model into standardized execution with clear accountability. I consolidated the field footprint, moved toward a virtual/decentralized technician model, centralized repair into two regional centers, redesigned inventory and field logistics, established scorecards and recurring operating reviews, tightened headcount/backfill discipline, expanded hybrid labor models, and strengthened cross‑functional collaboration. The program delivered approximately $23M in annual run‑rate savings within two years and ultimately reduced annual operating cost from about $85M to $50M while aggregate service performance improved ~37% and cost per store declined ~36%; the objective was to build scalable capabilities and execution discipline, not just cut cost.

Value Creation Plan Execution Framework

GF_Project_VCP_Execution_Framework.docx
Value Creation Plan Execution Framework
I developed a practical framework to translate board-level value-creation priorities into executable initiatives, measurable ownership, and sustainable field-level execution. The model converts strategy into discrete initiatives with one accountable owner each, defined milestones, dependencies and decision rights, financial/commercial/operational/people KPIs, weekly initiative reviews, monthly executive operating reviews, and sponsor/board reporting with red/yellow/green intervention triggers. I also integrated commercial-to-operational capacity alignment, project estimating and labor controls, leadership capability assessment, and a handoff process so permanent operating leaders can sustain the operating system.

Multi-Site Operating Management Playbook

GF_Project_Multisite_Playbook.docx
Multi-Site Operating Management Playbook
I built a repeatable operating framework for distributed service organizations that codifies daily/weekly/monthly/quarterly cadences, role-based ownership and decision rights, KPI and leading-indicator scorecards, field inspection routines, corrective-action triggers, succession criteria, and a pilot-to-scale rollout. The playbook creates a common operating language and gives leaders clear guidance on when to coach, when to intervene, and when structural change is required to keep execution consistent across regions, teams, and labor sources. I have applied this framework in field-service and technical-service environments to improve execution consistency, quality, margin discipline, and leadership accountability.

National Technical Services: Operating Model & Quality Transformation

GF_Case_Study_Operating_Model_Transformation.docx
National Technical Services: Operating Model & Quality Transformation
As VP of Field Delivery I led a one-year transformation across six functions to rebuild a fragmented national technical-services organization by centralizing dispatch and workforce management, clarifying leadership roles and decision rights, reorganizing territories, and instituting a weekly operating cadence. I rebuilt the quality-control function with standards, checklists, audits and corrective-action processes, aligned PMO and service delivery, implemented structured hiring and succession, and used W‑2/partner/1099 labor strategically to match capacity and margin. The repeatable management system drove measurable improvements on a major multi-site deployment: on-time completion rose from ~20% to >80%, escalations fell from 3–4/day to 1–2/week, rescue work declined from ~45% to 10–15%, rework fell by roughly two-thirds, completion time shortened from 4–5 days to 2–3 days, and margin improved by ~20 points.

Experience

Apr 2026 — Present

Aligned Growth Solutions

Founder

  • Founded Aligned Growth Solutions to assist growth-stage companies in establishing scalable operating systems.
  • Developed a structured framework to foster a culture of alignment among strategy, people, and results.
  • Focused on enhancing execution, accountability, and performance across client organizations.
Mar 2025 — Apr 2026
Telaid Industries, Inc.

Telaid Industries, Inc.

Field Services Leader

  • Lead the Telaid Field Services Operations and Service Delivery team to deliver quality, on-time, and on-budget solutions for customers.
  • Implement innovative approaches to enhance customer's ability to adapt new technology efficiently and effectively.
  • Foster an environment in which team members achieve personal and professional goals.
  • Collaborate with talented team members to drive Telaid's growth and success in the industry.
Jan 2024 — Feb 2025
Chaffin Luhana LLP

Chaffin Luhana LLP

Chief Operating Officer

Chaffin Luhana LLP is a plaintiffs-only national trial firm dedicated to representing individuals and families in serious personal injury and mass tort cases. With offices in Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, we’ve recovered over $1 billion for clients and earned 1,500+ five-star reviews across all offices—proof of both our results and the relationships we build. Founded in 2010 by former federal prosecutor Eric Chaffin and trial lawyer Roopal Luhana, our firm was built on a simple but powerful mission: Doing Good by Doing Right™. We don’t represent corporations or insurance companies—only real people whose lives have been upended by negligence, unsafe products, or catastrophic injuries. Every case is personal, and every client’s story matters. Our team includes former federal and state prosecutors, defense attorneys, judicial law clerks, nurses, and a full-time social worker. This diverse team brings deep experience, empathy, and professionalism to every case we take on. What sets us apart is our commitment to service—both inside and outside the courtroom. Through the Chaffin Luhana Foundation, we give back by funding scholarships, fighting distracted driving, feeding families in need, and supporting charities chosen by our own team members. Chaffin Luhana is more than just a law firm. It’s a place where mission-driven professionals thrive. We work hard, support one another, and treat each other like family. Our culture is rooted in integrity, empathy, and excellence—and we’re always looking for people who share those values. If you’re passionate about making a difference in people’s lives, we invite you to learn more about our work, our team, and the opportunities to grow with us.

