Denise O'Donnell
Trailblazing Female CFO Who Led Historic Arts Institution Accreditation | Founder of Three Game-Changing Companies | The Executive Leader Who Transforms Chaos Into Clarity
Visionary Leader
Denise O'Donnell is a trailblazing executive and the powerhouse behind First Class Operations (FCO), where she currently serves as Chief Vision Officer. As a seasoned CFO and COO working at the intersection of finance, operations, and strategic growth, Denise has built a career helping organizations evolve from fragmented to fully functioning.
Her work is marked by a relentless focus on clarity, structure, and scalable success. Smart, steady, and always human first, Denise has a way of making even the most complex challenges feel solvable.
Denise founded SCOPE (Successful Collaboration of Partners & Entrepreneurs) as a home for fractional executive leadership. It quickly became the go-to partner for organizations navigating scale, systems, and strategic clarity. SCOPE laid the foundation for what would become First Class Operations and Valley Payment Solutions and still represents Denise's belief that aligned partnerships are the root of operational success.
One of the only women in the country to lead an arts institution to full accreditation as CFO, Denise represents a new model of executive leadership rooted in capability, clarity, and quiet excellence.
Historic Achievement
Accreditation at KyCAD: A Landmark Success
At KyCAD (Kentucky College of Art + Design), Denise led the institution through one of the most rigorous processes in higher education: full institutional accreditation. For a small, independent, nonprofit arts school, this is a nearly unprecedented feat.
Thanks to Denise's leadership, KyCAD not only met the standard but surpassed it. She designed and implemented the systems, financial models, executive accountability structures, and strategic frameworks that transformed KyCAD into an institution worthy of national recognition and long-term viability.
In an industry where female CFOs remain rare, Denise's leadership in achieving full accreditation stands as a powerful example of what is possible when precision meets persistence. Her role in this historic milestone was not just instrumental—it was defining.
Visionary Innovation
Denise has contributed to breakthrough projects including 3D house printing, AI-driven strategic systems, and large-scale innovation efforts with partners like Progress and AHEAD. She brings the same rigor and realism to emerging technologies as she does to legacy organizations, helping visionaries turn bold ideas into practical, scalable outcomes.
Areas of Excellence
Marketing Agency Leadership
Works with agency founders earning $1M-$10M annually, transforming reactive operations into proactive, scalable systems that eliminate chaos and boost profitability.
Financial Services Innovation
Founder of VPS (Valley Payment Solutions), a financial services company saving businesses millions through smarter, more transparent payment processing solutions tailored to growth-minded organizations.
Strategic Architecture
Designs delivery models, team structures, financial dashboards, and leadership development frameworks that turn growth into sustainable success.
Operational Excellence
Through FCO's interactive tools and frameworks, helps top-performing agencies build lasting systems that free founders from day-to-day bottlenecks.
What makes Denise truly exceptional is not just what she builds but how she builds it. She leads with clarity, care, and conviction. She brings order without ego, depth without overwhelm, and excellence without intimidation.
The Leader You Trust
For anyone lucky enough to work alongside her, Denise O'Donnell is more than a leader. She's the one you trust when it really matters. She brings people with her, listens deeply, and leaves every organization better than she found it.
Denise leads with grace and grit. She listens deeply, works quietly, and brings calm into chaos. Those who've worked with her don't just remember the systems she builds, they remember how seen, supported, and empowered they felt doing it. In a world full of noise, Denise O'Donnell is the steady, strategic presence every visionary needs in their corner.
Ready to Transform Your Operations?
Experience the clarity, structure, and strategic vision that has helped organizations achieve unprecedented success. Connect with Denise to discover how operational excellence can transform your business.
Speaking Engagements
Invite Denise to share her expertise and insights with your audience. As a trailblazing executive leader, she brings unique perspectives on operational excellence, strategic leadership, and transformational business growth.