As companies grow and evolve, they often encounter opportunities and challenges that require senior-level leadership and specialized expertise—but may not require, or be ready for, another full-time executive.
Fractional executives give organizations access to experienced leaders across areas such as legal, marketing, finance, human resources, cybersecurity and IT. More than simply filling a temporary role, these leaders can bring an outside perspective, help shape strategy, accelerate important initiatives, and provide the executive guidance needed to propel a company forward.
How do you determine when fractional leadership can add the most value? How do you find an executive with the right expertise, leadership style, and cultural fit? And how do you structure the relationship so they become a strategic extension of your leadership team rather than simply an outside resource?
Join our expert panelists: Malinda Gagnon, CEO, Uprise Partners; Connor Yost, partner, Opus Consulting; Laura McCormack, chief of marketing and business development, MC4 Marketing; and Eric Collins, shareholder, Sheehan Phinney, for a conversation about leveraging fractional executive expertise to strengthen leadership, advance strategic priorities, and help move your organization forward.
Eric I. CollinsEric is a member of the firm’s Corporate Department where his practice focuses on advising andcounseling small to mid-cap businesses from formation through exit, including entity formation, corporatetax, borrower-side commercial lending, private equity/debt, strategic growth acquisitions, successionplans, and market exits. Eric works with venture capital firms, life science companies, technologycompanies, and family enterprises. He also acts as outside-general counsel for privately heldbusinesses and small public companies.
In 2016, Eric created a cannabis practice leveraging his existing corporate, tax, and IP practices toassist cannabis businesses and cannabis related businesses (CRB) in the constantly revolving regulatedmarkets. Since then, Eric has represented cannabis cultivators, retailers, and related service providers inboth the medical and adult use markets.
With a next-generation perspective regarding the criticality of IP assets to modern businesses, hesuccessfully prosecutes trademark and copyright filings helping clients protect their brand and tech.
Prior to joining the firm, Eric was an attorney at Furman Gregory Deptula Before his time at FGD, heinterned with the Honorable Paul J. Barbadoro, U.S. District Court, District of New Hampshire.
Malinda GagnonMalinda has more than 20 years of experience in business strategy and technology. She has served as a Strategist at Google and Sr. Partner at WPP where she founded and led their consulting organization and the Product Management and Technology group.
Malinda specializes in business resiliency planning, communications technologies, product management, and technology operations. She has advised clients such as Procter and Gamble, General Electric, Volkswagen, and Walmart, as well as hundreds of startups. Malinda has served on the boards of the Maine Venture Fund and the Mitchell Institute, and is a mentor with Techstars, MassChallenge, and the Maine Center for Entrepreneurs.
Most recently, Malinda was named a CEO of the Year finalist as part of the CRN 2025 Women of the Year Awards. Outside of work, she is an avid skier and scuba diver, and a certified yoga teacher.
Laura McCormackLaura McCormack is the Founder and Chief Strategist of MC4 Marketing, where she serves as a fractional CMO to founder-led and growing businesses. With more than 20 years of experience across product marketing, brand strategy, demand generation and go-to-market leadership, Laura helps organizations connect marketing decisions to broader business goals. Her experience spans technology, life sciences, insurance, legal and other professional-services industries. She specializes in bringing clarity, focus and executive-level marketing leadership to companies that are ready to grow but may not yet need a full-time CMO.
Connor YostConnor Yost is a Partner at Opus Consulting with over a decade of experience guiding businesses through growth, transformation, and complex financial challenges. He brings a blend of strategic vision, financial expertise, and operational insight to every engagement.
As a Fractional CFO and trusted business advisor, Connor supports clients across several industries and regions. He provides high-impact, hands-on financial and operational guidance that connects strategy, execution, and measurable results.
Connor’s expertise spans capital structuring, financial modeling, reporting, operational optimization, and long-range planning. Additionally, he focuses on creating practical solutions that drive performance and improve decision-making
He currently sits in interim and fractional C-suite positions for several companies across the Northeast. Some current roles include:
Before joining Opus, Connor built his foundation in consumer lending and mortgage finance. During that time, he developed strong skills in financial analysis, risk management, and process improvement—capabilities that continue to guide his work today.
Connor holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics at UNH.
He also serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors for Miss Di’s Closet, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and is a member of the Northeast Chapter of the Turnaround Management Association.
Mike CoteCote oversees New Hampshire Magazine, a monthly magazine on interesting people, places and happenings in the Granite state, and NH Business Review, a biweekly publication, covering all business-related news and events in New Hampshire. Additionally, Cote lead the editorial effort at 603 Diversity, a quarterly publication that shares the cultural contributions made by New Hampshire’s diverse communities. Cote also co-hosts the weekly “Down to Business” podcast with Managing Editor Amanda Andrews.
A Manchester, New Hampshire, native, Cote has worked for newspapers and magazines in both Colorado and Florida, such as ColoradoBiz and Naples Daily News. He started as a business and city editor at the New Hampshire Union Leader in July 2012 before being promoted to senior editor in May 2020. Cote also wrote a weekly column in the business section throughout his 11 years at the New Hampshire Union Leader. He received a bachelor’s degree in English and communication from the University of New Hampshire and a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication from the University of Colorado Boulder. Cote is also a member of Make-a-Wish New Hampshire’s board of directors.
How do you determine when fractional leadership can add the most value? How do you find an executive with the right expertise, leadership style, and cultural fit? And how do you structure the relationship so they become a strategic extension of your leadership team rather than simply an outside resource?
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