Strategy Assistant

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We bring the expertise of a COO, CFO, or Programs Director—along with a team—without the six-figure salary(ies).

What Is Strategy Assistant™?

We bring CFO, HR, Project Management, and Business Development support into one powerful system-a fractional executive solution for businesses and nonprofits earning $250K–$2M/year.

HR Generalist

Hiring, compliance, onboarding, ...

BD Strategist

Grants, RFPs, fundraising materials, ...

Project Manager

Timelines, deliverables, vendor wrangling, ...

Assistant CFO

Capital readiness, cash flow, grant reporting, ...

We're Change Makers for Organizations

Years of Experience

$1B+

Projects Advised

100+

Clients Advised

40 +

Hires Onboarded

Is this Right for Me?

Book a free 15-minute consult.

AI can give you answers. A Strategy Assistant gives you execution. We bring the expertise of a COO, CFO, or HR Director — without the six-figure salary.

We’re the bridge between startup hustle and scalable growth.

This is for you if:

You’re leading a startup or nonprofit generating $250K–$2M and growth is starting to outpace your infrastructure
You’re ready for executive-level support — but not ready for full-time payroll, benefits, and overhead
You are the CEO… and the CFO… and HR… and the project manager — and it’s unsustainable
You’re tired of managing siloed contractors who don’t communicate or think beyond their task list
Revenue exists, but operations feel messy, reactive, or duct-taped together
You’re missing grant deadlines, delaying launches, or losing momentum because you don’t have strategic capacity
You don’t need another assistant — you need someone who can think, build, implement, and hold the standard
You want integrated support that strengthens your systems, culture, reporting, and growth strategy

Expert team

Principal Consultant

Cari A. Harris, MS, PMP

Cari A. Harris is the Principal Consultant and Founder of The Butterfly Effect (TBE), a management consulting firm supporting organizations at the intersection of economic development, public policy, and community impact.

With a background in analytics, project/program management, and organizational strategy, Cari has advised nonprofits, universities, government agencies, and mission-driven businesses on how to design and execute complex initiatives with clarity and accountability. Her experience spans stakeholder engagement, data-informed decision-making, compliance-driven programs, and systems-building for growing organizations.

Cari is known for translating vision into structured, executable strategies—helping clients strengthen capacity, navigate funding and procurement landscapes, and deliver outcomes that are both measurable and equitable.

Senior Consultant

Autrese Thornton, MA, BCC

Autrese M. Thornton brings over 20 years of leadership experience across education, human services, and community-based systems to her role as Senior Consultant at The Butterfly Effect (TBE).

With a background spanning Baltimore City and Baltimore County Public Schools, she has served as a teacher, mentor, special educator, librarian, and assistant principal. She holds a Master’s degree in Leadership in Teaching and is currently a PhD candidate in Psychology, with a concentration in Cognition and Instruction.

A Board Certified Coach and Founder of See Limitless Life Coaching, Autrese brings a coaching-informed lens to organizational development, leadership strategy, and team effectiveness. At TBE, she supports clients navigating complex systems with clarity, accountability, and care.

Project Coordinator

Brittany Holmes

With a proven track record in program management and operational leadership, Brittany Holmes brings a strategic, disciplined approach to advancing complex, mission-driven initiatives across nonprofit, healthcare, and community-based organizations.

Brittany is recognized for her ability to align teams, systems, and timelines to deliver measurable, high-impact outcomes. A strong advocate for community-driven change and diversity in STEM, she actively supports initiatives that expand access to education and career pathways for young women.

As Project Coordinator for The Butterfly Effect (TBE) and the Claude C. Thornton Foundation, Brittany plays a key role in strengthening partnerships, supporting cross-functional execution, and advancing sustainable, community-centered outcomes through collaborative action.

With our counsel, organizations have...

Secured business and project financing of over $1M.

Initiated and completed over $2M in projects.

Designed and implemented standard operating procedures for multiple lines of business.

Hired and onboarded 40+ personnel.

Designed $1B+ in projects.

Supported 100+ community-based organizations, local governments, and universities with subject matter expertise and technical assistance.

Mitigated $5M+ in financial risk.

Schedule a brief Pick Our Brains session with us today!