Joseph Kershenbaum
I help Enterprises & Startups Execute & Scale Faster | Fractional COO | Board Member | 4x Builder (1 IPO) | Fmr Fortune 500 Lawyer | AI-Savvy Generalist Leader | M&A | MBA, JD | Open to FT Role
About
I have decades of experience helping companies to grow and prosper. I bring the perspective of a CEO, the discipline of a COO, and the precision of a business lawyer to every engagement—driving growth and measurable enterprise value.
I've built and led high-growth companies in four different industries: healthcare, finance, real estate and technology services. I led my tech services company through startup, high growth, profitability and global operations; it had an initial public offering. Before that, I advised the Fortune 500 on legal and strategy matters as a lawyer with a major U.S. firm.
To build great businesses, the most important thing I do is lead people: identify, recruit and engage first-rate individuals; build world-class teams; challenge them to tackle tough problems; inspire them to take risks; coach and mentor them and celebrate their accomplishments. Together, we've built extraordinary companies.
My expertise spans:
Market research, competitive analysis, and strategy development
Full operational management: finance, legal, IT, M&A, HR, sales, and marketing
Process optimization for productivity, efficiency, and compliance
Financial leadership with focus on profitability, cash flow, and investment management
Board service and advisory for both for-profit and nonprofit organizations
Helping to build and lead a business is great for people, great for the economy . . . and it's so much fun. I'm seeking my next big challenge.
Core Capabilities: Building and leading teams | Corporate and product strategy | Operations | Finance | Business law | Real estate & leasing | Capital raising | M&A and post-merger integration | Healthcare, IT & financial services.
Experience
Member
Wharton Alumni Angels · Boston, Massachusetts, United States
2025 – Present(1 yr 4 mos)
Fractional CEO/COO | Business Advisor | Board Member
Strong Road LLC
2023 – Present(3 yrs 4 mos)
Fractional / interim executive and management consulting services. Built and led companies in diverse industries, with successful exits, and advised and represented Fortune 500 clients. Includes providing strategic guidance and leadership, driving growth and profitability, and building high-performing teams. Selected Clients: Fortune 500 software company, prominent consumer brand, vehicle manufacturer, private equity fund, venture capital firm, professional services firm, consulting firm, healthtech AI startup, behavioral health app, biosciences company, B2B fintech, several SaaS marketplaces in select verticals. Selected Projects: • Strategic advice: growth, profitability, leadership and HR. • Operations: build operations & capital structure; raising capital; introductions to private equity, VC & angel investors; governance; budgeting; M&A & post-merger integration; data analysis, due diligence and KPI / OKR / SaaS metrics development. • Market Research: Go-to-Market, product strategy / positioning; rebranding; pitch deck development; target markets / channels / revenue opportunities.
Chief Operating Officer
ApiceHealth, Inc. · Jacksonville, Florida
2022 – 2023(1 yr)
Developed competitive strategy, financial model, legal (inc. patents), pitch deck, sales and technology roadmaps, and raised capital for insuretech / healthtech AI startup targeting self-insured employer market.
Chief Operating Officer
Salute Homecare
2019 – 2021(2 yrs)
Grew data-driven post-acute healthcare services company focused on providing quality skilled medical services to under-served communities at 4x market growth rate (23% CAGR).
Chief Financial Officer
Salute Homecare · Waterbury, Connecticut
2012 – Dec 2018(7 yrs)
Led and managed operations, finance and administration for post-acute healthcare services company, including legal and regulatory, mergers & acquisitions, insurance / risk management, human resources and information technology. Developed growth and revenue diversification strategy. Focus on providing quality skilled medical services to under-served populations.
Management Consultant
Strong Road Consulting · Lowell, Massachusetts
2010 – 2011(1 yr)
Advised public and private companies on strategy, operations, finance, marketing and legal matters. Advice included corporate law; tax structure; governance; finance; M&A; tax structure; securities; regulatory issues; Sarbanes-Oxley; contracts; employment; intellectual property; real estate; privacy and social media matters.
President and Chief Executive Officer
The Mortgage SuperCenter, Inc. · Lowell, Massachusetts
2003 – 2009(6 yrs)
Spearheaded growth of multi-site retail finance company throughout the Northeast and Florida. Managed sales, marketing, product, operations and legal and regulatory.
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Cambridge Technology (CT) · Waltham, Massachusetts
1999 – 2002(3 yrs)
Founding COO - built software development / digital strategy startup into profitable global company with US / Asia operations and Fortune 500 client base, leading to IPO on two exchanges. No. 81 on the Inc. 500 list of fastest growing private companies in the US.
Business Attorney
Day Pitney LLP · Hartford, Connecticut
1991 – 1998(7 yrs)
Managed and negotiated hundreds of transactions worth billions for Fortune 500 clients as corporate, securities and real estate lawyer. Significant mergers and acquisitions experience. Recognized for building profitable client relationships and cross-selling expertise.
Education
University of Connecticut
Master of Business Administration - MBA
Western New England University School of Law
Juris Doctor (JD), Cum Laude
University of Virginia Darden School of Business
Digital Transformation
The Wharton School
Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content
MIT Sloan School of Management
Executive Certificate, Corporate Strategy
Beacon College
BA, Music / Audio Engineering
Institute of Audio Research
Diploma of Education, Audio Engineering
Expertise
Specialties
