This page explains our Fractional Chief AI Officer (fCAIO) service for small and mid-sized businesses in North Idaho, Eastern Washington, Coeur d'Alene, Spokane, and the Inland Northwest. A fCAIO provides executive-level AI leadership, strategy, and governance on a flexible retainer basis, so you get a seasoned AI executive without the cost and commitment of a full-time hire.
A Fractional Chief AI Officer (fCAIO) provides executive-level AI leadership and strategic guidance on a part-time or retainer basis. Instead of hiring a full-time Chief AI Officer — which costs $250K-$500K+ per year and requires someone with rare expertise — you get access to experienced AI leadership for a fraction of the cost.
Your fCAIO serves as your organization's AI strategist, trusted advisor, and implementation guide. They help you prioritize AI initiatives, evaluate vendors and technologies, establish governance policies, coach your team, and ensure your AI investments align with business goals. It's ideal for businesses that need senior AI guidance but don't have the budget or workload for a full-time executive role.
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Your fCAIO doesn't wait for you to ask. They continuously identify opportunities to use AI more effectively, propose new initiatives, and drive ongoing optimization of existing systems.
Quarterly AI roadmap updates
Technology landscape monitoring
Performance reviews and optimization
Strategic initiative proposals
You have dedicated, scheduled time with your fCAIO every month for strategic planning, vendor evaluations, team coaching, and governance discussions.
Monthly strategy sessions
Vendor and technology evaluation
Executive coaching and guidance
Policy and governance development
When urgent questions arise — a vendor pitch you need to evaluate, an unexpected issue with an AI system, or a time-sensitive opportunity — you get rapid response from your fCAIO.
Email and phone access
Urgent issue troubleshooting
Vendor pitch evaluation
Strategic decision support
Choose the level of fCAIO engagement that matches your current needs. Tiers are based on depth of involvement and reserved time, not company size. You can adjust as your AI maturity and needs evolve.
Best for: Organizations just starting their AI journey or with occasional strategic needs.
6 hours per quarter of reserved time
Monthly 30-minute check-in calls
Email support (48-hour response)
Quarterly AI roadmap review
Strategic planning and prioritization
Best for: Organizations actively implementing AI initiatives and building internal capabilities.
12 hours per quarter of reserved time
Bi-weekly 45-minute strategy sessions
Email support (24-hour response)
Monthly AI roadmap updates
Vendor evaluation and procurement support
Team coaching and training coordination
Best for: Organizations with complex AI initiatives, multiple projects, or high-stakes implementations.
20 hours per quarter of reserved time
Weekly 60-minute working sessions
Priority email/phone (same-day response)
Continuous AI roadmap management
Deep vendor and technology assessment
Executive team AI coaching
Governance policy development
AI Strategy & Roadmap: Prioritized plan for implementing AI across your organization, aligned with business goals
Vendor Evaluation: Unbiased assessment of AI tools, platforms, and service providers before you commit budget
Governance & Policies: Clear guidelines on AI usage, data privacy, compliance, and ethical considerations
Executive Coaching: Strategic guidance for leadership team on AI trends, opportunities, and decision-making
Initiative Oversight: Monitoring and course-correction for ongoing AI projects to ensure ROI
Team Enablement: Coordination of training, tool rollouts, and change management
Risk Management: Identification and mitigation of AI-related risks (compliance, reputation, technical debt)
The Fractional Chief AI Officer model delivers the most value for businesses that:
Recognize AI's strategic importance but lack executive-level AI expertise
Have multiple AI initiatives underway and need coordination
Want to avoid costly mistakes in vendor selection or technology choices
Need AI governance policies but don't know where to start
Can't justify a full-time Chief AI Officer but need strategic leadership
Want to ensure AI investments align with long-term business strategy
We serve insurance agencies, real estate brokerages, dental and medical practices, construction and trades businesses, and professional services firms across North Idaho, Eastern Washington, Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, Spokane, and the broader Inland Northwest region.
Our fCAIO clients report more confident decision-making, faster project execution, fewer false starts and wasted investments, and stronger organizational buy-in for AI initiatives. They also appreciate having a trusted advisor who's not trying to sell them a specific product or service.
Schedule a strategy call to discuss your AI goals and determine which fCAIO tier is right for your organization.
Book Your AI Strategy Call