Convergence Strategy
Strategic & Operational Advisory
Endorsements
What colleagues and leaders say about working together
I’m grateful to have worked alongside leaders who care deeply about the health and resilience of their organizations. The reflections below come from founders, board leaders, and financial partners who have experienced my work during periods of operational complexity and transition from a variety of vantage points.
Advancing excellence in commercial operations
- Joy Rubey | Founder & Owner
“Jon strengthened our operational backbone during a pivotal period, delivering measurable impact on efficiency, profitability, and customer experience while building the infrastructure that made sustainable growth possible.”
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I am pleased to recommend Jon Epps, who served in an operational leadership role at both Acme Farms & Kitchen and Spade & Spoon during a pivotal and challenging period for our company.
Jon joined us in our twelfth year of operation as the meal kit industry faced post-pandemic revenue decline while our costs rose across food, packaging, labor, and logistics. We needed sharper systems, disciplined execution, and operational clarity. Jon delivered exactly that.
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Jon combines strategic thinking with hands-on execution. He did not simply propose improvements — he implemented them. He strengthened our operational backbone in ways that had measurable impact on efficiency, profitability, and customer experience.
He consistently identified friction points others had grown accustomed to and engineered practical, scalable solutions. From building structured equipment systems and reducing operational downtime to redesigning workflows and strengthening training infrastructure, his work compounded over time into meaningful performance gains.
Most significantly, Jon helped us challenge assumed capacity limits. As part of our leadership team, he demonstrated that we could substantially expand our meal kit offerings without sacrificing quality or operational stability. He built the infrastructure — physical, procedural, and cultural — that made that expansion sustainable.
Jon thinks in systems. He understands that operational excellence is not about activity, but about eliminating waste, reducing volatility, and designing processes that scale. He brings clarity, structure, and momentum to complex environments.
I recommend him without hesitation to any organization seeking disciplined operational leadership or strategic systems improvement.
Financial Discipline & Executive Judgment
- Marc Watson | Business Manager
I worked closely with Jon during a period when our leadership team was reduced from four senior managers to two while navigating the financial and operational challenges of COVID. Jon demonstrated disciplined operational judgment and a clear understanding of financial constraints. He was able to make necessary cost adjustments, prioritize effectively, and maintain organizational stability without sacrificing long-term viability.
Jon combines systems thinking with practical financial discipline — a rare and valuable combination in both nonprofit and business environments.
Crisis Leadership & Governance
- Paul Peterson | Organizational Leader & Board Member
“Jon brings disciplined operational judgment to complex organizations under pressure…”
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I am writing this letter of endorsement based on my 20-year relationship with Jon Epps. Over that time, I have observed his leadership across multiple organizational contexts, particularly during seasons of transition, financial constraint, and operational complexity.
Most notably, Jon guided The Firs organization in Bellingham through the significant disruptions of the COVID pandemic. During that period, he demonstrated disciplined operational judgment and financial stewardship. He secured additional funding, made necessary cost adjustments to maintain budget stability, and led the organization through rapid shifts to hybrid and virtual functioning for staff, Board, and community stakeholders.
In addition to day-to-day operational oversight, Jon navigated regulatory and governmental requirements that allowed essential summer and after-school programs to continue serving families safely. His ability to interpret external requirements and translate them into practical, compliant systems was critical during a highly uncertain time.
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What distinguishes Jon is not only his strategic thinking, but his capacity to implement change responsibly. He brings clarity to complex situations, prioritizes wisely under pressure, and consistently works to strengthen both organizational systems and the people within them.
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Based on my long observation, I believe Jon has the leadership, operational insight, and personal integrity to serve effectively in senior operations roles or as a trusted advisor to complex organizations in both nonprofit and for-profit settings.
Strategic Advisory & Systems Insight
- Willow Weston | Founder & Executive Director
“Jon brings unusual clarity to complex situations…”
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I’ve worked with Jon as a strategic advisor and board member during a critical growth and transition period at Collide. Jon brings unusual clarity to complex situations — he is particularly strong at diagnosing where systems are leaking, initiatives are drifting, or effort is being misapplied.
On our Strategy Team, Jon consistently helped us slow down enough to make better decisions. His analysis shaped key initiatives, including the repositioning of a fundraising effort that ultimately exceeded expectations and the early strategic framework for a multi-phase book launch. Jon combines discernment, systems thinking, and a deep respect for people — and his input reliably made our work more focused, realistic, and effective.