Our Conference, Ops Ahoy, is in
September 16-18, 2026 | Moshulu, Philadelphia, USA
Ops Ahoy is a conference for systems-minded small business owners, managers, and leaders to share best practices that will shape the future of operations. No motivational gurus. No MBA bloat. Just two days of proven frameworks, deep discussions, and peer connections with the operations leadership of small (5-50 person) companies.
Whether you’re a chief of staff, ops leader, or business owner, we welcome you aboard!
(Click on each day to view the agenda.)
breakout SESSIONS THAT MAKE WAVES
Small business leaders like you are stepping up as Ops Ahoy Captains to share the top secret operations practices inside their companies (that aren't talked about anywhere else).
How We Use Process Mapping to Remove Inefficiency & Miscommunication
Hosted by: Derrick Mains (The Process Fixer)
Most organizations look at productivity as a personal tool - one task at a time, within the limits of individual discretion. For operations to scale, it needs structure, and for structures to work, you need clear communication, plus shared understanding. Without visible inputs, handoffs, decisions, outputs, and outcomes, you're not improving productivity — you're accelerating chaos. In this session, you'll learn how Derrick uses process decomposition as a method for solving operational problems and implement it within your team.
How Implementing an AI Chief of Staff Changed My Business
Hosted by: Monica Rysavy, Ph.D, Ed.D (Systematic You)
Most small business owners are already using AI tools, but still feel like they're the ones holding everything together. In this session, Monica will show you the AI chief of staff system she's built for herself, her team, and other small businesses to handle things like morning briefings, content creation, analytics, and project management. Whether you're solo or running a team, you'll leave with a clear picture of what's possible and how to get started.
Your 2nd Brain Virtual Assistant (What to Delegate, How to Start, and When To Automate Instead)
Hosted by: Le-An Lai Lacaba (2X You)
Most founders think of a virtual assistant as someone who handles tasks. Inbox, calendar, admin. And that version exists. But there is a different kind of virtual assistant: one who understands your business well enough to make decisions, manage your AI tools, and scale what you build. In this session, you'll learn Le-An's practical framework for building a 2nd Brain VA that reduces bottlenecks by identifying what to delegate, what to hand off to a human, and what to automate instead.
How I created boundaries in my inbox to help my daughter become a top Girl-Scout Cookie seller instead
Hosted by: Joe Casabona (The Streamlined Solopreneur)
Checking your email is one of things that feels productive, but quickly leads to prioritizing other people's tasks over your own. And, we know that auto-responders saying you only check your email once per day or having an LLM write responses for you, doesn't solve the problem either. In this session, you'll learn how Joe built boundaries and reset expectations in his inbox so he can be present for things that matter most, and work as a group to brainstorm similar implementation tactics that work for you and your team.
How I Turned 500 Meeting Transcripts into a Second Brain
Hosted by: Theron Lalla (VENDO)
We spend a huge amount of time in meetings, and decisions, risks, updates, and context pile up across weeks and months. AI notetakers help, but most summaries are trapped at the meeting level: "Here's what happened on this call." In this session, you'll learn the behind-the-scenes of the high-leverage workflow Theron built to turn hundreds of meeting transcripts into a practical second brain — surfacing decisions, action items, themes, and follow-ups without relying on memory or digging through old calls.
The Confusion Tax: How Blurry Roles Cost $1M Book Launches
Hosted by: Barbara Caraballo (HowFinder™ and Caraballo & Co.)
When everyone assumes someone else is handling it, your client feels it first, even if they can't pinpoint why. In this session, you'll learn how Barbara utilizes her Find Your How™ methodology to define and communicate role ownership before confusion starts, and build touchpoints that make clients feel genuinely seen whether you're running operations behind a founder, a speaker, or an author.
How CEOs can build a shared culture system by Wednesday
Hosted by: Rachel Grewell, Ph.D (Turbo Tim's®)
Most small business owners find that hiring and building processes don't automatically create alignment -- without a clear communication framework, you're just growing independent teams. In this session, you'll learn how Rachel built a weekly meeting system to efficiently and personally connect with every one of her 58 employees across 4 locations, and, the key takeaways your leaders need to communicate big-picture priorities and your people actually feel it.
How I Built the CEO Dashboard Behind My 7-Figure Business (+ The Metrics It Missed)
Hosted by: Hannah Soto (Arridia Group)
Most founders can tell you their revenue, pipeline, and close rates, but no scorecard can measure the person actually running the business. In this session, you'll learn how Hannah built a CEO Dashboard inspired by EOS that tracks the business and the leader behind it — including live coaching on the metric that won't move, so you can watch the method work before building your own dashboard, one that tracks the business and your own development as a leader, whether you're the founder or the ops leader running the company around one.