  • Oversaw daily operations and strategic initiatives as Chief Operating Officer.
  • Aligned cross-office teams to improve client service, efficiency, and culture.
  • Implemented process improvements to scale operations across multiple locations.
  • Managed budgets, vendor relationships, and operational risk.
  • Drove talent development and organizational alignment to support mission-driven work.
Dec 2019 — Dec 2023
VigilAigent

VigilAigent

Chief Operating Officer

VigilAigent™ is where human vigilance meets Ai-driven precision. We’re redefining managed security through the fusion of real-world intelligence, agentic Ai, and expert human analysis. Our Virtual Aigents™ operate at machine speed—detecting, correlating, and responding to threats in real time—while our Special Aigents™ (SOC analysts) provide expert validation and rapid remediation when every second counts. Built to watch and trained to respond, VigilAigent empowers Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and enterprises to deliver enterprise-grade protection at scale under their own brand. With white-labeled dashboards, shared runbooks, and partner-ready SLAs, we make advanced cybersecurity seamless, scalable, and profitable. At VigilAigent, Ai isn’t just a tool, it’s the core of a mission-driven platform designed to outthink, outpace, and out-protect evolving threats.

  • Recruited to lead the High Wire Networks’ strategic initiatives to improve program management, processes, integration and service delivery.
  • Working with the High Wire team we will leverage new technology to modernize service delivery models and take the company’s value proposition to the next level.
  • We are building a platform unlike anything in the industry and forecasting the future of labor models that allow our customers to Get Work Done.
Jan 2018 — Dec 2019
Acuative

Acuative

Vice President Technical Site Services

Leveraging a powerful combination of expertise, round-the-clock availability, and extensive technical resources for over 40 years! Acuative simplifies the entire process of managing your technology. We specialize in delivering service-focused technology solutions for the enterprise, service provider, financial, retail, and public sector markets. Consulting and Engineering Services: Acuative’s consulting and engineering services provide a rigorous framework to assess your needs and design a solution that successfully delivers your IT initiatives. Applying industry standards and best practices, we guide our clients through the complex process of developing architectures and the roadmaps to bring them to reality. Global Technical Site Services: Acuative speeds up technology deployment, scales resources appropriately, and installs and tests equipment with a team of strategically placed certified employee Technical Site Specialists and partners throughout the world. Post-install, Acuative provides prompt trouble resolution and maximized uptime with on-site maintenance response plans. Our on-site capabilities also include site surveys and structured network cabling in addition to complete logistics and spare management. Infrastructure Management Services: Optimizing network performance and security, Acuative’s infrastructure management services include a wide range of technical skills, management tools, and processes that enable us to proactively view and manage from our 24/7 Global Technology Center the latest technologies for delivering voice, video, and data while containing costs and alleviating risk. Acuative provides end-to-end support for networks, voice systems, servers, and applications. Offices: Worldwide HQ - Fairfield, NJ European HQ - Uxbridge, England Middle East HQ - Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 24/7 Global Technology Center - Cleveland, OH Consulting Services - Herndon, VA Service Contract Administration - Chicago, IL R&D - Dallas, TX

  • Recruited back to Acuative (formerly Telsource) to lead the Acuative Technical Site Services with 200 employees spread across five teams.
  • Teams included On-site year-round 24/7 support, field and implementation support, logistics and supply chain, field utilization team, project management office, and up to 600 1099 contractors.
Jul 2012 — Oct 2017
Walgreens

Walgreens

Director IT Field Services

  • Recruited to implement a transformational culture to partner with the business to drive improvement and create accountability to metrics, standards and financial performance.
  • Led 750 cross-functional technicians and support employees to provide onsite technical support for over 8,500 Walgreens locations.
  • Facilitated proactive and project related support resolving 400,000+ incidents annually.
  • Lowered operational costs 40% reduction annually while simultaneously improving service levels 36% and employee engagement 24%.
  • Delivered customer satisfaction ratings of 4.7 and higher on a 5- point scale year after year.
  • Reduced overhead 25% resulting in $2.5M saved in a single project by using existing resources to deliver chain wide technology deployments, new store construction, remodels, and merger & acquisition integration.
  • Improved tech utilization rate 23%, implemented a virtual support model and mobile platform.
  • Re-aligned field services personnel roles to improve management accountability and overall leadership talent.
  • Increased labor capacity up to 70% saving $3.5M and reduced costs $1.8M by establishing two regional repair centers.
Nov 2008 — Jul 2012
Positron Power Divison

Positron Power Divison

Director Field Services

  • Oversaw 75 field services technicians and 100 contractors supporting Public Safety 911 systems installations and maintenance.
  • Drove value creation initiatives to develop and manage growth and profitability.
  • Reduced costs 18% and achieved optimum productivity by developing an organizational structure which streamlined and automated processes, creating a unified approach with consistent standards.
  • Increased customer satisfaction and reduced overhead by implementing a Work Order System that improved work order creation, scheduling, execution in the field, and invoicing.
  • Improved on-time performance from 85% to 96% and decreased deployment costs by 21% in the first quarter by creating a Standard Deployment Model for turnkey installations that improved quality of installations by
  • eliminating variability and shortening cycle time.
  • Generated $2M annually in additional incremental revenue by leading key initiatives that identified new business opportunities and increased our direct business.
Mar 2007 — Nov 2008
Telsource Corporation

Telsource Corporation

Director Field Services

  • Led 170 field services technicians, engineers, managers and resource specialists. Oversaw all aspects of customer support, including schedules, materials, and customer interfacing to ensure on-time service delivery.
  • Improved on-time completion rate from 85% to 96% for installation and repair of enterprise equipment.
  • Increased tech utilization 19% by developing and delivering an integrated mobility platform solution for customer service field engineers
  • Enabled real-time access to work routes, customer tickets, testing resources and workflow management across the field services team nationwide.
  • Centralized business operations structure to develop a results-driven culture to achieve field service excellence.
Feb 2006 — Feb 2007
Level 3 Communications

Level 3 Communications

Director Network Operations

  • Progressed rapidly to leadership roles during multiple corporate change initiatives and managed crisis and emergencies including the 2003 Northeast Blackout and 2001 World Trade Center attacks.
  • Managed $6M annual budget and managed up to 115 regional team members as the Director of Network Operation supporting 45 network centers, 74 transmission sites, and 117 client sites.
  • Improved operating efficiency 40%, spearheaded Toyota Production System, and led Kaizen workshops.
  • Reduced annual contractor costs $1.5M as a result of increasing staff productivity by 28%.
  • Acted as Service Assurance Lead for integration of five acquired companies to ensure a seamless transition into consolidated operation resulting in increased synergy, enhanced business resilience, reduced costs, and
  • improved service
Jan 2002 — Dec 2006
Level 3 Communications

Level 3 Communications

Manager Field Services

  • Led team of 5 regional supervisors and 50+ technicians supporting 45 network centers, 74 transmission sites, and 117 client premise sites.
  • Developed and managed a $6M annual budget.
  • Oversaw hiring, recruiting, and training while managing all aspects of operations.
  • Established and maintained accountability for on-time customer service, contract and vendor management, and process improvement.
  • Piloted the application of the Toyota Production System for field services.
Jan 2000 — Jan 2002
Level 3 Communications

Level 3 Communications

Manager Service Delivery

  • Directed planning, implementation, and provisioning of core network switches and facilities.
  • Developed cross-training programs to improve performance and established cross-functional teams to ensure continuity between my team, engineering and planning.
  • Represented the company in industry forums and cultivated customer relationships.
Jan 1999 — Jan 2000
Level 3 Communications

Level 3 Communications

Supervisor Field Services

  • Supervised field technicians and coordinated regional field service operations.
  • Managed on-site installations, maintenance, and escalations across distributed customer locations.
  • Ensured SLA compliance, safety, and quality standards for field service delivery.
Jan 1987 — Jan 1999
US Army

US Army

First Sergeant

To deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars by providing ready, prompt and sustained land dominance by Army forces across the full spectrum of conflict as part of the joint force.

  • Earned promotion to First Sergeant in ten years (seven ahead of average).
  • Led combat arms teams and tactical and strategic communications teams.
  • Managed organizations of 300+ personnel.
  • Restructured an underperforming technical control facility and implemented a training program to ensure regulation compliance, earning facility of the year twice.
  • Awarded the Bronze Star during combat operations and recognized as leadership award or valedictorian at all NCO education levels.