How AI Agents Can Surface Hidden Friction Within Your CX Systems
Hosted by: Karl Staib (Systematic Leader)
Many think of AI as chatbots and dashboards, but the real magic happens when its used to identify the tiny cracks that cost businesses customers. In this session, Karl will show the behind-the-scenes of developing the systems necessary to build a successful AI agent, and in turn, transform those gaps into growth.
Your Clients Are More Than a Checklist: How To Deliver Human-Centric Work
Hosted by: Ellen Yoakum (Pet Harmony)
Anyone can send a postcard on a schedule or follow a well-documented onboarding SOP, but your clients aren't a checklist — they're your collaborators. In this session, you'll learn how Ellen takes teams from baseline systems to human-centric work that AI can't replicate: catching cues, flagging what matters, and turning that listening into small, unprompted acts of kindness that drive retention, empathy, and genuinely proactive teams.
Out of Order, on Purpose: How to Manage Long-Term, Open-Ended Projects
Hosted by: Sean McMullin (YellowHouse.Media)
We all know that long-term, open-ended projects are the hardest to stick with. You set a goal, build a system, and then things change. In this session, you'll learn how Sean built a practical framework for structuring and tracking ongoing work, enabling clients to find a daily rhythm that keeps them consistent and moving forward.
Maximize Your Multiple: The Roadmap to a High-Value Business Exit
Hosted by: Monica Boerckel (Empire Flippers)
Join Empire Flippers' Seller Advisor Monica Boerckel as she breaks down the essential operational levers that turn a good business into a highly acquisitive asset. You will walk away with actionable insights on optimizing your financial performance, streamlining your operations, and positioning your company to command the best possible exit valuation.
in Partnership with
PEER MASTERMINDS
Each afternoon of Ops Ahoy includes a 2-hour mastermind for problem-solving in small groups. Bring your toughest operational challenges. You'll leave with real solutions from operators in the trenches.
MAIN DECK MASTERMINDS
Exclusive to Main Deck ticket holders.
Tackle your operational challenges with a focused peer group in this extended working session.
UPPER DECK MASTERMINDS
Exclusive to Upper Deck ticket holders.
Work through ops challenges in an exclusive smaller group, alongside other Upper Deck ticket holders and Captains.
& BUSINESS BOOK EXCHANGE
Bring 1 gently used business book you'd like to pass forward and leave with 2+ to add to your reading list! The library is already filling with new books (many signed by the authors!) including, but not limited to:
THIS IS NOT A SALES FUNNEL
The Mission of Ops Ahoy
Ops Ahoy was created by the operators of small teams who were tired of learning what works through trial-and-error. After years of looking around for a conference for small business operation, we decided to host one.
This event is pitch-free. There's no upsell or business strategy behind-the-scenes. It isn’t tied to one methodology, book, or framework. We're creating this space for candid conversations that will shape the future of small business operations industry. We'd love to see you there!
Here's what attendees say about our other events:
MEET PEOPLE WHO "GET" YOU
Meet your peers who think in systems and process. This is your crew, to push your thinking forward long after Ops Ahoy ends.
FRAMEWORKS FOR MONDAY
Every breakout session is built around proven systems from operators who run businesses like yours — no MBA bloat, no untested theory.
BE AHEAD OF THE CURVE
Be an innovator and a thought leader for your team by joining the first gathering to redefine small business operations.
GRAB YOUR TICKET TODAY!
MAIN DECK
$790
Full Conference Access (2 Days)
Breakfast & Lunches included (Plus Snacks)
Attendee -Led Meetups
Business Book Exchange (Bring 1, Take 2)
Closing Party
General mastermind
VIP Cocktail Party (with Host & Speakers)
Mini Photo Session & Headshot ($750 Value)
Mystery Gift Bag (Shhh!)
Get Ticket
UPPER DECK
$1,990
Full Conference Access (2 Days)
Breakfast & Lunches included (Plus Snacks)
Attendee-Led Meetups
Business Book Exchange (Bring 1, Take 2)
Closing party
VIP Mastermind (Upper Deck & Speakers Only)
VIP Dinner (with Hosts, Speakers & Sponsors)
Mini Photo Session & Headshot ($750 Value)
Mystery Gift Bag (shhh!)
Get VIP Ticket
Best for leaders of small teams on track to generate
$1M+ in annual revenue.
Is the venue really a docked historic sailing ship?!
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SESSIONS & NETWORKING
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PAYMENTS, REFUNDS, & CANCELLATIONS
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OTHER INFORMATION
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